Sonowal Kachari people

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

The Sonowal Kachari (Assamese: 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 referred to as Bodo-Kachari peoples.

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]}^[2]^[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]

They are predominantly inhabitants of Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Assam, along with pocket populations in Jorhat & Golaghat districts. The headquarters of the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council is at Dibrugarh.

Notable people[]

Sarbananda Sonowal, politician and former chief minister of Assam (2016-2021)
Jogendra Nath Hazarika, chief minister of Assam (1979)
Pradan Baruah, Indian politician, former member of Assam Legislative assembly, MP of Lakhimpur Lok Sabha.
Jogesh Das, prominent writer, recipient of Sahitya Academi Award
Jitul Sonowal, singer, music director, composer, lyricist and entertainer in the field of Assamese music since 1992.
Lohit Sonowal, inspector of Commando Battalion of Assam Police, awarded the Kirti Chakra military decoration

Notes[]

^ 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.
^ Baruah & Choudhury 1999.
^ sonowal kachari gold panning - Google Search. p. 353. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
^ "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)

References[]

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.

Web-sources[]

^ ^a ^b "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.

[FOOTNOTEBaruahChoudhury1999-3] Baruah & Choudhury 1999.

[4] sonowal kachari gold panning - Google Search. p. 353. Retrieved 12 August 2020.

[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-2] "Sarbananda Sonowal, 'national hero' who struck gold for BJP in Assam", Hindustan Times

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