Kalitas of Assam
Encyclopedia
The Kalita caste of the state of Assam
, North East India are a unique Hindu
social group who have been a dominant caste
through the ages. Assam is known for its large number of groups with their own distinctive culture. It is the cradle of twenty seven indigenous ‘tribes’ and unique in the world for its position as the home of so many different groups of people. Kalitas inhabited all areas of the plains of Assam and, according to Sir Edward Gait, they were the numerically predominant caste of the province as well as its "enlightened and advanced community".
. Like other Aryan
descendants of northern India, they were tall and fair. The most recent wave of Kalita migration from far-off places in Northern India and the Himalayas occurred during Ahom rule
in the 15th and 16th century. They were the earliest Indo-European migrants to settle in Assam and are supposed to have introduced Hinduism to the Northeastern part of India. The Koch and Ahom kings also brought Kalita people from places including Kannauj, Kashi
, and Mithila
to their own kingdoms and gave them both honour and prestige. They are claimed to have brought the Indo-European Assamese language
to the Brahmaputra Valley
.
, a trait found in all Alpine people from Central Europe and their descendants. Alpines
are a subgroup of the Caucasoid
race found in Central and Eastern Europe. Nordics (Aryans) are another subgroup of the same race found in Northern Europe. Other Indo-Aryan caste groups of Assam such as the Brahmins
are mostly long-headed (dolicocephalic
) having a tall stature and fair complexion. However, some ethnologists disagree as to whether Kalitas should be classified as Alpines, believing that the group actually have mesocephalic head shapes. The physiognomy of the Kalitas is not markedly different from that of the other Indo-Aryan castes of Assam and the question of whether they are Alpines or Aryans remains unsettled.
Others like author Kaliram Medhi are of the opinion that the Kalitas are a group of pre-Vedic Caucasoids as the type of Hinduism they brought to Assam was different from that prevalent in other parts of India. The Kalitas acted as priests of the Koch Kings prior to the arrival of the Vedic Brahmins. Thereafter, the Kalitas were displaced from their position by the Vedic Brahmins. Professor B.S. Guha has found similarities between the Alpine Nagar Brahmins of Gujarat and the Kalitas of Assam. According to him, the surnames mentioned in the Nidhanpur land grants of Kamarupa King Bhaskaravarman are not of Vedic Brahmins but those of the Kalitas of Assam. He also finds similarities in surnames with those of the Nagar Brahmins – one of the oldest Brahmin groups of India. Scholars now believe that the Kalitas were a pre-Vedic Caucasoid (Alpine/Aryan) priestly group similar to the Brahmins.
settlement at a distance of 15 days march through hilly roads from the Ahom territory, beyond the regions occupied by the Abors and the Miri
s. The people bore Hindu names like Vasudeva, Harideva, Sankarsan etc,. There was also a Hindu king in the land. The name of the kingdom was Kolita.” John Bryan Neufville, appointed as Political Agent, Upper Assam and Junior Commissioner at in 1828, also subscribed to this idea. He wrote:
Rowlette also confirms the feasibility of this kingdom. During Ahom rule, tribes from Arunachal Pradesh
, like the Daflas and Mishmi
s owed allegiance to the Ahom State and the Kolita rulers were a branch of the paramount power itself. Therefore the frontiers of Assam extended beyond present day Arunachal Pradesh with its northern borders extending to the edge of Monpa country (present day Arunachal Pradesh
). Lieutenant R. Wilcox of the 46th Regiment, Native Infantry of the Indian Army provided details of the route to Kolita kingdom and concluded:
Neufville claims that the Kalita kingdom was washed away by the great flood in the mid 18th century.
Kalti coins which find reference in Kautilya's Arthashastra
and which are supposed to be some of the earliest coins, are also ascribed to the Kalitas.
The Ahom paik
system surnames of Bora, Hazarika, Saikia, Kakoti, 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 Baruas 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. Phukans and Baruah are found in the Brahmins
, Ahoms and Kalitas of Assam alike. Certain posts like "Boiragi" or envoys to neighbouring kingdoms such as the Jaintias (presently in Meghalaya
), the Kachari
s (Assam), and the Mughal
Sultanate in Bengal
, were given to Kalitas in preference to Ahoms.
Kalitas also formed part of the revenue system under the Mughal-dominated areas in lower Assam. Notable Kalita surnames of this type are Mahanta, Medhi, Barman, Chowdhury, Deka, Thakuria, Talukdar, Tahbildar, Sarkar and Kakoti. The Kalitas took an active part and supported the Ek Saraniya Naam Dharma propounded by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva
after its appearance in Assam. In present day Assam, the Kalitas are ubiquitous in every subdivision of Assam and one of its foremost groups, seen in all spheres of life and making their presence felt in the socio-cultural-literary-economic scene of the state.
