Sarak

The Saraks (Bengali: সরাক) (from Sanskrit Śrāvaka) is a community in Jharkhand, Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa . They have been followers of some aspects of Jainism, such as vegetarianism, since ancient times, however were isolated and separated from the main body of the Jain community in western, northern and southern India and have been Hindu Bengalis ever since. The governments of India and West Bengal both have classified some of the Saraks under Other Backward Classes since 1994 but many of them have been in the General category from the beginning itself.[1]

Sarak
সরাক
Lord Adinatha at Pakbirra
ReligionsHinduism, Jainism
LanguagesBengali, Hindi,Nagpuri
Populated statesJharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, odisa

History

The Saraks are an ancient community in Jharkhand and Bengal. British anthropologist Edward Tuite Dalton noted that according to the Bhumij tradition in Singhbhum district, the Saraks were early settlers in the region.[2] According to Santosh Kumar Kundu, the Saraks arrived from the northwestern region of India, presently in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. In the region between the rivers Barakar and Damodar, two democratic republics, Shikharbhum and Panchakot, flourished. Later they merged and came to be known as Shikharbhum, with the capital at Panchakot. According to Ramesh Chandra Majumder, the Jain scholar Bhadrabahu, the second Louhacharya and the author of Kalpa Sutra may have come from the Sarak community.[3] The Saraks were agriculturists and moneylenders having landed properties. Many of their rituals and customs are similar to that of Brahmins. Though the mainstream Saraks are Bengali Hindus, yet they have a touch of Jainism.

They have continued to remain vegetarian even though this practice is uncommon among other communities in the region. Saraks have Parshva as a favored patron and recite the Ṇamōkāra mantra. They revere both Hindu and some Jain idols.

The region is called Vajjabhumi in ancient texts because diamonds were once mined in the region.[4] The Tirthankara Mahavira visited this region according to the Kalpa Sūtra. The low profile ‘Sarak’ solely depends on agriculture for their livelihood. One can see numerous youngsters carrying axe in their hands who are unaware of the modernity of the progressive society. On one hand where we feel highly responsible towards Indian values, there were ‘Saraks’, who were not even acquainted with education, technology and art. Peaceful and simple by nature, ‘Sarak’ people claim with proud that none of them have ever been to jail for committing any kind of crime. They are well accomplished in the art of arbitration and do not believe in any kind of violence. They do not even use words like, ‘kill’ or ‘cut’ in their daily conversation. They celebrate Durga Puja, other Hindu festivals as well as Jain festivals like Mahaveer Janam Kalyanak.

A group of Saraks from northern parts of Purulia district migrated to the Subarnarekha valley and established a small state by the name Ruam. There is a village existing by the same name in Musabani Block of East Singhbhum district very close the Uranium town of Jaduguda. They are the people who started mining of Copper ore for the first time in Singhbhum Shear Zone which is now famous for mining of precious metals such as Copper, Gold, Silver and Uranium. The Saraks of Ruam also mastered the art of smelting of copper. It is also evident that famous ancient port of Tamralipta owes its name to the copper mined and processed in the Sarak country of Ruam which was exported to the South East Asian kingdoms in a large scale.

Separation and rediscovery

7.5 feet statue of Shitalanatha, Purulia

The Saraks lost contact with Jains in the rest of India after its conquest by Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji. Contact with the Digambara Bundelkhand Jains was reestablished when the Parwars Manju Chaudhary (1720–1785) was appointed the governor of Cuttack by the Maratha Empire.

Saraks are concentrated in Purulia, Bankura and Burdwan district of West Bengal and Ranchi, Dumka and Giridih districts and Singhbhum region of Jharkhand. The Saraks belonging to most of Jharkhand and West Bengal are Bengali speakers while those living in historical Singhbhum region speak Singhbhumi Odia. Educated Saraks speak fluent English.

In 2009, more than 165 Sarak Jains living in parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar visited the ancient Jain pilgrimage center of Shravanabelagola. A special function to welcome the Sarak Jains was organised at Shravanabelagola.[5]

A social organization called, 'Sarak Samaj Unnayan Samity' is working for the welfare of sarak community. Its main goals include eradicating dowry system from the Sarak community. Open-mindedness and good principles are the traits of this community. They are into Bengali Literature, Art, Music and Dance and are nowadays also enjoying western concepts of culture.

Professions

Statue of Ambika at Pakbirra Purulia

In the past they were engaged in copper mining in the region.[6] Most Saraks were farmers engaged in rice cultivation, dairy farm selling milk products. Some of them have shops related to agriculture. Many are well educated. There are many teachers, engineers, doctors,professors,MBA and Civil Servants in this community.

