Bhadala: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2017}}


{{Infobox ethnic group|
{{Infobox ethnic group|
|group= Bhadala
| group           = Bhadala
|population =  
| population       =  
|popplace = • India • Pakistan
| popplace         = • India • Pakistan
|langs = • [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] • [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] • [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]
| langs           = • [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] • [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] • [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|rels= [[Islam]] 100%
| rels             = Islam
|related= • [[Mallaah]]
| related         = [[Mohana (community)|Mohana]], [[Med people|Med]]
}}
}}


The '''Bhadala''' ({{lang-gu|ભડાલા}}; {{lang-ar|بدل}}; {{lang-hi|भदाला}}) are an [[ethnic group]] found in Pakistan and India. They are found mainly in the [[Kutch District]] of [[Gujarat]]. In [[Pakistan]], they are found mainly in [[Karachi]].<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part One edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 234 to 238</ref>
The '''Bhadala''' or '''Bhodala''' ({{Langx|sd|ڀڊالا}}, {{langx|gu|ભડાલા}}) is a community of seamen and fishermen found in [[Sindh]], Pakistan and [[Kutch district|Kutch]] and [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] regions of [[Gujarat]] in India. In Pakistan, they are found mainly in southern Sindh.<ref name=rbl>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI, Part One, edited by R.B. Lal, P.B.S.V. Padmanabham, G. Krishnan & M. Azeez Mohideen, pages 234 to 238.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lal |first=R. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Cy_-FXW9BQC |title=Gujarat |date=2003 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7991-104-4 |pages=234 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Samiuddin |first1=Abida |title=Global Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Indian Muslim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qEXFxCK-ulUC |last2=Khanam |first2=R. |publisher=Global Vision Publishing House|date=2008 |isbn=9788182202979 |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Origin==
 
The word Bhadala meant a hardworking businessman and sea rider in the [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] language, but now refers to a distinct community found along the coast of [[Kutch]] and [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]]. According to their traditions, they were originally settled in the town of [[Keti Bandar]] in [[Sindh]], where members of the community are still said to be found. The community were said to be invited to settle in [[Kutch]] by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Emperor [[Shahjahan]]. Their original settlement was the village of Mota Salaya in [[Mandvi]] [[Taluka]]. The community are now settled in a number of villages in [[Mandvi]] [[Taluka]] such as Mandis Bhadala Phool and Juna Salaya. In the 18th Century, a large number of Bhadalas moved to [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], where they settled in the ports of [[Veraval]], [[Jamnagar]], [[Dwarka|Dwaraka]] and [[Porbandar]]. A second migration took place in the 19th Century, which saw many Bhadala move to [[Mombasa]], [[Lamu]] and [[Daresalam]] in [[East Africa]].  They were pioneers in the [[Asia]]n settlement of [[East Africa]]. The community now speak Kutchi, while those in [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] also speak [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]].<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI  Part One edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 234 to 238</ref>


==Present circumstances==
==Present circumstances==
The Bhadala are divided into a number of clans, the main ones being the Bharach, Jadeja, Sap, Aspun, Ruknani, Fatwani, Hashmani, Madwani, Kana, Babar, Bhopal, Thaim, Bholim, Turk, Madyar, Vidhani, karani, Betara, Nakhrani, Juneja, Sodha, Sameja, Patha, Palija, Koreja, Kandeja, Bhatti, Yuspani, Jafarabadi and Chauhan. Many are names of well-known [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] tribes, and could point to a diverse origin of the community. But community boundaries are clear, and there is no intermarriage with neighbouring [[Muslim]] [[Maldhari]] communities like the [[Junejo|Juneja]], [[Royma]] and [[Ker (tribe)|Ker]]. Each of their clans are of equal status and inter marry. The community have a well established caste association, the Muslim Bhadala Jamat, which is one of the oldest Muslim castes association in [[Gujarat]]. It has offices in [[Mombasa]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], [[Dubai]], [[Karachi]] (Keamari & Baba Island) and [[Keti Bandar]], reflecting the widespread distribution of the community.<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI  Part One edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 234 to 238</ref>
The Bhadala are divided into 32 clans, the main ones being the Aspun, Bhatti, Babar, Bhopal, Bholim/Belhim, Bhojani, Chahan, Chanaa, Dekla, Dosani, Fatwani, Ghohil, Grana, Gunda, Jadeja, Juspani, Jethwa, Juneja, Koreja, Kandeja, Kana, Karani, Mokha, Madwani, Madyar, Nathrani, Panjri, Palija, Patha, Ruknani, Roomi, Saghani, Sodha, Sameja, Sayani, Sap, Siru, Thaim, Turk, Vidhani, Zufrabadi. Many are names of well-known [[Sindhis|Sindhi]] tribes, and could point to a diverse origin of the community. But community boundaries are clear, and there is no intermarriage with neighbouring [[Muslim]] [[Maldhari]] communities like the [[Juneja]], [[Royma]] and [[Ker (tribe)|Ker]]. Each of their clans are of equal status and inter marry. The community have a well established caste association, the Muslim Bhadala Jamat, which is one of the oldest Muslim castes association in [[Gujarat]]. It has offices in [[Mombasa]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], [[Dubai]], [[Karachi]] ([[Keamari (locality)|Keamari]] & [[Baba and Bhit Islands|Baba Island]]) and [[Keti Bandar]], reflecting the widespread distribution of the community.<ref name=rbl/>
 
