Suthar
| Suthar/Sutar | |
|---|---|
 Two Sutar men from Baroda State, 1911 | |
| Kuladevta (male) | Vishwakarma |
| Religions | Hinduism,[1] Islam[2] |
| Region | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Pakistan |
Suthar (or Sutar)[3] is a caste within the Vishwakarma community found primarily in India and Pakistan.[3][4] Its traditional occupation is mostly carpentry.[5] Suthar community predominantly found in Gujarat and Rajasthan is a mixture of various castes.
Origins
[edit]The origins of the Suthar community traces back to the construction of the Rudra Mahalaya Temple, commissioned by King Mularaja of Chaulukya dynasty (now Gujarat and southern Rajasthan) [6]. Ancient Indian temple construction required a blend of skill-set ranging from astronomy and geometry to architecture, Vastu shastra and engineering [7]. The king invited Brahmins with such skill-set from northern India to design the temple and undertake this project. After designing the temple as per King's requirements, the Brahmins assembled a massive workforce of skilled artisans of different ethnicity and converted them into Brahmin varna through the Hindu ritual purification [6], to maintain the sanctity of the temple. After the temple's completion, King Mularaja urged the original Brahmins to settle in his kingdom. To facilitate the resettlement, the king suggested forming a new community that combined the converted workers and the original Brahmins . This proposal led to the creation of the Suthar community in the Chaulakya kingdom (now Gujarat and southern Rajasthan), a unique blend of Brahmins, Kshatriyas and artisans. [6]
King Mulraja later invited additional learned Brahmins from northern India to join the Suthar community and serve as the priests of the Rudra Mahalaya Temple.[8] The migrant Brahmins who did not join the newly formed Suthar community and served as the priests of the temple, are now known as the Audichya Brahmins.[8]
Current Demography
[edit]The Suthar community of Gujarat and Rajasthan community comprises a diverse mix of subcommunities and ethnic groups, resulting in a rich demographic tapestry despite its relatively small population. Currently, the community is divided into several subcastes, each associated with distinct occupations, varnas, and ethnic identities. Notable subcastes include Vanshaj Suthar, Vaishya Suthar, Mewada Suthar, Gurjar Suthar, Jangid-Brahmin Suthar, Mistri, Mistri Suthar, Luhar Suthar.
Each subcaste practices different faiths, yet they share a common heritage and a reverence for deities such as Lord Vishwakarma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva, with a predominant adherence to Vaishnavism. Common surnames within this community include Suthar, Gajjar, Sharma, Acharya, Rathore, Pancholi, Mistri, Jangid, Panchal[9]
Caste Reservations
[edit]Some subcastes of Suthar are classified as OBC in states like Rajasthan,[10] Haryana,[11] Gujarat.[12] Some subcastes of Suthar community, like Suthars of Brahmin varna, either do not take or get reservation or are willingly demanding to give up their reservation status.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Raj Kumar (2008). Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 978-81-7835-664-8.
Suthar Tarkhans , though Hindus , are in fact more closely allied with the Multani lohars than with the Khatis...
- ^ Abida Samiuddin, R. Khanam (2008). Global Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Indian Muslim. Global Vision Publishing House. p. 453. ISBN 978-81-8220-299-3.
According to Rose ( 1919 ) , the tradition runs that the Suthars , who are now Muslims , were originally Hindu Tarkhans of the Suthar tribe and that Akbar took 12,000 of them from Jodhpur to Delhi...
- ^ a b SP Aggrawal, JC Aggrawal (1991). Educational and Social Uplift of Backward Classes. Concept Publishing Company. p. 160. ISBN 978-81-7022-339-9.
- ^ Ashwani Kumar, R. B. Bhagat, ed. (2021). Migrants, Mobility and Citizenship in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-00-037987-7.
Hindus from the border villages belonging to the Bhil, Meghwal, Lohar and Suthar community had now become nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan...
- ^ AM Shah, ed. (2012). The Structure of Indian Society. Taylor&Francis. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-136-19770-3.
- ^ a b c "Suthar Caste History: A Rich Tapestry of Tradition and Legacy". 17 September 2024.
- ^ George Michell (1988). The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-53230-1.
- ^ a b Basu, Helene (2020). "Gujarat". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Basu, Helen; Malinar, Angelika; Narayanan, Vasudha (eds.). Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill.
- ^ "History of Jangid Brahmin Samaj,Shree Vishwakarma,Jangid Community,Samaj Group Jaipur".
- ^ "Backward Classes in Rajasthan". Government of Rajasthan. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "List of Backward Classes". Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "List of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of Gujarat State". Government of Gujarat.
- ^ "Sutar community wants to give up reservations, demands to be included in general category". 29 September 2021.