The Bettani (), also spelled Batani, Baittani or Bhittani, is a Pashtun people confederacy located mostly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Bettani are named after Shaykh Beṭ,[ their legendary ancestor, who is said to be the third and last son of Qais Abdur Rashid (575 – 661).][
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The Bettanis are Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school. The Bettani confederacy includes the tribes of Bettanis, and the Matti tribes, which are the progeny of BiBi Mattu, the daughter of Sheikh Bettan. These include the Lodi, who are also known as Lohani, as well as the tribes of Marwat, Tanoli and Niazi. The Shirani tribe has also been referenced as a component of the Bettani confederacy.[History of Afghans by Dorn B.]
History
According to Makhzan-e-Afghani,[ a compiled history of Afghans written by Ni'mat Allah al-Harawi , the Bettani are said to be named after their ancestor Betṭ Baba (claimed by a legend to be the first Pashto poet), who lived in the Altamur range, which is located between Logar Province and Zurmat District. The narrative continues with the account of his burial in Ghazni.][Makhzan-e-Afghani]
The Bettani are also known to have lived in the Logar Province, Zurmat and Ghazni areas of Afghanistan until the 15th century.
Settlements
Some Bettanis reside in Pakistan, in Tank District, Quetta Quetta District and Lakki Marwat. Jandola is considered the capital of the Bettani tribes.[Hayat e Afghan][Castes of Punjab by Ibettson] The area is mainly inhabited by the Bettanis. They also inhabit Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu, mostly in the mountainous areas on the borders of Jandola Tehsil and Bannu, from the Gabbar mountain in the north to the Gomal valley in the south.[The Pathan Boderland, Spain]
According to Captain Robinson's book “Notes on Nomad Tribes of Eastern Afghanistan” page 158 ibid, the Bhittanis/Betani or Baitanais (Katagram clan of Bhittanis of Quetta), besides those who are settled in Jandola, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu Districts and in the South Waziristan Agency there were three villages of Bhittani settled in Karabagh, Ghazni, making about one hundred families of Powindahs. The nomads live and migrated towards Kuchlak, Bostan and then Kotwal area of Nawan Killi Quetta around the 1880s and then towards Jamia Masjid Nawan Killi in the 1920s then finally settled in Nawan Killi Nasran in 1953. As per Robinson, there were total 30 families of Bhittani with the' Mian Khel, and 70 families scattered among the Nasar tribes. The Baitanais and Nasars of Quetta have been enjoying brotherly relations since ages. They have strong ties and family bounds with each others. These tribes used to spent all winter in the Dera Ismail Khan District. Their means of livelihood was the same as that of the tribes with which they live (Nasars)[1].
During the reign of the Lodi dynasty, some Bettanis had prestigious positions, and many of them served in the Sultanate's army.[Makhzan-e- Afghani]
Tribal organization
The Bettani tribe is divided into four subgroups: Tattao (mostly living in Jandola, Siraghar, and Dera Ismail Khan), Bakhtiyari (living throughout Pakistan and in Petlad, Gujarat), Dhanna (living on the Gabbar mountain and in Lakki Marwat District), and Waraspun (living in Dera Ismail Khan and nearby valleys). Lakki Marwat District is also inhabited by the Boba, Bobak, and Wargara clans of the Bettanis.
The Tattao are subdivided into three clans: the Umarkhail, the Aba Khel, the Naimat Khel, and the Khaishi. The Dhanna are divided into the Ali Khail, Rattanzai, wargara, Bobi, Waroki, and Dadi Khel sub-clans. The Waraspun are divided into the Mazyani, Tari, Chapli, and Shakhi clans.
The Bettani have historically had a low population, increasing from 8,000 – 9,000 in c. 1884 to over 43,000 by c. 1960. Currently, the Bettani tribe numbers between 200,000 and 250,000.
Bettani Sufi saints
The shrine of Mama Peer is located near the town of Umar Adda. Some people in the area visit the shrine on a daily basis, particularly on Friday prayer. Many devotees also visit the shrine of the Sufi saint Sheikh Younas, situated near Jandola, one of the principal towns of Bettani tribe.
Notable people
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Qais Abdur Rashid (575 – 661) (7th century legendary ancestor of all the Pashtun people)
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Zafar Beg Bhittani
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Sheikh Mohammad Rohani
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Abdul Shakoor
Further reading
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Muntazir Bettani Poetry book Kuthab stuarey
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Historical Pashtu book written by Sohail Bettani "De Bettanu Tarikh" (History of Bhittani Tribe)
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The Batani, Baitani or Bhittani (1935) "Powindah Bhittani" Notes on Nomad Tribes of Eastern Afghanistan Government of India Press, New Delhi, India, page 158.
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Daniel Balland
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Encyclopædia Iranica
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Sulaiman Maku Book Tazkerat Al Awliya (Memoirs of Saints) (612 Hijera, 1216 AD) edited and annotated by Abdul Hai Habibi
