Bisht Rajputs

Bisht (derived from the Sanskrit term "Vashisht", literally meaning distinguished) was a title given to Rajput nobles in the Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdoms in present-day Uttarakhand, India. ^{[1] [2]}

History

Bisht was a title given to Sardars and Faujdars in the Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdoms and became a status symbol which was used as an additional or secondary clan title by the descendants of the person who initially received the title or in many cases these titles completely replaced the clan names. The Bisht Rajputs in Kumaon claim descent from a band of immigrants from Chittorgarh and the Sanvaliya Bishts have come to Sanvali in Garhwal from Ujjain and then to Kumaon. The Bisht women were generally married to Manral, Rautela, Karki and Mahra men and vice versa only avoiding the same gotra. The Bisht Rajputs are found in the following sub-clans of Bora, Son, Darmwal, Gaira, Bisariya, Karki or Kharku, Kathi, Khandi, Ulsi, Bhilaula, Chilwal, Dahila, Bhainsora, Chamyal, Bani, Dhaniya and Bagdwal. The majority of the Bisht lineages were from the princely section of the Rajputs in Kumaon. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. Sanwal, Ram Dutt (1976). Social Stratification in Rural Kumaon. Oxford University Press Delhi. p. 50. ISBN   9780195605310.
2. The Himalayan Gazetteer Volume 3 Part 2. 1883. p. 433.