Bisati
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| • Urdu • Hindi | |
| Religion | |
| • Islam • | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Ramaiya • Khumra • Shaikh |
The Bisati` are a Muslim community, found in North India . Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and have settled in Karachi and Sindh.
The Bisati -known as Punjabi biradri are said to get their name from the word bisat', which means goods spread out for sale. They are a community of peddlars and traders. According to their traditions, they have emigrated from BEHRA now in Pakistan, during the period of Shahjahan rule. They are said to have initially settled in Punjab, and then moved different parts of India. They are now found mainly in Lucknow, Kanpur, Faizabad and other parts of Awadh, as well as the districts of Meerut and Saharanpur in the Doab, and in Gopalganj District of Bihar. The community have several sub-clans, known as biradaris, the most important being the Ansari, Hashmi, Khan, Kazi and Mirza. Technically, marriages are said to occur within the biradari, and all biradari members trace their descent from a common ancestor. They have titles like Ahmed and Beg.
The Bisati have general merchandise business as their main source of income. Many are also vendors of goods such as bangles, buttons, cosmetics and undergarments. They consider themselves of Shaikh status. In Uttar Pradesh, the Bisati are Sunni Muslim of the Barelvi sect, and speak Urdu, and various dialects of Hindi.
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