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	{{Distinguish\|text=[[Bhāts]], a traditional genealogist and bardic caste, or the [[Thai baht]], a currency}}		{{Distinguish\|text=[[Bhāts]], a traditional genealogist and bardic caste, or the [[Thai baht]], a currency}}
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	==See also==		==See also==
	~~{{Portal\|India\|Pakistan}}~~
	* [[Barot (caste)]]		* [[Barot (caste)]]
	* [[Bhatia (caste)\|Bhatia]]		* [[Bhatia (caste)\|Bhatia]]

Ajay Kumar: Included a reliable source for verification.

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>Vaderson: /* Kashmir */ Citing Suha Bhatt's conversion to Islam

2021-10-30T18:39:46Z

Kashmir: Citing Suha Bhatt's conversion to Islam

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
[[File:Bhats (9938415574).jpg|thumb|Bhats in western India.(c. 1855-1862)]]

'''Bhat''' (also spelled as '''Bhatt''') is a surname in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. Bhat and Bhatt are shortened rendition of '''Bhatta'''.

Jeffrey G. Snodgrass notes that the Bhatts are [[Brahmins]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Casting Kings: Bards and Indian Modernity |chapter=Cast of Characters: Setting the Rajasthani Stage |first=Jeffrey G. |last=Snodgrass |year=2006 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |place=New York |isbn=978-0198041405 |oclc=62281867 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uP8r9JAs7xkC&pg=PA71 |quote=Of note, some of my informants also now refer to themselves by the term "Bhatt" — pronounced with a short "uh" sound rather than with a long "aah" sound as in "[[Bhats|Bhat]]" — which is a Brahmin caste name. This latest example of Bhat puppeteers' attempts to associate themselves with high-status ''[[Jāti|jati]]'' and ''[[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]]'' titles, in this case an example of "[[Brahmanization|Brahminization]]," is especially common among my informants' relatives inhabiting the Shadipur Depot colony of Delhi.<sup>79</sup>}}</ref> A large number of Muslims retained the surname after their conversion to Islam from Hinduism.<ref name=TJASI/> '''Butt''', which is the "most common" surname in the [[Kashmir Valley]], is the contorted form of Bhatt.<ref name=TJASI>{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPmBAAAAMAAJ|access-date=10 January 2015|year=2003|publisher=The Survey|language=en|quote=The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.}}</ref><ref name="University of Michigan">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SANuAAAAMAAJ|title=The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore)., Volume 96|publisher=The Society|year=2005|quote=Even today most common family name in Kashmir is Butt, a distortion of Bhatt, a Hindu surname common amongst the Brahmins in India.|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The word "Bhat" means "teacher" in [[Sanskrit]].<ref name="Sahagala1994">{{cite book |last1=Sahagala |first1=Narendra |title=Converted Kashmir: Memorial of Mistakes |date=1994 |publisher=Utpal Publications |isbn=978-81-85217-06-2 |page=53 |language=English |quote=Bhat means a Brahmin, teacher, who imparts knowledge.}}</ref><ref name="Sehgal2013">{{cite book |last1=Sehgal |first1=Narender |title=A State In Turbulence Jammu & Kashmir |date=1 January 2013 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-81-8430-242-4 |page=18 |language=English}}</ref> While the original shortened rendition of "Bhatta" was "Bhat" or "Bhatt,"<ref name="Saligram Bhatt">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&q=Bhat&pg=PA134|title=Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace|author=Saligram Bhatt|quote=Bhat {Bhatt}, surnames are found in Uttaranchal, Northern Belt, Central and Western parts of the country and is a surname of sizeable Brahmins in Konkan, Maharashtra and Gujarat; where they had migrated in sizeable strength. Bhatta's who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} were called ''Acharaya's'' {Scholars} and thus ''Bhattacharaya's''. In Nepal they became priests, ardent worshippers of ''Bhadrakali'' and spread ''Kali'' worship; mostly around ''Pashupatinath'' Temple. In Uttaranchal they became ''Purohit'' {Priestly} class, adopted surname ''Purohit'', many changed profession but retained Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhatta's, many Bhatt's; in both cases ''Purohit'' {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained and to indicate their Brahmin roots they opted for surname only. Thus Bhatta and ''Purohit'' are surnames of the same category. Bhatta has a shortened version, Bhat {Bhatt}; referring to the same class of people. Surname Bhat {Bhatt} in ''Kas'mira'' can also be traced to short form of Bhatta. In ''Kas'mira'', Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures and specific in many cases in 14th century and later.|access-date=2 December 2010|isbn=9788131304020|year=2008}}</ref> many of the migrants to the [[Punjab region]] started spelling their surname as "But" or "Butt" which is the spelling of the clan used in the [[Pahari language (Kashmir)|Pahari language]].<ref name="Anthropological Survey of India">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPmBAAAAMAAJ|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 52|publisher=The Survey|year=2003|quote=The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="P. K. Kaul">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DKFjAAAAMAAJ&q=butt+pahari|title=Pahāṛi and other tribal dialects of Jammu, Volume 1|publisher=Eastern Book Linkers|author=P.K. Kaul|quote=The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.|access-date=2 December 2010|isbn=9788178541013|year=2006}}</ref>

