Patharkat
The Patharkatt are a scheduled tribes caste found in Nepal states . They are found in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar of India but they are not listed buy Indian government although they are originating in India notPakistan. They are also known as Sangtarash, Girihara or Gihara,Santaras,Santaraj, Kushwadiya, Dhungana, Patharphor Kshetri etcm.[1]
Origin
The Patharkatt are not a sub-group of the larger kanjar caste. Their name Patharkat in Bhojpuri literally means stone cutters. Having taken up the profession of stone cutting. They are found mainly in Awadh, and their concentrations are in the districts of Sitapur, Unnao, Raebareli, Hardoi and Lucknow. In Lucknow, they are found mainly in the localities of Qaisar Bagh, Saafatgang, Daligang, Bangla Bazar, Nishatgang, Lal Kuan and Chinhat. They speak Patharkatt or Girihara Language among themselves and Bhojpuri with outsiders.[2]
In Bihar, the Patharkatt are found in the districts of Champaran, Arrah and Gaya. They are divided into five exogamous clans, the Sankat, Soda, Bhains, Maraiya and Untawar. The Patharkatt claim to have come from mountain area of India thousands hundred years ago.[3]
Present circumstances
The Patharkatt are endogamous, but avoid marrying among close, but they have no system of exogamous clans. They are largely a landless and urban community, and their traditional occupation remains the manufacturing of the Sil Batta . The Patharkatt now buys stones from quarries in western Uttar Pradesh, and then engrave and cut the stones. A few Patharkatt have abandoned their traditional occupation and taken to wage labour. The Indian government has not given them under any caste status, which did not allow them to access affirmative action programmes. They are traditionally Aadivasi Janjati and their customs are similar to other indigenous caste.[4]
The Bihar Patharkatt are a nomadic community, and many are employed in quaries. They move from place to place, and live in ecampments at the edges of towns. The Patharkat are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. They are almost totally illiterate, and are one of the most deprived community in Bihar.[5]
See also
References
- ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1142 to 1146 Manohar Publications
- ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das, page 1142–1146 Manohar Publications
- ^ People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 770 to 771 Seagull Books
- ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1142 to 1146 Manohar Publications
- ^ People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 770 to 771 Seagull Books
6. Patharkatt Linguistic Dictionary published by Patharkatt Utthan Sanstha, Nepal.