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{{Short description|Hindu caste of goldsmiths in Nepal and India}}
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| caste_name = Sunar/Sonar
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⚫ '''Sunar''' (alternately '''Suniar(eh)''', '''Sonar''' or '''Swarnkar''') is a Hindu ] in India and Nepal referring to the community of people who work as ]s.<ref>''People of India'': Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500 to 150</ref> Though the community is primarily Hindu, some members in the states of ] and ] are ].
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Though they are the traditional goldsmiths of ], now many are also landowners, involved in cultivation, as well as selling grocery. However, their main occupation remains the manufacture and selling of jewellery. Members of the community are also involved in ] and ].<ref>''People of India'': Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1503</ref>
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| religions = ], ], ]<ref>{{cite book|title=India's communities Volume 6 |author=KS Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jHQMAQAAMAAJ&q=india%27s+communities+ks+singh+sunar |year=1998 |publisher=OUP|page=3336}|quote=In most of the states the Sunar are Hindu. But in Punjab and Delhi, they follow either Sikhism or Hinduism. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Sunar are referred to as Sanur and are mostly Muslims.}}</ref>
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⚫ The '''Sunar''' (alternately''', Swarnkar ,Soni, Sonar, Singh, Shah, Sonkar''') is a caste in India and Nepal.The Sunar community work as traders of gold or as ]s.<ref>''People of Tiben'': Lhasa (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500 to 150</ref> The community is primarily ], Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and found all over India and Nepal.


==Etymology== ==Etymology==
The term ''Sunar'' may derive from the ] ''suvarna kār'', "worker in gold".<ref>{{cite book|author=R.V. Russell|title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India | volume=IV | url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20668/20668-h/20668-h.htm#d0e3452|accessdate=6 July 2011|date=October 1995|publisher=Published Under the Orders of the Central Provinces Administration, Macmillan and Co., Limited St. Martin's Street, London. 1916 |isbn=|pages=517}}</ref> The term ''Sonar'' may derive from the ] ''suvarna kār'', "worker in gold".<ref>{{cite book|author=R.V. Russell|title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India | volume=IV | url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20668/20668-h/20668-h.htm#d0e3452|accessdate=6 July 2011|date=October 1995|publisher=Published Under the Orders of the Central Provinces Administration, Macmillan and Co., Limited St. Martin's Street, London. 1916 |pages=517}}</ref>


The Sonar are still involved in their traditional occupation, that is being ]. There is however a steady process in taking up other occupations, and the community in ] and ] as whole is fairly successful, having produced several professionals.<ref>''People of India'': Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 475 to 479 Manohar Books</ref>
==Status in society==
]
Sunars all across India are classified into various groups. <ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9Q_A5CbznVcC&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=sunar+caste+after+mandal+commission&source=bl&ots=RvTCt8kHwp&sig=ACfU3U0cGevGf73KzJO_Fa3Zb2pffyxI3w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYjpXQnavkAhWUYysKHa85BiI4ChDoATANegQIBRAB#v=onepage&q=sunar%20caste%20after%20mandal%20commission&f=false|title=The Mandal Commission and Mandalisation: A Critique|last=Maheshwari|first=Shriram|date=1991|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=9788170223382|language=en}}</ref> In Rajasthan, Punjab & Haryana some Sunars are called ], they are basically not goldsmith but later adopted this occupation. They falls under ] but they don't marry in other Sunars.<ref>{{Citation|last=Rowe|first=William L.|title=Mobility in the nineteenth-century caste system|date=2007|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_g-_r-9Oa_sC|work=Structure and Change in India Society|pages=202–203|edition=Reprinted|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=9780202361383|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> In ], Sunars are even divided into two segments, the Hindu Sunar and the Sikh Sunar. These two groupings are further divided into the Baari Sunar and the Shudre Sunar.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} Some ]s also adopted this occupation and were called Khatri Sunars.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} All these groups are strictly ], and practice clan ]. These divisions are further divided into clans, known as ]s. The Sunar are still involved in their traditional occupation, that is being goldsmiths. There is however a steady process in taking up other occupations, and the community in Haryana as whole is fairly successful, having produced several professionals.<ref>''People of India'': Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 475 to 479 Manohar Books</ref>