==Geographic distribution==
===Goa===
The surname is in use among some [[Konkani people#Christians|Konkani Christians]] who trace their ancestry to the [[Goud Saraswat Brahmins]] of [[Goa]].<ref name="Machado">''Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians'', Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, 1999, p. 137</ref>

===Gujarat===
Hindu Bhatts who speak the [[Gujarati language]] reside in the Indian state.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===Karnataka===
This is a common surname among the [[Tuluva Brahmins]], [[Goud Saraswat Brahmin]]s and [[Havyaka Brahmin]]s of Karnataka.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===Kashmir===
Bhat, also spelled as Butt, is a [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] surname, found among individuals native to the [[Kashmir|Kashmir Valley]], as well as Kashmiri émigrés who migrated to [[Punjab region|Punjab]],<ref name="TJASI2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPmBAAAAMAAJ|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India|publisher=The Survey|year=2003|language=en|quote=The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.|access-date=10 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bansi Pandit">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zsoC6GWr47QC&pg=PA99|title=Explore Kashmiri Pandits|publisher=Dharma Publications|isbn=9780963479860|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> a region divided between India and neighbouring [[Pakistan]].<ref name="Anthropological Survey of India2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPmBAAAAMAAJ|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 52|publisher=The Survey|year=2003|quote=The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> Many such Muslim Kashmiris migrated to Punjab in the late 19th century due to Dogra oppression.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=From Jinnah to Jihad: Pakistan's Kashmir Quest and the Limits of Realism|last=Bahl|first=Arvin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iaYPyVAjHH8C|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|year=2007|isbn=9788126907212|pages=76}}</ref><ref name="University of Michigan2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SANuAAAAMAAJ|title=The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore)., Volume 96|publisher=The Society|year=2005|quote=Even today most common family name in Kashmir is Butt, a distortion of Bhatt, a Hindu surname common amongst the Brahmins in India.|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="Saligram Bhatt2">{{cite book|author=Saligram Bhatt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&q=Bhat&pg=PA134|title=Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace|year=2008|isbn=9788131304020|quote=Bhat {Bhatt}, surnames are found in Uttaranchal, Northern Belt, Central and Western parts of the country and is a surname of sizeable Brahmins in Konkan, Maharashtra and Gujarat; where they had migrated in sizeable strength. Bhatta's who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} were called ''Acharaya's'' {Scholars} and thus ''Bhattacharaya's''. In Nepal they became priests, ardent worshippers of ''Bhadrakali'' and spread ''Kali'' worship; mostly around ''Pashupatinath'' Temple. In Uttaranchal they became ''Purohit'' {Priestly} class, adopted surname ''Purohit'', many changed profession but retained Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhatta's, many Bhatt's; in both cases ''Purohit'' {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained and to indicate their Brahmin roots they opted for surname only. Thus Bhatta and ''Purohit'' are surnames of the same category. Bhatta has a shortened version, Bhat {Bhatt}; referring to the same class of people. Surname Bhat {Bhatt} in ''Kas'mira'' can also be traced to short form of Bhatta. In ''Kas'mira'', Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures and specific in many cases in 14th century and later.|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> The surname is shared by both Kashmiri [[Kashmiri Pandits|Hindus]] and [[Kashmiri Muslims|Muslims]].<ref name="Parvéz Dewân">{{cite book|author=Parvéz Dewân|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fF0wAQAAIAAJ|title=Parvéz Dewân's Jammû, Kashmîr, and Ladâkh: Kashmîr|date=January 2004|publisher=Manas Publications|isbn=9788170491798|quote=This is a surname shared by Hindus and Muslims.|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="Sharma2001">{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=Usha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b3gwAQAAIAAJ|title=Political development in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh|date=1 January 2001|publisher=Radha Publications|isbn=9788174870629|language=en|quote=Surnames like 'Bhatt' and 'Pandit' are common to both Hindus and Muslims.|access-date=11 January 2015}}</ref> During [[Sikandar Shah Miri|Sikandar Shah Miri's]] rule from 1389 to 1413 CE, his prime minister [[Suhabhatta|Suha Bhatt]] embraced Islam along with his family by [[Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani|Mir Muhammad Hamadani]] and took the name of Saif-ud-Din, along with earning the title of Malik.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rich Heritage of Jammu & Kashmir by Somnath Wakhlu|url=http://ikashmir.net/richheritage/13.html|access-date=2021-10-30|website=ikashmir.net}}</ref>

