ALL ABOUT BHITTANI TRIBE
The Bhittani
The (Bettani) also spelled Bhittani, Bettany'Bittani is a Pashtun tribe located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan and in Afghanistan. The Bettanis reside in a territory that is a buffer zone separating Tank District from the Mahsud tribe of South Waziristan Region. The Bettani tribe live in the Frontier Region of District Tank and in FR Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkwa. Jandola is considered the capital of the Bettani tribes in FR Tank. Across the Durand line, a smaller number of Bettanis are scattered in parts of Ghazni, Logar, Kabul, Nangarhar and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan. The Bhittani claim descent from Beat Baba (Baitan), the third son of Qais Abdurisheed, the founder of Pashtun. Bhittani are also referred to as Bitani, Bettani, Battani, Bhettani and Bhittani. Some of the Bettani tribes are residing in Hyderabad, India and United Arab Emirate (UAE) from last 35 years..
Bhittani History
The Betani are said to be named after their ancestor Beat Baba (claimed to be First Pashtu Poet), who lived in the Altamur range of Afghanistan, which is located between Logar and Zurmant, and he was buried in Ghazni. The Betani are known to have lived in the Logar, Zurmat and Ghazni area until the 15th century, but then they came into conflict with the Ghilzai Afghans, and the Betanis were expelled from the area towards the east. Some lineages succeeded to take control of Gabar ghar, which is located between the Bannu Basin and Dera, while other Betani lineages migrated further northeastwards.
Organisation of Bhittani tribe
The Bettani tribe has three sub-castes, which are called Tattha, Wraspoon and Dhana. The Tattha is further subdivided into three clans: the Umarkhail, Aba Khel, Naimat Khel and Khaishi. The Dhana tribe is divided into Ali khail, Bobi, Waroki and Dadi Khel subclans. The Wraspoon subdivides into Mazyani, Tari, Chapli and Shakhi. The Bettani tribe includes between 200,000 and 250,000 individuals according to an estimates.
A large number of Bettani are also living in Balochistan province especially in Quetta Cantt (required research). They have been there for last 70 or 80 years. Nowadays they have mixed themselves with the Nasuran. They had built strong family relation with them. Although they have arranged marriages in between them, yet they still remain two different Pashtun tribes.
Members of Bettani tribe (approximately 18,000 individuals) are also living in France for nearly a century. They are now totally mixed in French culture. They basically migrated there during British rule in sub-continent in 1897. Members of Bettani tribe are also living in West Indies but they now call themselves Indians.
Bhittani Cultural notes
Hospitality is given importance and tea is the most popular consumable item. The tribe has demonstrated a keen interest in facilitating educational accomplishments of youth; as a result, several doctors of this tribe contribute their services in different parts of the country and abroad. Bettanis are patriotic and loyal to their country. The tribal youth are fond of sports, including traditional sports Hinda, Kabadi, Kath Kath, football, volleyball and cricket. Cricket and football is the popular sports among the youth. Bettani are fond of traditional dancing called (Attan, Tarai). During marriage parties, anyone can join the night dancing party without any formal invitation. Traditional drummers (Daman) hired during marriages to entertain the participants. The dancing of this tribe bit different from other Pashtun tribes. The people of every age can be seen dancing in night marriage parties. Similarly the female of this tribe are found of dancing particularly on the occasion of marriages but they do it within their houses, separately. The local female drummers hired for entertaining the females. In most of the marriages big launch offered to the relatives, villagers and participants of the marriage. While in evening close friends and relatives invited for dinner. During evening dinner drummers are playing drums and the relative and friends coming along with sheep or goat, it is called in Pashtu 'Balanai'. On Balanai aerial firing also given by the attendants on the entry in the marriage premises. The cousin marriages are common in this tribe. Tribal women are very found of wearing ornaments and jewellery of all type made of gold and silver. A lot of money is spent on the local ceremonies, particularly on marriage, death, birth and other ceremonies/festivals like celebration of Eid and performing Haj. Most marriages are arranged, and most people live in a joint family system.
Bettani Foods
Commonly eaten foods include ghee, a bread called aishal, beef, Painda, and boiled rice with Lassi, Potato curry, Butter Kari, Milk kari, boiled meat, Fried meat "Larmoon", Beef pualao, Chicken Pualao, Sweet rice (Zarda), Boiled Grains, wheat Halwa (Sweet), salt onion bread, sweet bread (Kakoray), fried tomato, fried eggs, tomato sauc, all kind of vegetables curry, makan and pure ghee. Drinks includes tea, sugar lemon water and lasi (butter water).
Bettani Politics
Bettani tribe culture is different from other Pashtuns.
In minor matters, disputes are common, and sometimes ongoing for decades. On different occasions they also cooperate, and their internal matters are decided in three Bettani jirga (tribal councils) based upon the three subclans of Tattha, Wraspoon and Dhana. The rival families give complete authority to the three Bettani councils, and the council's decisions are generally obeyed, but in cases of opposition to these decisions, a family may be fined. If the dispute is of bigger nature between the tribes then the DCO, PA, MNA and Senators, Maliks and elders, sometimes from neighboring FRs/agencies also participate in the jirga to resolve the disputes. The people have to accept the decision made by the jirga. The jirga results are presented to the DCO for information and record. If any one of the party is not happy or satisfied with the decision made by the jirga then the grieved party can go to the appellate court and then the Home Department, who decides the case under the FCR. Traditionally the household head has a strong hold and decision-making power for the whole family. The wives are traditionally submissive to their husbands and the likelihood of divorce or separation in the tribal society is negligible. The Bhittani are the hereditary enemies of the Mahsuds, however, over the centuries they have joined with them during important battles against invaders. In August 2007, Bhittani tribesmen threatened a Lashkar against Mahsud tribesmen if they did not return 16 kidnapped Bhittanis. Mahsud raiders had to pass through Bhittani territory to enter the settled areas so Mehsud tribe always avoid any kind of clash with Bettani tribe.
Bettani Education
Nearly 60 per cent people of the tribe are educated. Earlier people dependent only on the agriculture and livestock but now the majority love to manage education for their children. Several government Primary and few high schools and one college for boys existed in the areas. But still there is need to establish primary and high schools particularly for female students. According to my observation nearly 90 per cent youth of the tribe have basic education. But to poverty several people only limited to high and secondary schools. It is a good sign that the educated youth are broad minded and talented. I will request to our government to establish more educational institutions and technical education institutions in the areas.
Bettani Religion
The Bettani tribe are of the Hanafi sect of Sunni Islam.
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