https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2409%3A408A%3A830E%3ABF38%3A0%3A0%3A1843%3A40B1Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-19T06:08:19ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalita_(caste)&diff=384398Kalita (caste)2023-05-19T06:18:19Z<p>2409:408A:830E:BF38:0:0:1843:40B1: </p>
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<div>{{short description|Indian Hindu caste in Assam}}<br />
{{refimprove|date=May 2011}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=January 2021}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}<br />
{{Culture of Assam}}<br />
'''Kalita (Baro-Bhuyan)''' is an ethnic group or a caste of [[Hindus]] belonging to the state of [[Assam]] in [[North East India]].{{cn|date=October 2017}} They commonly claim to belong to the [[Kshatriya]] caste.<ref name="Prakash2007">{{cite book|author=Col Ved Prakash|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ic4UCdaxbHIC&pg=PA150|year=2007|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=978-81-269-0703-8|pages=150–}}</ref> According to historians like S.L.Barua, Kalitas are originally Kayasthas (a writer class of Kshatriyas) and started migrating from North and East India to Assam during the 11th century rule of Dharmapal.<ref>''A Comprehensive History of Assam'' by S.L.Barua, page 15</ref><br />
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==Origin==<br />
According to the "[[Purana]] Tradition", the Kalita caste is considered as "pure [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Aryan]]".<ref name="gbookA1">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t_PpdZosif4C&q=kalita++kshatriya+origin&pg=PA29 | title=Social and Cultural History of Ancient India | publisher=Concept Publishing Company | work=Hindu civilization | date=1998 | access-date=24 October 2014 | author=Manilal Bose | pages=29| isbn=9788170225980 }}</ref> Though the Aryan descent theories endorse the arrival of the Kalitas "before the rise of the existing professional castes", the Kalitas generally claim to belong to the [[Kshatriya]] caste, and call themselves ''kulalupta'',<ref name="googlebook3">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ic4UCdaxbHIC&q=kalita++kshatriya+caste&pg=PA150 | title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India, Volume 1 | publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist | work=India, Northeastern | date=2007 | access-date=12 October 2014 | author=Col Ved Prakash | page=150| isbn=9788126907038 }}</ref> ''kula'' meaning caste and ''lupta'' meaning gone ("lost caste") in the context of the legend that the Kalitas "were Ksatriyas who fled from the wrath of [[Parasurama]] who was determined to exterminate the Ksatriyas. But this seems to be a false [[etymology]]."<ref name="sharma2005discovery1">{{cite book|editor1=S. K. Sharma |editor2=U. Sharma |title=Discovery of North-East India: Geography, History, Culture, Religion, Politics, Sociology, Science, Education and Economy. North-East India. Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rpMAQe5bRM8C&q=kalita+caste&pg=PA93 |publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2005|isbn=978-81-83-24035-2|page=93}}</ref><br />
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The Kalitas in Assam are considered next only to the [[Brahmin]]s in the caste-hierarchy.<ref name="contemporaryPol">{{cite book|editor1=Shiri Ram Bakshi |editor2=Sita Ram Sharma |editor3=S. Gajrani |title=Contemporary Political Leadership in India: Sharad Pawar, the Maratha legacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1i51KFUyzIC&q=kalitas+are+kayasthas&pg=PA14 |publisher=APH Publishing|year=1998|isbn=978-81-76480-08-6|page=14}}</ref><ref name="googlebook1">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FH4Bb7dD4qYC&q=kalita+caste&pg=PA184 | title=Bamboo: The Wonderful Grass | publisher=APH Publishing | date=2008 | access-date=12 October 2014 | author=G.K. Ghosh | pages=184| isbn=9788131303696 }}</ref> According to the legends, they are "the non-Vedic Aryans" who are responsible for bringing Aryan culture to Assam. Having mingled with local population, they still preserve certain elements of Aryan culture even after localising their culture to some extent.<ref name="googlebook1" /><br />