===Bengal===
Hindu Bhattas who reside in the [[Bengal|Bengal region]] and speak the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] are mostly found in the [[Noakhali]], [[Sylhet|Shrihatta]] and [[Rajshahi]] regions of [[Bangladesh]] as well as in parts of the [[India]]n states of [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]] and [[Tripura]].

===Nepal===
Hindu Bhattas who reside in Nepal and speak [[Nepali language]] and [[Doteli language]] are mostly found in the Mahakali zone of [[Sudurpashchim Pradesh]], [[Nepal]]. Some Nepali Bhattas are also found from the [[Gorkha district]] of [[Nepal]]. However, due to migration of people for opportunities nowadays, Bhattas can be found in different parts of Nepal.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===Punjab===
Some Muslim Bhats/Butts found in the Punjab migrated from [[Kashmir and Jammu (princely state)|Kashmir and Jammu]] during the [[Great Famine of 1876–78|1878 famine]],<ref name="Anthropological Survey of India"/><ref name="P. K. Kaul"/> and are [[Brahmin|Brahmin Hindu]] converts to Islam.<ref name=TJASI/><ref name="University of Michigan"/> Many such Muslim Kashmiris migrated to the Punjab in the late 19th century due to natural disasters.

===Uttarakhand===
Bhatt residing in Uttarakhand are mostly Hindu Brahmins. They speak Hindi, [[Kumaoni language|Kumauni]] or [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]] language and are priests in the local temples.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==Notable individuals==


===Academics===
* [[Aryabhatta]], first of the major mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy.
* [[Bāṇabhaṭṭa]], [[Sanskrit]] prose writer and poet
* [[B. V. Rajarama Bhat]], Indian mathematician
* [[Miriam Butt]], Professor of Linguistics and Chair of the Department of Linguistics (Facereich Sprachwissenschaft) at the University of Konstanz
* [[Muhammad Asim Butt]], Pakistani Urdu novelist, short story writer
* [[Motiram Bhatta]], Nepali [[Sanskrit]] and [[Khas language]] poet
* [[P. Gururaja Bhat]], Indian archaeologist
* [[Pamposh Bhat]], Kashmiri Indian environmentalist
* [[Rasheed Butt]], renowned Pakistani artist and recipient of "The Pride of Performance" 1989
* [[Shyam Bhat]], physician
* [[Suresh Bhat]], Marathi Indian ghazal writer
* [[U. Narayan Bhat]], Indian mathematician
* [[U. R. Bhat]], economist
* [[Vasanti N. Bhat-Nayak]], Indian mathematician
* [[Vinay Bhat]], American chess player

===Actors, models, technicians and musicians===
* [[Ahmed Butt]], male Pakistani model and actor
* [[Ali Azmat|Ali Azmat Butt]], Pakistani rock artist, and former lead singer of rock band Junoon
* [[Alia Bhatt]], Bollywood actress
* [[Ambreen Butt]], Pakistani model
* [[Anuradha Bhat]], Indian playback singer
* [[Asha Bhat]], Indian model
* [[Asim Butt (artist)|Asim Butt]], Pakistani painter and sculptor and a member of the Stuckist Art Movement
* [[Biraj Bhatta]], Nepalese actor
* [[DJ Butt]], Pakistani disc jockey for PTI
* [[Farhan Saeed|Farhan Saeed Butt]], Pakistani singer and member of rock band Jal
* [[Furqan and Imran|Imran Imtiaz Butt]], Pakistani singer
* [[Ganapati Bhat]], Hindustani classical vocalist
* [[Hrishitaa Bhatt]], Indian model
* [[Mahesh Bhatt]], Indian film producer and director
* [[Muhammad Younis Butt]], Pakistani screenwriter
* [[Neil Bhatt]], Indian Television actor, dancer, choreographer
* [[Osman Khalid Butt]], Pakistani actor
* [[Pooja Bhatt]], Indian actress
* [[Praneet Bhat]], Kashmiri Indian actor
* [[Rabia Butt]], Pakistani model
* [[Rahul Bhat]], Kashmiri Indian actor
* [[Ramesh Bhat]], Indian actor
* [[Samina Peerzada|Samina Peerzada Butt]], Pakistani actress
* [[Shubhraj Bhat]], Indian actor
* [[Tanmay Bhat]], Indian actor and Comedian
* [[Yogaraj Bhat]], Indian film writer and director.
*
*