Presently, there is a small Kalita Assamese diaspora around the world, especially in the UK and USA, engaged in all professions and with notable achievements.
dialect of Assamese is spoken by many Kalitas in the districts of Kamrup, Nalbari
, Darrang
, and Barpeta
. The Goalpariya dialect of Assamese is spoken by Kalitas in Bongaigaon
, Goalpara
, Kokrajhar
, and Dhubri
districts. Standard Assamese is spoken by the Kalitas of Central and North-Western Assam.
/ Kshatriya
caste system.
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva
(1449–1568) ((Assamese: Môhapurux Srimôntô Xônkôrdev), saint-scholar, playwright and social-religious reformer, was a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam. He is credited with providing a thread of unity to Assam straddling the two major kingdoms of Ahom and Koch, building on past literary activities to provide the bedrock of Assamese culture, and creating a religion that gave shape to a set of new values and social synthesis. The religion he started, Mahapuruxiya Dharma
, was part of the Bhakti
movement then raging in India, and he inspired bhakti in Assam just as Ramananda, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Basava and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired it elsewhere. His literary and artistic contributions remain living traditions in Assam today. The religion he preached is practiced by a large part of the population, and the Sattra
s (monasteries) that he and his followers established continue to flourish and sustain his legacy.
In reverence to his personality, teachings and oeuvre, he is known as a Mahapurusha, or "Great Man".
is an important festival for all Assamese and hence for Kalitas too who form the majority of people in the Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta districts. Bohag Bihu
or Spring festival (April), Magh Bihu or harvest festival (January), and Kati Bihu signifying hope for a good harvest hold special places in the hearts of all Assamese Kalita people.
The Xottriyo Culture with its Borgeets and Kamrupi Lokogeets dance forms is an important aspect of Kalita Assamese culture and the backbone of the Assamese community.
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, North East India are a unique Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
social group who have been a dominant caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
through the ages. Assam is known for its large number of groups with their own distinctive culture. It is the cradle of twenty seven indigenous ‘tribes’ and unique in the world for its position as the home of so many different groups of people. Kalitas inhabited all areas of the plains of Assam and, according to Sir Edward Gait, they were the numerically predominant caste of the province as well as its "enlightened and advanced community".
Origin of the Kalita
The Kalita originally came to Assam from the west along with a minority from the northern parts of India who were mostly from the ancient kingdom of KannaujKannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
. Like other Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
descendants of northern India, they were tall and fair. The most recent wave of Kalita migration from far-off places in Northern India and the Himalayas occurred during Ahom rule
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
in the 15th and 16th century. They were the earliest Indo-European migrants to settle in Assam and are supposed to have introduced Hinduism to the Northeastern part of India. The Koch and Ahom kings also brought Kalita people from places including Kannauj, Kashi
Kingdom of Kashi
The Kingdom of Kashi was an independent Bhumihar Brahmin state until 1194, became a British territory in 1775, and became a state in 1911. It is the site of Ramnagar Fort and its museum, which are the repository of the history of the kings of Benares and since the 18th century has been the home of...
, and Mithila
Mithila
Mithila was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom. The name Mithila is also commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom itself, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha...
to their own kingdoms and gave them both honour and prestige. They are claimed to have brought the Indo-European Assamese language
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
to the Brahmaputra Valley
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra , also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia. It is the only Indian river that is attributed the masculine gender and thus referred to as a in Indo-Aryan languages and languages with Indo-Aryan influence...
.
Alpine migration to Assam
This group are classified as of Alpine descent based on their broad-headedness in the cephalic indexCephalic index
Cephalic index is the ratio of the maximum width of the head multiplied by 100 divided by its maximum length ....
, a trait found in all Alpine people from Central Europe and their descendants. Alpines
Alpines
Alpines are a UK act based in Kingston upon Thames in South London, made up of Bob Matthews and Catherine Pockson. Since forming in 2010 the band have supported The Naked and Famous and their track Drive was used by Rankin in a video for fashion designer Hannah Marshall-TV:A clip of Alpines track...
are a subgroup of the Caucasoid
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
race found in Central and Eastern Europe. Nordics (Aryans) are another subgroup of the same race found in Northern Europe. Other Indo-Aryan caste groups of Assam such as the Brahmins
Assamese Brahmins
In Assam, out of many sects of Hindu people which include Brahmins , Kalitas, Ahoms amongst others; the Brahmin community is comparatively small. Brahmins are found everywhere in Assam and surrounding areas. However most predominantly in Jorhat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara and Darrang districts....
are mostly long-headed (dolicocephalic
Scientific racism
Scientific racism is the use of scientific techniques and hypotheses to sanction the belief in racial superiority or racism.This is not the same as using scientific findings and the scientific method to investigate differences among the humans and argue that there are races...
) having a tall stature and fair complexion. However, some ethnologists disagree as to whether Kalitas should be classified as Alpines, believing that the group actually have mesocephalic head shapes. The physiognomy of the Kalitas is not markedly different from that of the other Indo-Aryan castes of Assam and the question of whether they are Alpines or Aryans remains unsettled.