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[[Biraja Sankar Guha|B.S. Guha]] has found similarities between some surnames of "Alpine [[Nagar Brahmin]]s" of Gujarat with those of North East India, as referred in the Nidhanpur land grants of Kamarupa King Bhaskaravarman (6th century A.D.) such as ''Datta, Dhara, Deva, Nandi, Sena, and Vasu,'' etc. and connects them with the ''Kalitas'' of Assam.<ref name=pdeka>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DPWGpVvBvx8C&lpg=PA46&dq=kalitas%20%2B%20Nagar%20Brahmins%20%2B%20Nidhanpur&pg=PA46#v=onepage&q=kalitas%20+%20Nagar%20Brahmins%20+%20Nidhanpur&f=false ''The great Indian corridor in the east''] by Phani Deka</ref> Again, historian [[Kanaklal Barua]] mentions these surnames while referring to the [[Nidhanpur copperplate inscription|Nidhanpur inscription]] and says that these surnames "now belong almost exclusively to the [[Bengali Kayastha]]s".<ref name="sharma2005discovery2">{{cite book|editor1=S. K. Sharma |editor2=U. Sharma |title=Discovery of North-East India: Geography, History, Culture, Religion, Politics, Sociology, Science, Education and Economy. North-East India. Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JUozqyA2e90C |publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2005|isbn=978-81-83-24035-2|page=182}}</ref><br />
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Few scholars including [[Kaliram Medhi|K.R. Medhi]], [[Kanaklal Barua|K.L. Barua]], P.C. Choudhuri, [[Maheswar Neog|M. Neog]], B. K. Kakati made speculations by drawing the references of ''Greek'' records, words like ''Kakatiai, Kalaiai, Kaltis, Koudontai, Kudutai, Gurucharitis'' and few early religious literatures to establish the ''Kalitas'' through materials not based on ethnology or anthropology. Some even tried to relate ''Kalitas'' to [[Narakasura|Naraka]]-[[Bhagadatta]], who were essentially of [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burmese]] in origin.<ref name=pdeka/><br />
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==Social life==<br />
Mirroring the history of Assam, the Kalitas were spiritual gurus of Kochs. According to B.C. Allen, All the Hinduised people except Brahmins were Kalita barring other aboriginal groups like Bodo-Kachari or Keot(Kaibarta) people.<ref>{{harvcol|Chatterjee|1998|p=442 }}</ref> Kalitas were also peasants, though during the rule of the [[Ahom dynasty]], they also proved their might and capabilities as soldiers, generals, administrators, envoys, and judges.<br />
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The Ahom paik system surnames of Bora, [[Hazarika]], [[Saikia]], Kakoti, Borkakoty, [[Barua]], Rajkhowa, and Phukan can all be found amongst the Kalitas of Assam, which signify that they served the Ahom monarchy. Bora was the leader of 20 paiks (or foot soldiers), Saikia that of 100 paiks and Hazarika that of 1000 paiks. The [[Barua]]s led 3000 men, similar to the Rajkhowas. Phukans formed the uppermost layers of the Ahom military and judicio-administrative structure, subservient to the Ahom [[Borphukan]]s and [[Borbarua]]s.<ref>''A History of Assam'' by Sir Edward Gait, page 248–250</ref> .Certain posts like "Boiragi" or envoys to neighbouring kingdoms such as the [[Jaintia Kingdom|Jaintias]] (presently in [[Meghalaya]]), the [[Kachari Kingdom|Kachari]]s (Assam), and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Sultanate in [[Bengal]], were given to Kalitas in preference to Ahoms.<ref>''A History of Assam'' by Sir Edward Gait, page 124</ref><br />
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==Demand of reservation==<br />