List of villages

  1. Basudih
  2. Bhuli
  3. Rupnarayanpur
  4. Beriathol
  5. Ledapalash
  6. Kansai
  7. Pairasol
  8. Pabra
  9. Duburia
  10. Bishjor
  11. Dhekia
  12. Patdoha
  13. Binoddihi
  14. Sidabari
  15. Udaypur
  16. Dhadkidih
  17. Mohula
  18. Upardih
  19. Ichar
  20. Bagicha
  21. Jhapra
  22. Patharbandh
  23. Kanshibera
  24. Mongram
  25. Gobindapur
  26. Senera
  27. Khajra
  28. Antumajirdih
  29. Laragora
  30. Bhagabandh
  31. Gourangodih
  32. Metyalsahar
  33. Raghunathpur
  34. Nanduara
  35. Gobindapur
  36. Ekunja
  37. Beniasole
  38. Gosaidanga
  39. Nutandih
  40. Durmat
  41. Bathan
  42. Kanchkiyari
  43. Naragoria
  44. Ghutitora
  45. Kelahi
  46. Simlon
  47. Khajura
  48. Upar Khajura
  49. Layekdanga
  50. Senera
  51. Sikratanr
  52. Lachmanpur
  53. Jumduara
  54. Bero
  55. Puraton Bero
  56. Bagicha
  57. Kanthalbero
  58. Brindabanpur
  59. Kalapathar
  60. Panchmahali
  61. Upar Panchpahari
  62. Nama Panchpahari
  63. Biltora
  64. Dhanardanga
  65. Bangsagram
  66. Gobag
  67. Lachiya
  68. Janardandi
  69. Hetabahal
  70. Patharbandh
  71. Sarapdhar
  72. Talajuri
  73. Mohulkoka
  74. Indrabil
  75. Gourangdih
  76. Babirdih
  77. Rajra
  78. Murlu
  79. Radhamadhabpur
  80. Bodma
  81. Lalpur
  82. Metyalsahar
  83. Bhagabandh
  84. Kashibera
  85. Managram
  86. Barda
  87. Sundrabandh
  88. Paranpur
  89. Alkusa
  90. Fuliddi
  91. Choutala
  92. Mahula
  93. Palma
  94. Banbera
  95. Nimbayd
  96. Soyar
  97. Jhapra
  98. Jabarra
  99. Sankra
  100. Para Kelyahi
  101. Bagatbari
  102. Fusrabaid
  103. Asanbani
  104. Layara
  105. Ichhar
  106. Upardih
  107. Kamargora
  108. Khamarmahul
  109. Santaldih
  110. Balichasa
  111. Dhadkidi
  112. Tatogram
  113. Amchatar
  114. Bahara
  115. Darda
  116. Putlya
  117. Thakurdih
  118. Surulia
  119. Bathanbari
  120. Bhandarkuli
  121. Kantabani
  122. Lakhipur
  123. Churmi
  124. Mahal
  125. Bhajudi
  126. Choudhuri Bandh
  127. Shibbabuddi
  128. Asansole
  129. Gandharbadih
  130. Salkunda
  131. kundahit
  132. Bindapathar
  133. Parbatpur
  134. Uparbandha
  135. Karmatanr
  136. Debogram
  137. Postabari
  138. Belut
  139. Belanga
  140. Kumardih
  141. Gosaidih
  142. Lachhmanpur
  143. Gangajalghati
  144. Kendrabona
  145. Bhuinphore
  146. Balikhun
  147. Rajamela
  148. Lachhmanpur
  149. Haribhanga
  150. Mallikdihi
  151. Bhaktabandh
  152. Chholabaid
  153. Deshuria
  154. Chururi
  155. Barkona
  156. Bajapathar
  157. Moulahir
  158. Sahebdanga
  159. Khagra
  160. Jirrah.
  161. Indrabil
  162. Bundu
  163. Tamar
  164. Ranchi
  165. Khunti
  166. Torpa, kashmar
  167. Dorma, korla
  168. Mahil,Meral
  169. Biramkel
  170. Hansha
  171. Norih
  172. Rahe majhidih
  173. Paramdih
  174. Sobahatu
  175. Hundih Nawadih
  176. Tarai
  177. Rangamatti
  178. kharsawan
  179. Domohani
  180. Lalbazar
  181. Punchra
  182. Lalganj
  183. Harisadih
  184. Chotkara
  185. Roshna
  186. Achra
  187. Daskeyari
  188. Gourangdi
  189. Itapara
  190. Khorabar


See also

Pakbirra, Purulia Temples and Sculptures

References

  1. "Government of West Bengal: List of Other Backward Classes". Govt. of West Bengal. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  2. Ghosh, Binay (2010) [1957]. Pashchimbanger Samskriti [The Culture of West Bengal] (in Bengali). 1 (2nd ed.). Kolkata: Prakash Bhawan. pp. 447–449.
  3. Kundu, Santosh Kumar (2008). Bangali Hindu Jati Parichay [An Introduction of Bengali Hindu Castes] (in Bengali). Kolkata: Presidency Library. pp. 273–275. ISBN 978-81-89466-13-8.
  4. Historical Background (Archived 9 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine)
  5. "> News Updates". Www.Jainheritagecentres.Com. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  6. Prof. V. Ball, 1868, Geological Survey of India
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