History:
Bhanbhro (Sindhi: ڀنڀرو, Urdu: بھنبھرو ), also known as Bhambhro/ Bhanbhra/ Bhanbhri is a tribe in Sindh, Pakistan, which mainly speaks Sindhi. A group over a population of approximately 0.4 million. They are largely found in South Asia (Pakistan and India). The majority population of Bhanbhro tribe is found in the regions of Naushahro Feroze, khairpur, Sukkur, Thar, Umar Kot, Kaacho, Shahdad Pur, Salih patt, and Shikar Pur in Sindh Province. Whereas, Rajisthan, Jaisal Mir, Kuch, Gujrat, Indian Punjab are some of the regions of Hindustan where people from Bhanbhro tribe live. Bhanbhro predominantly adhere to Sunni Islam.
Etymology of Bhanbhro:
'Bhanbhooree' is a Sindhi & Hindi name of grasshopper. In old times, the names of animals, Insects, & plants have been used on human beings in Sindhi & Hindi culture. Bhanbhooree name sounds very similar to the present name Bhanbhro. Grammatically the part 'ree' of Bhanbhooree refers to female (like Ghoro & Ghoree, Jhirrik & Jhirrikee, and Chokro & Chokree). So it may be possible that in old times our forefathers were known as Bhanbhoro (due to masculine in nature) but by gradual change with passage of time people started using a slang of Bhanbhoro as Bhanbhro for male & Bhanbhree for female.
Amongst other myths, an other early pronunciation of Bhanbhro may be Bhinbhra ( ڀنڀرا ). Bhinbhra is a Sindhi word which means the darkness in atmosphere right before the sun rise. So this may also be the possibility that the name drove from Bhinbhra which later changed to Bhanbhro.
Now another school of thought about Bhanbhro tribe believes that the Bhanbhro name was driven from a combination of two words which are as follows,
- 1- Bun+Baro: As per Sindhi dictionary Bun means 'decoration' & Baro means 'a type of goat'. Combined meaning will b 'the decorated goat'.
- 2- Bun+Bharo: In Sindhi language the word Bun means 'decoration' & Bharo means 'to move or to increase. Combined meaning will b 'the increase in beauty or decoration'.
- 3- Bhan+Bharo: In Sindhi the word Bhan means 'a net to trap animals' & Bharo means 'to increase or to move'. Combined meaning will b 'to increase or to move a net to trap fishes & animals'.
- 4- Bum+Bharo: Bum means 'Danger or Terror' and Bharo means 'to move or to increase'. Combined meaning will b 'The increase in Danger or Terror'.
History of Bhanbhro Tribe:
We still do not have a well versed verification about the age of Bhanbhro Tribe but as per Mr Nabi Bux Baloch, a renowned Sindhi scholar and historian, it is believed that the ancient "Bhanbra City" (also known as Birhmanabad which is now Shahdad Pur in district Sanghar Sindh province) was named after Bhanbhro tribe between 102-319 A.D. So keeping record from history, we may presume that Bhanbhro tribe is approximately 1700 to 1900 years old. Some historians believe that Bhanbra city which was Brihminabad was at actually in the areas of Rohri, Sukkur. While keeping this fact in mind, we come to know that a thousands of people from Bhanbhro community extending from Shahdadpur to Sukkur reigion mainly a desert region of Sindh, live there which somehow proves the validity and authenticity of the history of Bhanbhro tribe.
According to the “Sindh The Archaeological Museum of The World Part 2” we have come across to the references of Tehiri, a great historian. As per the book reference, Tehiri called the city of Dalu Rai as "Babanwah Banbhra" (pp.27-29), the same name was also used by Chach Naamo p. 217. According to “Tuhrat-ul Kiram” the city was mentioned as “Banbhra”. A famous town of Mansura-Brahmanabad, which was used by decoits to locate cattle as well as troop movements before laying hands on these animals. The tower was destroyed by Ghulam Shah Kaloro and the remnants of it are considered to be Buddhist Stupa, converted into Minar for Muizan to call people to prayers. Dr. Baloch on pp. 290 and 292-93 states that these are the ruins of Mansura, and not Babanwah i.e., Banbhra or Brahmanabad as common people believe, but the ruins of Babanwah (Banbhra City or Brahmanabad) are at Depar Ganghro, six miles to the east. He further states that after Hakam al Kalbi built a new town of Mansura. Common man started calling it (New Brahmanabad or Brahmanabad Jadid, and old city of Brahmanabad became Brahmanabad qadeem. No evidence is given for this except that of Biladhuri, who mention the word Brahmanabad Qadeem. The word Brahmanabad Jadid has for the first time appeared in 1964.
Another opinion about Bhanbhra city is that Bhanbra city was also known as "Bhanbhra jo Thul" and it is believed to be a large fortified city, built entirely of backed bricks and had a circumference of 4 miles as measured by perambulator. It appeared to be a commercial city, entirely surrounded with rampart, mounted with numerous turrents and battiness. It is believed that the house of King Dalari was 1 to 2 miles away from Bhanbra City.
There is a large Union Concil in Padidan City (District Naushahro Feroze) with the name of "Deh Bhanbhri". It is the documented record that the entire land (around 2000 acres) of Deh Bhanbhri was of our grand to grand parents, that is why it was known as "Deh Bhanbri" or "Bhanbra State". At around 1918 A.D Brittish Army made an offer to Muhammad Usman Bhanbhro (my Grand Father), Allah Dino Bhanbhro and Attur Bhanbhro to get back the land of "Deh Bhanbhri" but they denied to receive possessions over petty excuses of who will manage this much land while there is no water in Sindh.