Patni caste explained
The Patni community is a Scheduled Caste who are mainly found in the region of Barak Valley.[1]
History
Patni might be related to the Domba community of Assam and in some areas their names are used interchangeably. The main occupation of Patnis include ferrying boats, basket-making, trading and cultivating.[2] [3] According to Patnis folklore Ishwari Patni ferries Goddess Annapurna on his boat, also mentioned by Bharatchandra.[4]
Patnis are also called Nadiyal and they mainly lived in Sylhet, Dacca, etc and migrated towards districts of Assam, West Bengal and Manipur.[5]
The Patnis are divided into five sub-castes:
- Jat-Patni, who are agriculturists and small traders.
- Ghat-Patni, Salami or Ghatwal who work as boatmen and take charge of ferries.
- Dom-Patni, Machhwa, or Nagarchi, who catch fish.[6]
- Sansphor and Dagara, who makes baskets of cane, and tie the framework of kancha houses.
Notes and References
- Book: Datta-Ray, B. . Population, Poverty, and Environment in North-East India . 2000 . Concept Publishing Company . 978-81-7022-770-0 . en.
- Book: Allen, Basil Copleston . Assam District Gazetteers: Cachar . 1905 . Printed at the Baptist Mission Press . en.
- Book: Commissioner, India Census . Census of India, 1901 . 1902 . Printed at the Government central Press . en.
- Book: Tuṅga, Sudhāṃśu Śekhara . Bengali and Other Related Dialects of South Assam . 1995 . Mittal Publications . 978-81-7099-588-3 . en.
- Book: Baruah . Amlan . Assam State Gazetteer . Choudhury . S. B. Roy . 1999 . Editor-in-Chief, District Gazetteers, Government of Assam . en.
- Book: Allen, Basil Copleston . Assam District Gazetteers: Cachar . 1905 . Printed at the Baptist Mission Press . en.
