Burfat, Bulfat or Bulfati (Sindhi: بُرفت) is a Sindhi[1] Sammat tribe,[2][3][4][5] originally from the Lasbela and Kirthar (Kohistan) mountains of the Sindh[6] province of Pakistan.[7][8][9][10][11] Burfats are also found in Iran, Afghanistan and Oman.

Etymology and origins edit

Burfat or Bulfat was actually the "Abul Fatah" meaning (Father of Victory or Victorious) the name of their elder who after embracing Islam adopted this name, which overtime shortened to Bulfat and then Burfat.[12]

The Burfats claim descent from Jam Burfat or Bulfat son of Jam Essab Numrio, according to some scholars Jam Essab was son of Jam Hothi, who along with eight persons migrated from their ancestral place of Wango-Wilasyo which is presently Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and Badin, who were collectively called as Nuhmardi (Numria).[13]

History edit

Burfat tribe lives in Thana Bulla Khan tehsil, Kotri, Thatta and Dadu in Sindh, they are also native to Lasbela, Makran, Khuzdar, Kalat in balochistan, there are also many Burfats in Iran and Oman. The Burfats are quite prominent; they ruled the area for many centuries and left their imprints in the form of monuments in various villages and towns in Thana Bula Khan.[14]

The famous female ruler of Lasbela was "Mai Chagli" who was wife of Malik Pahar Khan Burfat, the cultural hero of the Burfats After the death of Malik Pahar Khan Burfat, his wife Mai Chagli became the ruler of Lasbela. The Roonjha tribe served as the administrators of Mai Chagli. They feared the rising power of the Jams of Kanrach and in order to crush the Jams of Karachi valley, they killed Jam Digar one of the chiefs of the tribe. In order to avenge the death of his brother, Jam Aali along with his tribesmen invaded the capital of Mai Chaglai and killed those who murdered his brother Jam Digar. Mai Chagli took her infant son Malik Izzat Khan and went to her ancestral place Taung and later on shifted to Kotri where her tomb is located just behind the government degree college.[3]

Clans edit

Various clans of the Burfats, notably the Aaqlani, Alwani, Burra, Baprani, Bahriani, Birhamani, Banbhra, Barparkar, Barhdoda, Bandijo, Barzār, Chhura, Chhāra, Chhutta, Chelaria, Cheena, Chhāpra, Chāglipota, Dudhar, Dadhar, Dethrani, Datia, Duja, Duhar/Dadhar, Dhenani, Diyanrani, Eshaqpota, Gaincho, Gahecho, Gajan, Gunjan, Gaam, Hamalani, Hamdani, Hamirka, Hamati, Hasnani, Hairha, Hasalpota, Hothmanzai, Halwai, Jaindpota, Jamote, Jam, Kachela, Kāsoto, Kānra, Kānrio, Khajar, Khahawar, Khadrani, Khurpar, Khadarpota, Khur, Khura, Khara, Kharhār, Khahara, Kharira, Kharerra, Khurera, Khondar, Kandarani, Khaipota/Khiyepota, Kānkhia, Kandhro, Khokheja, Khonman, Loharani, Lalani, Lakhair, Lodi, Lodhi, Lodhar, Lodhira, Lora, Loria, Lolaya, Lorar, Lomria, Longia, Lohaj, Musa, Musapota, Mandhra, Māndra, Mundra, Madhura, Mardoi, Morcha, Mora, Mahanda, Mochija, Manjhand, Manjotho, Manda, Mandhan, Mandān, Mandani, Mandana, Not, Nahar, Nahri, Nahari, Nahria, Nayari, Nooripota, Nuhpota, Nol, Nomria, Panildhipota, Palari, Parar, Qalandarani, Roonjho, Sheena, Shana, Shoda, Shahok, Sasoli, Seendhlani, Seelar, Seelro, Seelria, Silachi, Sakuna, Sermani Burra, Shaheja, Sodhani, Sodhar, Sodhra, Sodha, Soli, Senera, Thaheja, Uthmanpota etc.[15]

Clans from Burra Burfat: Bakhra, Serman Muridani Burra and Barhamani Burra.

Clans from Barhamani Burra Burfat: Aliani, Allani, Aripota, Banbhan, Bahrani, Dhaturani, Dhanuripota, Dhamrani, Ghandheer, Hasnani, Jamalani, Kandani, Kheerinpota, Obhayani, Peroz, Pariani, Radhani, Marani, Maripota and Wasriani.[15]

Clans from Sermani Burra Burfat: Bhona, Berani, Doda, Dhonaria, Daresani, Dhagarani, Hasanpota, Motani, Perozpota, Perarani and Raza Muhamadiani.[15]

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ Kalhora, Zulfiqar (2018). Archaelogy, Art and Religion in Sindh (PDF). Government of Sindh. p. 13. ..that the majority of Chaukhandi tombs belong to Sindhi tribes, be they Burfats, Barejas..
  2. ^ Society, Pakistan Historical (1976). Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society. Pakistan Historical Society. p. 105. ..Likewise, the Burfat tribe which is also a branch of Numerees was shown under the Sammas..
  3. ^ a b "Necropolis: City of silence". DAWN.COM. 2010-04-11. Retrieved 2023-06-29. At that time, Lasbela was under the rule of the Burfats; before whom, the Gujars, the Ronjha Jams and the Joongha Jams ruled over Lasbela. Except the Gujars, all others are the clans of the Samma tribe of Sindh.
  4. ^ Minahan, James (2002). Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z. Greenwood Press. pp. 1732–1733. ISBN 9780313323843.
  5. ^ (Pakistan), Baluchistan (1979). Balochistan Through the Ages: Geography and history. p. 427.
  6. ^ "13,000 villagers gear up for fight with DHA, Sindh govt". The Express Tribune. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2024-02-07. Their residents include Sindhi tribes such as the Burfats, Kachelos, Chuttos, Jokhios, Sheikhs, Bareejos, Gabols....
  7. ^ "Lasbela | Lasbella Chamber". Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  8. ^ K̲h̲ān̲, Rānā Muḥammad Sarvar (2005). The Rajputs: History, Clans, Culture, and Nobility. Rana Muhammad Sarwar Khan.
  9. ^ Society, Pakistan Historical (1976). Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society. Pakistan Historical Society. p. 105.
  10. ^ "Taung Tombs, Than Bula Khan, Jamshoro". heritage.eftsindh.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  11. ^ Hasan, Shaikh Khurshid (1996). Chaukhandi Tombs in Pakistan. Royal Book Company. ISBN 978-969-407-208-1.
  12. ^ "برفت : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  13. ^ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (2012). "The Tombs of Burfat Tribe at Taung, Thana Bula Khan, Sindh (Pakistan)".
  14. ^ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (5 December 2012). "The Tombs of Burfat Tribe at Taung, Thana Bula Khan, Sindh (Pakistan)". Ancient Asia. 3: 79. doi:10.5334/aa.12307. S2CID 128767424.
  15. ^ a b c Khair Mohammad Buriro Sewhani (2005). ذاتين جي انسائيڪلوپيڊيا (in Sindhi).