Sounti

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sounti
Total population
112,803 (2011)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Odisha112,803[1]
Languages
Odia language, Hindi Language
Religion
Hindu Beliefs,traditional beliefs

The Sounti (also spelled as Saunti) are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group found mainly in the districts of Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj, Odisha .[2] The 2011 census showed their population to be around 112,803. They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe by the Indian government.[1]

History[]

According to the Mayurbhanj State, Census Report of 1931, the Sounti caste originated in 17th century by one Joygobinda Das of Puri. The same Census reported that he came to Kendujhar from Puri in 1603 C.E. . He was allowed to settle in Mananta village in Kendujhar. After renouncing his caste, he is said to have formed this new caste . The new caste formed around people made outcast from other castes who were allowed by the ruler of Kendujhar state to settle in Mananta. Their numbers grew over time as they readily accepted other outcasts. The caste name was literally "gathered in" in Odia thus pointing to their origins where they gathered in the other outcasts. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Lists (Modification) Order, 1956 refers to them as Sounti. Census of Mayurbhanj, 1931 mentions them as Saunti. Some of the members due to their inability to pronounce the word properly call themselves as Samuli or Samti.[3]

Demography[]

According to 2011 census , the sounti population is 112803 with a sex ratio of 1023. Their literacy rate is 59.58%.[1][2] Most of the sounti speak a dialect of Odia.

Culture[]

Sounti society follow Hinduism , worship Hindu gods and goddesses and observe some of the Hindu festivals and rituals. However they have some animist beliefs as well. They worship village deities like Thakurani and Mangala and other Hindu deities like Siva and Raghunath. They have a traditional priest called Dehury.[2][4] [5]

The Sounti settlement are traditionally homogeneous, however they are divided into a number of exogamous clans called Khilli including Bardia, Saru and Tangsaria F amily structure is patrilineal and patrilocal and monogamous. Polygyne is present but uncommon. Marriages are done by negotiation. Groom pays a negotiated amount for marriage called bride price and it is obligatory. Remarriage of widows, widowers, divorcees are permissible. Junior Levirate marriage and Sororate marriage practices are allowed. After a birth of a child the family observes for twenty one days. On death of a member of community , cremation and burial are both practised. The bereaved family observes death pollution for ten days.

They live in multi-ethnic villages but maintain separate hamlets from other groups. Single ethnic Sounti villages are uncommon. They live mostly in small houses with two rooms with spacious verandahs in the front. Cattle shed and shed for de-husking rice are built close to the house. Stringed Charpoys and mats made of date-palm leaves, Bell-metal and aluminium utensils are most common household goods.[2]

Men use dhoti. Women wear saree. Financially well off section of the community use undergarments otherwise it is rare. Tattooing is not popular.

The Sounti have their own traditional community council headed by village chief and influential elders. It settles family disputes and acts as guardian of traditional norms and customs.

The main source of income in the Sounti society is farming , livestock rearing and forestry. Many Sountis work as farm labourers .[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Government of India. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d SCSTRTI, SCSTRTI. "Sounti". Home. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  3. ^ Orissa (India); Senapati, N.; Sahu, N.K. Orissa district gazetteers. Gazetteer of India (in Italian). Printed by the Superintendent, Orissa Govt. Press. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2019-07-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Pati, R.N.; Dash, J. (2002). Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. p. 62. ISBN 978-81-7648-322-3. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  6. ^ India, S.I. (2014). State of the Adivasis in Odisha 2014: A Human Development Analysis. SAGE Impact. SAGE Publications. p. 94. ISBN 978-93-5150-049-0. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
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