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''Sonowa''l is a designation of the gold-washers of Assam.
They were previously addressed as Xunia thakur.
Etymology
The name ''Sonowa''l comes from the word 'Son' ( as, Xon) which means gold in Assamese.
''Hindustan Times''
History
Sonowal was a multicaste 'khel' (guild) of the many khels that existed in the
Ahom Kingdom of the
late medieval
The Late Middle Ages or Late Medieval Period was the period of European history lasting from AD 1300 to 1500. The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period (and in much of Europe, the Renai ...
period. This khel was involved in the gold-washing business and it consisted paiks from different communities viz,
''Kacharis'', Bihiyas (
''Chutias''),
["In the present time the Sooteeahs are called Hindoo Sooteeahs, and Ahom Sooteeahs, the last named being those with whom the Ahoms or Saums intermarried at an early date. The class of the Assam population known as Beheeahs in upper Assam, also consider themselves belonging to the Hindu Sooteeah family."] ''Koch'', Miri (
''Mising''), Dafla (
''Nyishi) and ''
Keot''.
However, the ''Kachari'' and ''Bihiya'' Sonowals were most numerous. Most of these Sonowals migrated from ''Sadiya'' and ''Sisi-Dhemaji'' regions respectively and resided in the forested area between the ''
Buri Dihing
Buri may refer to:
People
* Buri (Dacian tribe), a 1st–2nd century tribe living in Dacia
* Buri tribe, an ancient Germanic people
* Büri (died 1252), prince of the Chagatai Khanate
* Buri, or Burebista, Thracian king of the Getae and Dacian fro ...
'' and ''Dibru'' rivers (Matak territories) during the early 19th century. Gold-washing was the occupation of Sonowal paiks but other paiks sometimes used to join them and receives their share.
Although the designation of these
paiks was ''Sonowal'', they were generally known only by the names of their 'khel' or tribe or chief under whom they resided. They were placed in different parts of the country (Assam) under the authority of
Phukan Phukan or Phookan or Phukon ( as, ফুকন) is a surname of assamese origin and a Paik officer. Now the descendants' clans use it as a surname. This is usually used among the people of Assamese Hindu origin and Assamese Brahmins and ahoms.
N ...
s,
Barua
Barua (also spelt as ''Baruah'', ''Barooah'', ''Baruwa'', ''Baroova'', ''Barooa'', ''Baroowa'', ''Borooah'', ''Boruah'', or ''Baroa'') is a common Assamese surname.
In Assam Valley History
Originally, the ''Barua'' surname was used as a milit ...
hs and other chiefs.
However, the
''Kachari Sonowal'' was a distinct class from rest of the Sonowals. And unlike others, they were entirely under the orders of the King himself, and they supplied him with gold when called upon to do so. They formerly resided at
Sadiya
Sadiya is a town in Tinsukia district, Assam. It was the capital of the Chutia Kingdom and after the downfall of the kingdom it became the seat of the ''Sadiya-khowa-Gohain'' of the Ahom kingdom. Extensive remains of buildings and fortificati ...
and its vicinity.
Some ''Sonowals'' were associated with ''Silver-washing'', they were called ''
Rupowal'' or Rupia Thakur''
'.
Sonowals Today
The ''Keot Sonowals'' got extinct in the due course of time.
The ''Kachari Sonowal'' is the only khel that exist today and recognized as one of the
''Scheduled tribe'' of Assam.
Surnames
The ''paiks'' in a ''khel'' were organized under a gradation of officials who commanded a set number of them. They were ''
Bora'' (20 ''paiks''), ''
Saikia
Saikia was a Paik system, Paik officer of the Ahom Army, Ahom militia who led a hundred ''paiks''. There was a similar office in the Kamata kingdom, Koch kingdom as well. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong to ...
'' (100), ''
Hazarika
Hazarika was a Paik officer under the administration of the Ahom kingdom and Koch kingdom. The commander over 1,000 (''Hazar'') ''paiks'' was known as a ''Hazarika''. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong t ...
'' (1000), ''
Barua
Barua (also spelt as ''Baruah'', ''Barooah'', ''Baruwa'', ''Baroova'', ''Barooa'', ''Baroowa'', ''Borooah'', ''Boruah'', or ''Baroa'') is a common Assamese surname.