==Social status==
Sunars in India are considered among ] and are mostly workers of workshops in jewellery showrooms and agriculturists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncbc.nic.in/user_panel/centralliststateview.aspx|title=National Commission for Backward Classes|website=www.ncbc.nic.in|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Though after implementation of ] their socio-economic condition changed overnight and today they have a good representation in Govt. offices, MNCs & PSUs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2018/04/kin-karano-se-pichhade-hai-obc/|title=किन कारणों से पिछडे हैं ओबीसी?|last=देवरे|first=Shrawan Deore श्रवण|date=2018-04-19|website=फॉरवर्ड प्रेस|language=hi-IN|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref>
The Sunars are generally considered a part of ] varna.<ref>
*{{Cite book|quote=The ''Swarnkars'', in that age of material splendour, enjoyed a higher social status in the stratified social set-up. Later on, when the professional guilds came to be identified as the sub-castes , the goldsmith community was inducted to the Vaishya caste|page=142|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JFPnh9B5zncC&dq=sunars+are+accepted+as+vaishyas&pg=PA142 |title=Textiles, Costumes, and Ornaments of the Western Himalaya |author=Omacanda Hāṇḍā |isbn=8173870764 |year=1997 |publisher=Indus Publishing Company}}</ref>


⚫ ==Factions==
Sunars in Nepal are part of ] caste, which is also called Bishwakarma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/Kami_(caste)|title=Kami (caste) - Misplaced Pages|website=en.m.wikipedia.org|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Sunars in Nepal are considered as untouchables and are one of the serviceable castes of Nepalese society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2019/01/22/dalit-community-practises-untouchability|title=Caste-based discrimination within Dalit community pose huge challenge in fight against casteism|website=kathmandupost.com|language=English|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> They go through various caste discriminations in rural regions of Nepal and are among most deprived communities of ].
⚫ The Sunars are divided into a large number of territorial and non-territorial groupings called alla. Some of the major alla are the Jhankhad, Santanpuriya, Lal sultaniya, Dekhalantiya, Mundaha, Bhigahiya, Parajiya, Samuhiya, Chilliya, Katiliya Kalidarwa, Naubastwal, Berehele, Gedehiya, Shahpuriya, Mathureke Paliya, Katkaria and Nimkheriya, Vaibhaha. Each lineage is associated with a particular area. To which its ancestors belonged to. The Sunars use Soni, Swarnkar, Verma, Wadichar, Saraf, Shah, Sonik, Singh etc. as their surnames. In ] and ], the community is also known as ].<ref>''People of India'': Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500</ref> In Haryana, the Sunars are often known as Swarnkar, ], Suri and ], are their common surname.<ref>''People of India'': Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia page 475 Manohar Books</ref> In ] they are called Sonaro, In Punjab, Haryana and ], ] community work as goldsmiths.


==Sunar in Nepal==
Sunars in ] are called ] or ]<nowiki/>caste which was first mentioned by census administrator & anthropologist, ] recorded in 1931 as a caste. It was a result of social upward mobility and they claimed themselves as descendents of ], a Brahmin.
Sunar (Sunar in the Nepal census) Sunar surname is used by ] dalit of ], and ] in Nepal . And also use by subgroup within the broader social group of ] Other Caste.<ref> Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II </ref> At the time of the ], 64,335 people (0.2% of the population of Nepal) were Sunar.


==Notable members==
But according to community's historian's book - Bharatiya Viswakarmajar:Edava Somanathan:Analytical study of the Indus Valley Civilisation, it says that Sunars or Vishwakarmas are part of Indus Valley Civilization and they were in India before the arrival of ].
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<br />
* ] Film Actor & Politician<ref>{{cite web | url=https://translate.google.com/translate?u=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/how-and-why-congress-chose-raj-babbar-to-head-up-fight/&hl=hi&sl=en&tl=hi&client=srp&prev=search | title=Why Congress chose Raj Babbar to lead party in UP elections | date=14 July 2016 }}</ref>