Since 1988, few people of the Kalita community has been demanding [[Scheduled Tribe]] status.<ref name="prag"/> After six tribal groups were granted ST status by the government in 2018 barring the Kalitas, the latter threatened agitation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-today/kalitas-demand-st-status-along-with-6-other-communities/|title=Kalitas demand ST status along with 6 other communities|date=23 April 2018|website=The Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> All Assam Kalita Janogosthi Student Union (AAKJSU) has demanded 50% reservation in government sector jobs and demanded reservation of 25 MLA seats in Assam, 3 in Lok Sabha and 2 in Rajya Sabha seats from Assam.<ref name="prag">{{Cite news|url=https://pragnews.com/regional/after-six-indigenous-communities-now-kalita-community-demands-st-status-50-reservations-in-jobs/|title=After six indigenous communities now Kalita community demands ST status, 50% reservations in jobs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226231549/https://pragnews.com/regional/after-six-indigenous-communities-now-kalita-community-demands-st-status-50-reservations-in-jobs/|archive-date=28 February 2020|date=23 December 2019|work=Prag News|language=en-GB|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> They also demanded the formation of a Kalita Development Council and the Pagjyotishpur Autonomous Council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desk |first1=Sentinel Digital |title=All Kalita Students' Union (AKSU) to fight poll {{!}} Assam Assembly election in 2021 - Sentinelassam |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-city/all-kalita-students-union-aksu-to-fight-poll-assam-assembly-election-in-2021-486302?infinitescroll=1 |access-date=4 September 2020 |work=www.sentinelassam.com |date=2 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Notable Kalitas==<br />
<!-- ONLY ADD A PERSON TO THIS LIST IF THEY ALREADY HAVE AN ARTICLE IN THE ENGLISH WIKIPEDIA AND THERE IS RELIABLE SOURCE STATING THAT THEY BELONG TO KALITA COMMUNITY--> <br />
* Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev,<br />
* Gopaldev<br />
* Annirudhadev<br />
* King Durlav Narayan<br />
* Gauripur Royal family Prabhat Chandra Baruah,<br />
* Bimala Prasad Chaliha<br />
* Vishnu Ram Medhi<br />
* Khagesar Talukdar<br />
* Raghunath Chaudhary<br />
* Ambikagiri RaiChoudhry<br />
* Dr Banikanta Kakati<br />
* Ananda Ram Baruah<br />
*[[Madhavdev]], Vaisnavite Saint, writer, social reformer.{{cn|date=July 2019}}<br />
*[[Maniram Dewan]], Freedom fighter, one of the first people to establish tea garden in Assam.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Jayeeta |title=Empire's Garden: Assam and the Making of India |date=August 2011 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-5049-1 |page=46 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W2dtxgZba6MC&q=kalita+caste+assam&pg=PA46 |access-date=4 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref><br />
* Khagen Mahanta ,<br />
* Bhumidar Barman ,<br />
* Achyut Lahkar,<br />
* Ramchandra Kayastha<br />
* Bakul Kayastha<br />
* Durgabar Kayastha<br />
* Mitradev Mahanta<br />
* Krishnaguru ( Arun Chandra Devgoswami)<br />
* Late Satradhikar Narayan Chandra Goswami<br />
* Rai Bahadur Kanak lal Baruah<br />
* Nakul Chandra Bhuyan<br />
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==References==<br />
<!--- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] on how to create references using<ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically --><br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==Bibliography==<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Chatterjee|first=Suhas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KItocaxbibUC&pg=PA443|title=Indian Civilization and Culture|date=1998|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-7533-083-2|language=en}}<br />
* {{Citation<br />
| last = Baruah<br />
| first = Swarnalata<br />
| title = A Comprehensive History of Assam<br />
| publisher= Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.<br />
| place= New Delhi<br />
| year=1985<br />
}}<br />
[[Category:Indo-Aryan peoples]]<br />
[[Category:Cultural history of Assam]]<br />
[[Category:Indian castes]]<br />
[[Category:Politics of Assam]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Assam]]<br />
[[Category:Assamese-language surnames]]</div>2409:408A:830E:BF38:0:0:1843:40B1