In Assam Valley History
Originally, the ''Barua'' surname was used as a milit ...
h'' and ''
Phukan Phukan or Phookan or Phukon ( as, ফুকন) is a surname of assamese origin and a Paik officer. Now the descendants' clans use it as a surname. This is usually used among the people of Assamese Hindu origin and Assamese Brahmins and ahoms.
N ...
'' (6000)''.''
It is to be noted that the designations ''Thengal Baruah'' and ''Sonowal Baruah'' were introduced only in the reign of the
Ahom Ahom may refer to:
*Ahom people, an ethnic community in Assam
* Ahom language, a language associated with the Ahom people
*Ahom religion, an ethnic folk religion of Tai-Ahom people
*Ahom alphabet, a script used to write the Ahom language
* Ahom kin ...
King
Purandar Singha
Purandar Singha (1818–19, 1833–1838) was the last king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam. He was installed as king twice. The first time, he was installed by Ruchinath Burhagohain in 1818 CE, after the latter deposed Chandrakanta Singha f ...
(1818–19, 1833–1838). These officers remained in overall charges of these guilds and had to take a note of the total output of such washings conducted under the state initiative.
Formerly, the descendants of these officials used to use these designations as surnames. But as these surnames are common to all ''
Assamese people
The Assamese people are a socio- ethnic linguistic identity that has been described at various times as nationalistic or micro-nationalistic. This group is often associated with the Assamese language, the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, a ...
'' irrespective of their caste, some frauds were found to take advantage of it in getting ''ST certificate''.
["Fraudulence in caste certificate detected"]
''Assam Tribune'' Hence, as per guidance of All Assam Tribal Sangha, all the new generation of ''
Kachari Sonowals'' have started using Sonowal''
' as a surname.
Notable Sonowals
*
Sarbananda Sonowal
Sarbananda Sonowal ( Assamese: সৰ্বানন্দ সোণোৱাল / IPA: xɔɹbanɔndɔ xʊnʊwal; born 31 October 1962) is an Indian politician from Assam who is the current Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and ...
, Indian politician, former chief minister of Assam.
*
Jogendra Nath Hazarika
Jogendra Nath Hazarika (9 September 1924 - 1998) was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Assam from 9 September 1979 to 11 December 1979. He was elected to the Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament of India from the Dib ...
, Indian politician, former chief minister of Assam.
*
Pradan Baruah
Pradan Baruah is an Indian politician who is member of Parliament and elected to 16th Lok Sabha from Lakhimpur seat since November 2016. He won the by-election in November 2016, after the seating member Sarbananda Sonowal resigned from the sea ...
, Indian politician, former member of Assam Legislative assembly, MP of Lakhimpur Lok Sabha.
*
Jogesh Das
Jogesh Das ( as, যোগেশ দাস; 1 April 1927 – 9 September 1999) was an Indian short-story writer and novelist from Assam. He was born in 1927. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book ''Prithivir Oxukh''. He was also associate ...
, prominent writer, recipient of Sahitya Academi Award
*
Jitul Sonowal
Jitul Sonowal ( as, জিতুল সোণোৱাল; born in Dibrugarh Assam) is an Indian singer, music director, composer, lyricist and entertainer in the field of Assamese modern song and music since 1988.
He filtered the Assamese so ...
, singer, music director, composer, lyricist and entertainer in the field of Assamese music since 1992.
*
Lohit Sonowal
Inspector Lohit Sonowal, KC was an Inspector of Commando Battalion of Assam Police who was posthumously awarded India's second highest peace time gallantry award Kirti Chakra
The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for ...
, inspector of Commando Battalion of Assam Police, awarded the
Kirti Chakra
The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the ''pe ...
military decoration
See also
*
Sonowal Kacharis
The Sonowal Kachari ( as, Xonowāl Kosāree) 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 refe ...
*
Thengal Kacharis
*
Rupowal Khel
Rupowal is a village in Jalandhar district of Punjab State, India. It is located 5.2 km from Rurka Kalan, 15 km from Phillaur, 41 km from district headquarter Jalandhar and 126 km from state capital Chandigarh. The village ...
Notes
References
Printed sources
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Internet
{{reflist, group=web
Assam
Ahom kingdom
Gold
Social groups of Assam
Assamese nationalism