The Sunar (alternately, Swarnkar ,Soni, Sonar, Singh, Shah, Sonkar) is a caste in India and Nepal.The Sunar community work as traders of gold or as goldsmiths.[2] The community is primarily Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and found all over India and Nepal.
| Sunar/Sonar | |
|---|---|
| Religions | Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam[1] |
| Region | India |
Etymology
editThe term Sonar may derive from the Sanskrit suvarna kār, "worker in gold".[3]
The Sonar are still involved in their traditional occupation, that is being goldsmiths. There is however a steady process in taking up other occupations, and the community in Haryana and Punjab as whole is fairly successful, having produced several professionals.[4]
Social status
editThe Sunars are generally considered a part of Vaishya varna.[5]
Factions
editThe Sunars are divided into a large number of territorial and non-territorial groupings called alla. Some of the major alla are the Jhankhad, Santanpuriya, Lal sultaniya, Dekhalantiya, Mundaha, Bhigahiya, Parajiya, Samuhiya, Chilliya, Katiliya Kalidarwa, Naubastwal, Berehele, Gedehiya, Shahpuriya, Mathureke Paliya, Katkaria and Nimkheriya, Vaibhaha. Each lineage is associated with a particular area. To which its ancestors belonged to. The Sunars use Soni, Swarnkar, Verma, Wadichar, Saraf, Shah, Sonik, Singh etc. as their surnames. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the community is also known as Soni.[6] In Haryana, the Sunars are often known as Swarnkar, Soni, Suri and Verma, are their common surname.[7] In Sindh they are called Sonaro, In Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Mair community work as goldsmiths.
Sunar in Nepal
editSunar (Sunar in the Nepal census) Sunar surname is used by khas dalit of sudurpachim, and karnali in Nepal . And also use by subgroup within the broader social group of Madheshi Other Caste.[8] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 64,335 people (0.2% of the population of Nepal) were Sunar.
Notable members
edit- Raj Babbar Film Actor & Politician[9]
- Gurpreet Singh, Artist is an internationally recognized painting artist.
- Parmish Verma Punjabi Singer & Performer
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ KS Singh (1998). India's communities Volume 6. OUP. p. 3336}.
In most of the states the Sunar are Hindu. But in Punjab and Delhi, they follow either Sikhism or Hinduism. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Sunar are referred to as Sanur and are mostly Muslims.
- ^ People of Tiben: Lhasa (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500 to 150
- ^ R.V. Russell (October 1995). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. IV. Published Under the Orders of the Central Provinces Administration, Macmillan and Co., Limited St. Martin's Street, London. 1916. p. 517. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ People of India: Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 475 to 479 Manohar Books
- ^
- Omacanda Hāṇḍā (1997). Textiles, Costumes, and Ornaments of the Western Himalaya. Indus Publishing Company. p. 142. ISBN 8173870764.
The Swarnkars, in that age of material splendour, enjoyed a higher social status in the stratified social set-up. Later on, when the professional guilds came to be identified as the sub-castes , the goldsmith community was inducted to the Vaishya caste
- Omacanda Hāṇḍā (1997). Textiles, Costumes, and Ornaments of the Western Himalaya. Indus Publishing Company. p. 142. ISBN 8173870764.
- ^ People of India: Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500
- ^ People of India: Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia page 475 Manohar Books
- ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II [1]
- ^ "Why Congress chose Raj Babbar to lead party in UP elections". 14 July 2016.
Further reading
edit- R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi. Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs (set Of 5 Vols.). Sarup & Sons, 2008. ISBN 81-7625-841-5, ISBN 978-81-7625-841-8