Suthar is a community 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.
| Suthar | |
|---|---|
 Two Sutar men from Baroda State, 1911 | |
| Kuladevta (male) | Vishwakarma |
| Religions | Hinduism,[1] Islam[2] |
| Region | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Pakistan |
Origins
Ancient Indian temple construction required a blend of skill-set ranging from astronomy and geometry to architecture, Vastu shastra and engineering.[6]
Current Demography
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.[7]
Caste Reservations
Some subcastes of Suthar are classified as OBC in states like Rajasthan,[8] Haryana,[9] Gujarat.[10] 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.[11]
References
- ^ 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...
- ^ 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.
- ^ George Michell (1988). The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-53230-1.
- ^ "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.