===Businesspeople===
* [[Baiju Bhatt]] (born 1984/1985), American billionaire, co-founder of Robinhood

===Military===
* [[Muhammad Zaki Butt]], former Air Commodore in the Pakistan Air Force and bodyguard of Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
* [[Ziauddin Butt]], former Chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence
* [[Tahir Rafique Butt]], 20th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force
* [[Malik Tazi Bhat]], 15th century Warlord, from Jammu, who fought Lodhi Dynasty

===Politics===
* [[Balaji Vishwanath Bhat]], [[Peshwa]] of the [[Maratha Empire]]
* [[Ghulam Mustafa Bhat]], former Mayor of Srinagar
* [[Hassan Butt]], former spokesman for the disbanded British Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun
* [[Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif]], First Lady of Pakistan, wife of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, of Kashmiri origin
* [[Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu|Khemraj Bhatta "Mayalu"]], [[Nepali Congress]] politician
* [[Lekh Raj Bhatta]], Nepali [[CPN Maoist]] politician
* [[Masarat Alam Bhat]], Kashmiri separatist
* [[Maqbool Bhat]], executed Kashmiri separatist
* [[Shakeel Bhat]], outspoken Kashmiri separatist activist, labelled as "Islamic Rage Boy" by Western media
* [[S. L. Bhat]], Kashmiri Indian serving as the Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission
* [[Sohail Shaukat Butt]], Pakistani politician
* [[Trilochan Bhatta]], Nepalese politician and current [[Chief Minister]] of [[Sudurpashchim Pradesh]], [[Nepal]]
* [[Umer Tanveer]] Butt, a young politician and Member of Punjab Provincial Assembly, businessman and philanthropist

===Scientists===
* [[Noor Muhammad Butt]], Pakistani nuclear physicist, research scientist and chairman of Pakistan Science Foundation
* [[Parvez Butt]], Pakistani nuclear engineer and former chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
* [[Atul Butte]], researcher in biomedical informatics and biotechnology entrepreneur in Silicon Valley

===Sports===
*[[Amad Butt]], Pakistani cricket player for Islamabad United, of Kashmiri origin
*[[Arif Butt]], Pakistani cricket player
*[[Arvind Bhat]], Indian badminton player
*[[Abhishek Bhat]], Indian cricket player
*[[The Great Gama|Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt]], Pakistani wrestler known popularly as The Great Gama
*[[Hussain Butt]], Pakistani cricketer
*[[Ijaz Butt]], former Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board and cricket player, of Kashmiri origin
*[[Ikram Butt]], Rugby player for England, of Pakistani/Kashmiri origin
*[[Muhammad Sharif Butt]], Pakistani sprinter
*[[Pramila Bhatt]], Indian cricketer
*[[Raghuram Bhat]], Indian cricketer
*[[Rehan Butt]], Pakistani field hockey player
*[[Samad Bhat]], Kashmiri Indian cricket player
*[[Salman Butt]], Pakistani cricketer
*[[Sadia Butt]], Pakistani cricketer
*[[Shujauddin Butt]], Pakistani cricketer
*[[Yasir Butt]], Pakistani squash player
*[[Yousuf Butt]], Pakistani footballer

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Pakistan}}
* [[Barot (caste)]]
* [[Bhatia (caste)|Bhatia]]
* [[Bhattacharya (surname)|Bhattacharyya]]
* [[Bhati]]
* [[List of Kashmiri Pandits]]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{Kashmirifamalies}}

{{Surname}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhat (Kashmir)}}
[[Category:Brahmin communities]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Pandits]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Surnames]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:37, 20 September 2026
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	{{Distinguish\|text=[[Bhāts]], a traditional genealogist and bardic caste, or the [[Thai baht]], a currency}}		{{Distinguish\|text=[[Bhāts]], a traditional genealogist and bardic caste, or the [[Thai baht]], a currency}}
	~~{{pp\|small=yes}}~~
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2025}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2025}}
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Bhat - Revision history

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LesliGirard6: expanded content

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>Vaderson: /* Kashmir */ Citing Suha Bhatt's conversion to Islam