Hazarika
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2010) |
 |
Look up hazarika in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Hazarika was a Paik officer under the administration of the Ahom kingdom and Koch kingdom.[1] The commander over 1,000 (Hazar) paiks was known as a Hazarika. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong to diverse ethnic groups.
The surname mostly belongs to the Ahom, Chutia, Koch, Baro-Bhuyan, Jalia Kaibarta and Sarania Kachari ethnic groups. Apart from the Ahom Hazarikas, there is also mention of Chutia Hazarikas in several instances of Buranjis. For example, during the reign of the Ahom king Susenphaa, the Banrukia Hazarika was of Chutia origins.[2] At the start of the Moamoria rebellion, Kirtichandra Barbarua first sent a force led by a Chutia Hazarika to fight the rebels, but was killed in the battle.[3] After the fall of the Chutia kingdom, Hazarikas were appointed among Chutia blacksmiths and other guilds to look after the works.[4]
Hazarika was also an administrative position in the Koch army. There is mention of a Koch Hazarika in wars against the Ahoms.[5]
Previously, the surname was also written by some Sonowal Kacharis, but it was later replaced by the Sonowal surname.
Jalia Kaibarta who participated in the Ahom and Koch state too were bestowed with the surname.
A section of Kacharis who later came to be know as Sarania Kacharis started to use Hazarika as surname after their initiation (Saran) into Ekasarana Dharma in the 20th century.
Notable Hazarika people[]
- Jogendra Nath Hazarika, Indian politician, Chief Minister of Assam
- Bhupen Hazarika, Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker
- Bagh Hazarika, 17th century figure from Assam
- Atul Chandra Hazarika (1903–1986), Assamese litterateur from Assam.
- Mrinal Hazarika
- Iswar Prasanna Hazarika, politician and civil servant
- Pijush Hazarika, politician
- Balaram Hazarika, Assamese animal tracker
- Pritam Hazarika (born 1969), Indian cricketer
- Debananda Hazarika, Indian politician
- Dhruba Hazarika (born 1956), Indian novelist
- Diganta Hazarika, actor
- Ayesha Hazarika, British/Scottish broadcaster/journalist and political commentator (and former adviser)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Kakoty, Sanjeeb (2003). Technology, Production And Social Formation In The Evolution Of The Ahom State. Regency Publications. ISBN 9788187498735.
- ^ Barua, Gopalchandra, Ahom Buranji, p. 29
- ^ Barua, Gopalchandra, Ahom Buranji, p. 294.
- ^ (Sarma 1993:287) Dewanar Atla: "Suhungmung or Swarganarayan, after defeating Dhirnarayana and his minister Kasitora, received a number of Dola, Kali..Hiloi and gunpowder (Kalai-khar). Besides these, he also made a number of blacksmiths (Komar) prisoners, settled them either at Bosa (in present-day Jorhat district) or Ujjoni regions and ordered them to make iron implements and weapons (Dah, Katari, Hiloi, Bortop). A section of them were appointed as Saikias and Hazarikas to look after the works. It was only during the time of Suhungmung that the guild of blacksmiths and its trade started in Assam (Ahom kingdom). There were three thousand blacksmiths during this period."
- ^ "The Koch Hazarika in charge of the fleet had watched as the Ahom boats pushed out into the river,"
Bibliography[]
- Sarma, Benudhar (1993), Maniram Dewan, Guwahati: Manuh Prakashan
- Indian surnames
- Assamese-language surnames
- Ahom kingdom