Bhutta

Bhutta (भुट्टा/ਭੁੱਟਾ/ਭੁੱਟੇ) is a Jat clan mainly found in Pakistan.

History

H.A. Rose writes that Bhutta (भुट्टा) are said by the late Mr. E. O'Brien to have traditions connecting them with Hindustan, and they claim to be descended from Solar Rajputs. According to the book "Jattan da Itihas" by Hoshiar Singh Duleh, Bhutta, also spelled as Bhutte, were spread across Punjab and was one of the largest Jat Clan along with other clans of the time like Khokkar, Langah, Cheene, Samre, Warraich, Virk and Nijjar. Bhutta and Bhattis were always in a conflict and the sub-group of Bhuttas, Parmars, came and settled near Sutlej at Ludhiana. Castes like Buttar and Deol come under the umbrella of Parmar caste which is further a group of the Bhutta clan. Bhutta Jats migrated to West Punjab or Lehnda Punjab and became Muslims. Since then, a short population of Bhuttas reside in East Punjab near Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozpur, Sangrur, and Patiala as Jatt Sikhs. Pirzada Murad Bakhsh Bhutta also identified him as Parmar Rajput as a small fraction of Bhuttas claim to be Rajputs or Arains. But since the rise to opulence and importance of Pirzada Murad Bakhsh Bhutta, of Multan, many of them have taken to calling themselves Pirzadas. One account is that they are immigrants from Bhutan — a story too obviously suggested by the name. They also often practise other crafts, such as making pottery or weaving, instead of or in addition to agriculture. They are said to have held Uch (in Bahawalpur) before the Sayyids came there. They are chiefly found on the lower Indus, Chenāband Jhelum, in Shahpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Dera Ghazi Khan. In Jhang most are returned as Rajputs. The Bhutta shown scattered over the Eastern Plains are perhaps members of the small Bhutna or Bhutra clan of Malwa Jats. See also Butar. and Buta. Maclagan describes them as a Jat or Rajput clan found in Multan tahsil and allied to the Langahs, etc., Bhutta, Langah, Dahar, Shajra and Naich, being said to be sons of Mahli in the couplet : —

Saghi, jihāndi dādi, Sodi jihāndi mā,

Mahli jāi panj putr — Dahr, Bhutta, Langah, Naich, Shajra.

A branch of this clan at Khairpur near Multan is in the transition stage towards becoming Sayyid.

According to the Bahawalpur tradition the Bhutta are of the same stock as the Bhatia.^* When Dewa Rawal, sister's son of Raja Jajja Bhutta, was building the fort now called Derawar Jajja in a fit of jealousy stopped its construction ; whereupon his sister who was married to a Bhatia Rajput thus addressed him : —

Rāi Jajja Bhuttā sen wain ki bhain puchhāe,

Kaya Bhutta kaya Bhatia Kot usdran de.

Meaning: "His sister besought Rai Jajja, the Bhutta:Whether thou art a Bhutta or a Bhatia, let the fort be built."

• Bhutta (भुट्टा), an Jat clan (agricultural) found in Montgomery.

In Rajatarangini

Rajatarangini tells ....Among the trees, karavira alone, owing to the loveliness of its floors, has the dignity of beauty, and the flowers become useful in the worship of the Shivalinga. So among the several ministers of the king, one alone named Bhuṭṭa, younger brother of Jahlu (?), attained, dignified excellence. The offering which he made to Mahadeva the Jyeshtarudra, otherwise called the Bālakeshvara, and set up by Vashishta, was accepted by the god who appeared in person. There he built a town without a defect, named Bhuṭṭapura with maṭhas, religious schools and high buildings. In the capital also he set up a Hara, named Bhuṭṭeshvara, and in the village of Maḍava he excavated a tank named Dharmmavibhramadarpana. [VIII (i), p.217]

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Rajatarangini tells ....They thus said to Rajavadana, — " The approach of the dewy season which is nigh is not the time for war. In the month of Chaitra we will again begin to make preparations for battle. If you can afford to wait for sometime, then for the present, we will place you in the loose of the powerful Trillaka, on the road leading to the kingdom of Bhuṭṭa." [VIII (ii),p.263-264]

Distribution in Pakistan

Bhutta - The Bhutta are found throughout southern Punjab; they are one of the largest Saraiki-speaking Jat clans. The Pirzada family of Bahawalpur belong to this clan. They claim descent from Suryavanshi Rajputs.

According to 1911 census the Bhutta were the principal Muslim Jat clan in :

• Shahpur (Sargodha District) District - Bhutta (753)
• Mianwali District - Bhutta (545)
• Muzaffargarh District - Bhutta (2,803)
• Multan District - Bhutta (9,697)
• Dera Ghazi Khan District - Bhutta (2,876)

References

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