Kalita (caste)

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Kalita is an ethnic group or a caste of Hindus belonging to the state of Assam in North East India.[citation needed] They commonly claim to belong to the Kshatriya caste.[4] According to historians like S.L.Barua, Kalitas started migrating from North and East India to Assam during the 11th century rule of Dharmapal.[5]

Origin[]

According to the "Purana Tradition", the Kalita's are considered as "pure Aryan".[6] Though the Aryan descent theories endorse the arrival of the Kalitas "before the rise of the existing professional castes", the Kalitas generally claim to belong to the Kshatriya caste, and call themselves kulalupta,[7] kula meaning caste and lupta meaning gone ("lost caste") in the context of the legend that the Kalitas "were Ksatriyas who fled from the wrath of Parasurama who was determined to exterminate the Ksatriyas. But this seems to be a false etymology."[8]

The Kalitas in Assam are considered next only to the Brahmins in the caste-hierarchy.[9][10] According to the legends, they are "the non-Vedic Aryans" who are responsible for bringing Aryan culture to Assam. Having mingled with local population, they still preserve certain elements of Aryan culture even after localising their culture to some extent.[10]

B.S. Guha has found similarities between some surnames of "Alpine Nagar Brahmins" of Gujarat with those of North East India, as referred in the Nidhanpur land grants of Kamarupa King Bhaskaravarman (6th century A.D.) such as Datta, Dhara, Deva, Nandi, Sena, and Vasu, etc. and connects them with the Kalitas of Assam.[11] Again, historian Kanaklal Barua mentions these surnames while referring to the Nidhanpur inscription and says that these surnames "now belong almost exclusively to the Bengali Kayasthas".[12]

Few scholars including K.R. Medhi, K.L. Barua, P.C. Choudhuri, M. Neog, B. K. Kakati made speculations by drawing the references of Greek records, words like Kakatiai, Kalaiai, Kaltis, Koudontai, Kudutai, Gurucharitis and few early religious literatures to establish the Kalitas through materials not based on ethnology or anthropology. Some even tried to relate Kalitas to Naraka-Bhagadatta, who were essentially of Tibeto-Burmese in origin.[11]

Social life[]

Mirroring the history of Assam, the Kalitas were spiritual gurus of Kochs. According to B.C. Allen, All the Hinduised people except Brahmins were Kalita barring other aboriginal groups like Bodo-Kachari or Keot(Kaibarta) people.[13] Kalitas were also peasants, though during the rule of the Ahom dynasty, they also proved their might and capabilities as soldiers, generals, administrators, envoys, and judges.

The Ahom paik system surnames of Bora, Hazarika, Saikia, Kakoti, Borkakoty, Barua, Rajkhowa, and Phukan can all be found amongst the Kalitas of Assam, which signify that they served the Ahom monarchy. Bora was the leader of 20 paiks (or foot soldiers), Saikia that of 100 paiks and Hazarika that of 1000 paiks. The Baruas led 3000 men, similar to the Rajkhowas. Phukans formed the uppermost layers of the Ahom military and judicio-administrative structure, subservient to the Ahom Borphukans and Borbaruas.[14] .Certain posts like "Boiragi" or envoys to neighbouring kingdoms such as the Jaintias (presently in Meghalaya), the Kacharis (Assam), and the Mughal Sultanate in Bengal, were given to Kalitas in preference to Ahoms.[15]

Demand of reservation[]

Since 1988, few people of the Kalita community has been demanding Scheduled Tribe status.[16] After six tribal groups were granted ST status by the government in 2018 barring the Kalitas, the latter threatened agitation.[17] All Assam Kalita Janogosthi Student Union (AAKJSU) has demanded 50% reservation in government sector jobs and demanded reservation of 25 MLA seats in Assam, 3 in Lok Sabha and 2 in Rajya Sabha seats from Assam.[16] They also demanded the formation of a Kalita Development Council and the Pagjyotishpur Autonomous Council.[18]

Notable Kalitas[]

  • Madhavdev, Vaisnavite Saint, writer, social reformer.[citation needed]
  • Maniram Dewan, Freedom fighter, one of the first people to establish tea garden in Assam.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ "639 Identifier Documentation: aho – ISO 639-3". SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics). SIL International. Retrieved 29 June 2019. Ahom [aho]
  2. ^ "Population by Religious Communities". Census India – 2001. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 1 July 2019. Census Data Finder/C Series/Population by Religious Communities
  3. ^ "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
  4. ^ Col Ved Prakash (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 150–. ISBN 978-81-269-0703-8.
  5. ^ A Comprehensive History of Assam by S.L.Barua, page 15
  6. ^ Manilal Bose (1998). Social and Cultural History of Ancient India. Hindu civilization. Concept Publishing Company. p. 29. ISBN 9788170225980. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  7. ^ Col Ved Prakash (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India, Volume 1. India, Northeastern. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 150. ISBN 9788126907038. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  8. ^ S. K. Sharma; U. Sharma, eds. (2005). Discovery of North-East India: Geography, History, Culture, Religion, Politics, Sociology, Science, Education and Economy. North-East India. Volume 1. Mittal Publications. p. 93. ISBN 978-81-83-24035-2.
  9. ^ Shiri Ram Bakshi; Sita Ram Sharma; S. Gajrani, eds. (1998). Contemporary Political Leadership in India: Sharad Pawar, the Maratha legacy. APH Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-76480-08-6.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b G.K. Ghosh (2008). Bamboo: The Wonderful Grass. APH Publishing. p. 184. ISBN 9788131303696. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b The great Indian corridor in the east by Phani Deka
  12. ^ S. K. Sharma; U. Sharma, eds. (2005). Discovery of North-East India: Geography, History, Culture, Religion, Politics, Sociology, Science, Education and Economy. North-East India. Volume 1. Mittal Publications. p. 182. ISBN 978-81-83-24035-2.
  13. ^ (Chatterjee 1998:442)
  14. ^ A History of Assam by Sir Edward Gait, page 248–250
  15. ^ A History of Assam by Sir Edward Gait, page 124
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "After six indigenous communities now Kalita community demands ST status, 50% reservations in jobs". Prag News. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Kalitas demand ST status along with 6 other communities". The Sentinel. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  18. ^ Desk, Sentinel Digital (2 July 2020). "All Kalita Students' Union (AKSU) to fight poll | Assam Assembly election in 2021 - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  19. ^ Sharma, Jayeeta (August 2011). Empire's Garden: Assam and the Making of India. Duke University Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-8223-5049-1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.

Bibliography[]

  • Chatterjee, Suhas (1998). Indian Civilization and Culture. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7533-083-2.
  • Baruah, Swarnalata (1985), A Comprehensive History of Assam, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
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