The Bhadala is still a seafaring community, and almost all the [[Dhow]] captains on the [[Dubai]] to [[India]] route are Bhadala. Many are also employed by the merchant navies of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. Generally each [[dhow]] crew is made up of close kinsmen. In [[Pakistan]], the Bhadala owns a significant part of that countries fishing fleet. In [[India]], the Bhadala often employ [[Muslim]] [[Machiyar]] or [[Hindu]] [[Kharwa (caste)|Kharwa]] on their fishing boats, while in [[Pakistan]] most of the crew is made up of ethnic [[Bengali Muslims]].<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI  Part One edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 234 to 238</ref>
The Bhadala is still a seafaring community, and almost all the [[Dhow]] captains on the [[Dubai]] to [[India]] route are Bhadala. Many are also employed by the merchant navies of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. Generally each [[dhow]] crew is made up of close kinsmen. In [[Pakistan]], the Bhadala owns a significant part of that countries fishing fleet. In [[India]], the Bhadala often employ Muslim [[Machiyar]] or Hindu [[Kharwa (caste)|Kharwa]] on their fishing boats, while in [[Pakistan]] most of the crew is made up of ethnic [[Bengali Muslims]].<ref name=rbl/>
 
The Bhadala are entirely [[Sunni]], and follow the traditions of the other neighbouring [[Muslim]] communities.
The Bhadala are entirely [[Sunni]], and follow the traditions of the other neighbouring [[Muslim]] communities.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Indian Muslim}}
{{Indian Muslim}}
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tribes of Kutch]]
[[Category:Fishing communities in India]]
[[Category:Fishing communities in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes in India]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes in India]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 18 September 2025

Bhadala
Regions with significant populations
• India • Pakistan
Languages
• Kutchi • Sindhi • Gujarati
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Mohana, Med

The Bhadala or Bhodala (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is a community of seamen and fishermen found in Sindh, Pakistan and Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat in India. In Pakistan, they are found mainly in southern Sindh.[1][2][3]

Present circumstances[edit | edit source]

The Bhadala are divided into 32 clans, the main ones being the Aspun, Bhatti, Babar, Bhopal, Bholim/Belhim, Bhojani, Chahan, Chanaa, Dekla, Dosani, Fatwani, Ghohil, Grana, Gunda, Jadeja, Juspani, Jethwa, Juneja, Koreja, Kandeja, Kana, Karani, Mokha, Madwani, Madyar, Nathrani, Panjri, Palija, Patha, Ruknani, Roomi, Saghani, Sodha, Sameja, Sayani, Sap, Siru, Thaim, Turk, Vidhani, Zufrabadi. Many are names of well-known Sindhi tribes, and could point to a diverse origin of the community. But community boundaries are clear, and there is no intermarriage with neighbouring Muslim Maldhari communities like the Juneja, Royma and Ker. Each of their clans are of equal status and inter marry. The community have a well established caste association, the Muslim Bhadala Jamat, which is one of the oldest Muslim castes association in Gujarat. It has offices in Mombasa, Muscat, Dubai, Karachi (Keamari & Baba Island) and Keti Bandar, reflecting the widespread distribution of the community.[1]

The Bhadala is still a seafaring community, and almost all the Dhow captains on the Dubai to India route are Bhadala. Many are also employed by the merchant navies of India and Pakistan. Generally each dhow crew is made up of close kinsmen. In Pakistan, the Bhadala owns a significant part of that countries fishing fleet. In India, the Bhadala often employ Muslim Machiyar or Hindu Kharwa on their fishing boats, while in Pakistan most of the crew is made up of ethnic Bengali Muslims.[1]

The Bhadala are entirely Sunni, and follow the traditions of the other neighbouring Muslim communities.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 People of India Gujarat Volume XXI, Part One, edited by R.B. Lal, P.B.S.V. Padmanabham, G. Krishnan & M. Azeez Mohideen, pages 234 to 238.
  2. ↑ Lal, R. B. (2003). Gujarat. Popular Prakashan. p. 234. ISBN 978-81-7991-104-4.
  3. ↑ Samiuddin, Abida; Khanam, R. (2008). Global Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Indian Muslim. Global Vision Publishing House. ISBN 9788182202979.
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