Bhutta (caste)

The Bhutta are a Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India.

History and origin

The Bhutta of India claim to be Solanki Rajputs, and their ancestor Vijay Singh, who left Multan, to take up service with the Rathore rulers of Jodhpur. Vijay Singh served the Rathores, but was denied lands, which led to a fall out with them. As a result of this dispute, the Bhutta converted to Islam, and broke all relations with the Rajputs. The Bhutta are now found in the districts of Bikaner, Jodhpur and Udaipur in Rajasthan and Sabarkantha and Banaskantha in Gujarat. In Punjab, the Bhutta are a well known Jat tribe, and Bhutta of India May Be connected with this well known Jat tribe.

Prensent Circumstances

The Bhutta consist of nine clans, the main ones being the Jalay, Khirkara, Rasul, Umrana, and Matno. The community are endogamous and maintain clan exogamy. They are a landowing community in both Rajasthan and Gujarat. Their subsidiary occupation is husbandry, with the Bhutta raising cammels and cattle. They are Sunni Muslims, and have customs similar to other Rajasthan Muslim communities. The Bhutta speak Mewari, with those in Gujarat also speaking Gujarati.

See also

• Bhutta