Sonowal Kachari people

Sonowal Kachari people
Total population
	235,881
Regions with significant populations
	Predominantly in Upper Assam;
Languages
	Assamese
Religion
	Ekasarana Dharma
Related ethnic groups
	Boros, Dimasas, Thengal Kachari;

The Sonowal Kachari are one of the indigenous peoples of the state of Assam in Northeast India. They are of Tibeto-Burman origin, and are closely associated with the other ethnic groups of Assam, which are commonly referred to as Kachari.

They are predominantly inhabitants of Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Assam, along with pocket populations in Jorhat, Sivsagar, Golaghat district of Assam and in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The headquarters of the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council is at Dibrugarh.

Etymology

The name Sonowal comes from the word 'Son' (Assamese: Xon) which means gold in Assamese.^{[web 1]}The traditional occupation of the Sonowal kacharis was gold panning, that is extracting gold from the riverbeds.^{[web 1]}^[3] The Kacharis those were appointed as gold-washers by the Ahom kings were organised into Sonowal Khel. These Kacharis came to be known as Sonowal Kacharis.^[4]

Notable people

Pradan Baruah, Indian politician, former member of Assam Legislative.
Jogesh Das, prominent writer, recipient of Sahitya Academi Award
Jogendra Nath Hazarika, chief minister of Assam (1979)
Lohit Sonowal, inspector of Commando Battalion of Assam Police, awarded the Kirti Chakra military decoration
Sarbananda Sonowal, politician and former chief minister of Assam (-2021)

References

^ Sonowal, Ripunjoy. (2014). Some Folklore Medicines of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Upper Assam, North East India. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences. 2. 541-543.
^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Baruah & Choudhury 1999.
^ "The Kacharis were, therefore, proficient in extracting gold by washing sands of the rivers. When they became subjects of the Ahom kingdom, they were, therefore, appointed as gold-washers and organized into a Sonowal Khel. These Kacharis came to be known as Sonowol Kacharis."(Dutta 1985, p. 33)

Printed sources

Dutta, Sristidhar (1985), The Mataks and their Kingdom, Allahabad: Chugh Publications
Baruah, Amlan; Choudhury, S. B. Roy (1999). Assam State Gazetteer. Government of Assam.

Internet

^ ^a ^b Karmakar, Rahul (19 May 2016). "Sarbananda Sonowal, 'national hero' who struck gold for BJP in Assam". Hindustan Times.

[1] Sonowal, Ripunjoy. (2014). Some Folklore Medicines of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Upper Assam, North East India. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences. 2. 541-543.

[censusindia.gov.in-2] "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[FOOTNOTEBaruahChoudhury1999-4] Baruah & Choudhury 1999.

[5] "The Kacharis were, therefore, proficient in extracting gold by washing sands of the rivers. When they became subjects of the Ahom kingdom, they were, therefore, appointed as gold-washers and organized into a Sonowal Khel. These Kacharis came to be known as Sonowol Kacharis."(Dutta 1985, p. 33)

[HT-3] Karmakar, Rahul (19 May 2016). "Sarbananda Sonowal, 'national hero' who struck gold for BJP in Assam". Hindustan Times.

[1]

[2]

[web 1]

[3]

[4]