* ], Artist is an internationally recognized painting artist.
⚫ ==Factions==
* ] Punjabi Singer & Performer
⚫ The Sunars are divided into a large number of territorial and non-territorial groupings called alla. Some of the major alla are the Santanpuriya, Dekhalantiya, Mundaha, Bhigahiya, Samuhiya, Chilliya, Katiliya Kalidarwa, Naubastwal, Berehele, Gedehiya, Shahpuriya, Mathureke Paliya and Nimkheriya. Each lineage is associated with a particular area. To which its ancestors belonged to. The Sunar use Soni, Seth, Swarnkar, Shah, Sah, Bhutani, Sonik, Bagga, Rudhra ,Babbar, Verma etc. as their surnames. In ], ] and ], the community is also known as ], ].<ref>''People of India'': Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500</ref> In ], ], ], ] the Sunars are often known as '''thakur''' ], ] and ], are their common surname.<ref>''People of India'': Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia page 475 Manohar Books</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
*R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi. . Sarup & Sons, 2008. {{ISBN|81-7625-841-5}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7625-841-8}} *R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi. . Sarup & Sons, 2008. {{ISBN|81-7625-841-5}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7625-841-8}}


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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2010}}


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Latest revision as of 03:37, 22 November 2024

Hindu caste of goldsmiths in Nepal and India

Sunar/Sonar
ReligionsHinduism, Sikhism, Islam
RegionIndia

The Sunar (alternately, Swarnkar ,Soni, Sonar, Singh, Shah, Sonkar) is a caste in India and Nepal.The Sunar community work as traders of gold or as goldsmiths. The community is primarily Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and found all over India and Nepal.

Etymology

The term Sonar may derive from the Sanskrit suvarna kār, "worker in gold".

The Sonar are still involved in their traditional occupation, that is being goldsmiths. There is however a steady process in taking up other occupations, and the community in Haryana and Punjab as whole is fairly successful, having produced several professionals.

Social status

The Sunars are generally considered a part of Vaishya varna.

Factions

The Sunars are divided into a large number of territorial and non-territorial groupings called alla. Some of the major alla are the Jhankhad, Santanpuriya, Lal sultaniya, Dekhalantiya, Mundaha, Bhigahiya, Parajiya, Samuhiya, Chilliya, Katiliya Kalidarwa, Naubastwal, Berehele, Gedehiya, Shahpuriya, Mathureke Paliya, Katkaria and Nimkheriya, Vaibhaha. Each lineage is associated with a particular area. To which its ancestors belonged to. The Sunars use Soni, Swarnkar, Verma, Wadichar, Saraf, Shah, Sonik, Singh etc. as their surnames. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the community is also known as Soni. In Haryana, the Sunars are often known as Swarnkar, Soni, Suri and Verma, are their common surname. In Sindh they are called Sonaro, In Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Mair community work as goldsmiths.

Sunar in Nepal

Sunar (Sunar in the Nepal census) Sunar surname is used by khas dalit of sudurpachim, and karnali in Nepal . And also use by subgroup within the broader social group of Madheshi Other Caste. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 64,335 people (0.2% of the population of Nepal) were Sunar.

Notable members

See also

References

  1. KS Singh (1998). India's communities Volume 6. OUP. p. 3336}. In most of the states the Sunar are Hindu. But in Punjab and Delhi, they follow either Sikhism or Hinduism. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Sunar are referred to as Sanur and are mostly Muslims.
  2. People of Tiben: Lhasa (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500 to 150
  3. R.V. Russell (October 1995). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. IV. Published Under the Orders of the Central Provinces Administration, Macmillan and Co., Limited St. Martin's Street, London. 1916. p. 517. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  4. People of India: Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 475 to 479 Manohar Books
    • Omacanda Hāṇḍā (1997). Textiles, Costumes, and Ornaments of the Western Himalaya. Indus Publishing Company. p. 142. ISBN 8173870764. The Swarnkars, in that age of material splendour, enjoyed a higher social status in the stratified social set-up. Later on, when the professional guilds came to be identified as the sub-castes , the goldsmith community was inducted to the Vaishya caste
  6. People of India: Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500
  7. People of India: Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia page 475 Manohar Books
  8. Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
  9. "Why Congress chose Raj Babbar to lead party in UP elections". 14 July 2016.

Further reading

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