Sutradhar (caste)
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1–1.5 lakhs (2011 est.) in Assam | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Assam | 1-1.5 lakhs |
| West Bengal | 3.32 lakhs |
| Languages | |
| Assamese, Bengali | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism, Ekasarana Dharma | |
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Sutradhar (Assamese :সূত্ৰধৰ) or Suthar is a traditional caste principally employed in wood works, especially sawing timber, building houses and boats, umaking furniture and all kinds of agricultural implements made of wood,bamboo, cane. Historically this class of people were engaged in making monuments,temples, palaces, chariots. Besides they were also engaged in sculpting rock structures. The population spread across India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. The word Sutradhar (Sootradhar) literally means thread-holder. Sutra in sanskrit means thread and dhara means to hold. Sutradhars originally, formed a caste of people in the Hindu community, whose caste occupation was wood works of all types from ordinary furniture making to shipbuilding.They belong to the one of the creative Vishwakarma community.[1]They are said to be the descendants of Lord Vishwakarma.
Origin
According to Veda relics, Lord Vishwakarma was the god of creative art.That is why, he is regarded as the god artist.Devguru Brihaspati's sister, Yogasiddha was Lord Vishwakarma's mother and the best among eight hermits known as Astam Basu, Prabhash was his father. Lord Vishwakarma's vehicle is an elephant. There are mentions in the Rikveda about Lord Vishwakarma as multiproficient genius and as the creator of this entire world. As a creative genius, he had received innumerable accolades for his contributions. As from Brahman sect, he was also known as Vishwabrahman. He is regarded as the Principle Architect of the Universe.He is said to have revealed the Sthapatya Veda / Vastu Shastra or fourth Upa-veda, and presides over the sixty-four mechanical arts. In this regard, Vishwakarma's second son, Maya's ancestors are said to be the Sutradhar, Sootradhar, Jangid, Suthar, etc divided into 120 groups. They belong to the purest form of the Aryan race of Indian ethnicity.[2]
Demography
Sutradhar Community people are spread across all over India. In different parts of India they are known by different names.They are mostly found im West Bengal and Assam. In Assam, there are both Assamese speaking and Bengali Speaking Sutradhar people. Unofficial statistics say that there are almost 3,00,000 people of this community residing in Assam.[3]Most of them are Assamese speaking and resides in Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Chirang and other parts of Assam. In Barak Valley of Assam also, there are a large number of Sutradhar people. They are Bengali speaking.
Early settlement in Assam
References
- ^ Sutradhar, Caste- Brief Article. "Sutradhar - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ A souvenir, Abhijan (April 2017). "Abhijan - A souvenir for 86 th state session of Sodou Asom Sutradhar Sanmiloni". Compiled by Haradhan Sutradhar. 1: 88 – via Souvenir.
- ^ Project, Joshua. "Sutradhar (Hindu traditions) in India". Retrieved 22 September 2017.