Others like author Kaliram Medhi are of the opinion that the Kalitas are a group of pre-Vedic Caucasoids as the type of Hinduism they brought to Assam was different from that prevalent in other parts of India. The Kalitas acted as priests of the Koch Kings prior to the arrival of the Vedic Brahmins. Thereafter, the Kalitas were displaced from their position by the Vedic Brahmins. Professor B.S. Guha has found similarities between the Alpine Nagar Brahmins of Gujarat and the Kalitas of Assam. According to him, the surnames mentioned in the Nidhanpur land grants of Kamarupa King Bhaskaravarman are not of Vedic Brahmins but those of the Kalitas of Assam. He also finds similarities in surnames with those of the Nagar Brahmins – one of the oldest Brahmin groups of India. Scholars now believe that the Kalitas were a pre-Vedic Caucasoid (Alpine/Aryan) priestly group similar to the Brahmins.
Historic Kalita kingdom
The existence of a Kalita kingdom in North eastern India is mentioned in a number of credible literary sources. A report by Mr. Moffal Mills and Maniram Dewan written during the British occupation of India records, “It appears that there was an AryanAryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
settlement at a distance of 15 days march through hilly roads from the Ahom territory, beyond the regions occupied by the Abors and the Miri
Miri
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
s. The people bore Hindu names like Vasudeva, Harideva, Sankarsan etc,. There was also a Hindu king in the land. The name of the kingdom was Kolita.” John Bryan Neufville, appointed as Political Agent, Upper Assam and Junior Commissioner at in 1828, also subscribed to this idea. He wrote:
The country to the eastward of Bhot (BhutanBhutanBhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
) and northward of Sadiya (Upper AssamUpper AssamRiver Bramhaputra is a major river and lifeline of the state of Assam. Assam is divided into two broad categories based on the flow of the mighty Bramhaputra, namely Upper Assam and Lower Assam. The logic behind this categorisation is that a river flows from high land to low land...
), extending on the plain beyond the mountains, is said to be possessed by a powerful nation called Kolitas, who are described as having attained a high degree of advancement and civilization, equal to any of the nations in the East.
Rowlette also confirms the feasibility of this kingdom. During Ahom rule, tribes from Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
, like the Daflas and Mishmi
Mishmi
The Mishmi or Deng people of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh are an ethnic group comprising mainly three tribes: Idu Mishmi ; Digaro Mishmi , and Miju Mishmi . The Mishmis occupy the north-eastern tip of the central Arunachal Pradesh/South Tibet in Upper and Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit and Anjaw...
s owed allegiance to the Ahom State and the Kolita rulers were a branch of the paramount power itself. Therefore the frontiers of Assam extended beyond present day Arunachal Pradesh with its northern borders extending to the edge of Monpa country (present day Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
). Lieutenant R. Wilcox of the 46th Regiment, Native Infantry of the Indian Army provided details of the route to Kolita kingdom and concluded:
From Sadiya to Kolita is a journey of 42 days and 6 hrs, in the idle of the way the route lies through hills, where dense jungles makes it difficult to approach.
Neufville claims that the Kalita kingdom was washed away by the great flood in the mid 18th century.
Kalti coins which find reference in Kautilya's Arthashastra
Arthashastra
The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya and , who are traditionally identified with The Arthashastra (IAST: Arthaśāstra) is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and...
and which are supposed to be some of the earliest coins, are also ascribed to the Kalitas.
Social life
Mirroring the history of Assam, the Kalitas were peasents by profession, though during the rule of the Ahom dynasty they also proved their might and capabilities as soldiers, generals, administrators, envoys, and judges.The Ahom paik
Paik
Paik is a post-rock/space rock outfit originally from Toledo, United States, currently living in Detroit, Michigan, United States, that includes Rob Smith and Ryan Pritts. Bassist Ali Clegg left the band in 2005, and has since been replaced by San Francisco native Anthony Petrovic...
system surnames of Bora, Hazarika, Saikia, Kakoti, 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 Baruas 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
Borphukan
Borphukan was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position that was created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha. The position included both executive and judicial powers, with jurisdiction of the Ahom kingdom west of Kaliabor river...
s and Borbarua
Borbarua
Borbarua was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha...
s. Phukans and Baruah are found in the Brahmins
Assamese Brahmins
In Assam, out of many sects of Hindu people which include Brahmins , Kalitas, Ahoms amongst others; the Brahmin community is comparatively small. Brahmins are found everywhere in Assam and surrounding areas. However most predominantly in Jorhat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara and Darrang districts....
, Ahoms and Kalitas of Assam alike. Certain posts like "Boiragi" or envoys to neighbouring kingdoms such as the Jaintias (presently in Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
), the Kachari
Kachari Kingdom
The Kachari Kingdom was a powerful kingdom in medieval Assam. The rulers belonged to the Dimasa people, part of the greater Bodo-Kachari ethnic group...
s (Assam), and the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Sultanate in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, were given to Kalitas in preference to Ahoms.
Kalitas also formed part of the revenue system under the Mughal-dominated areas in lower Assam. Notable Kalita surnames of this type are Mahanta, Medhi, Barman, Chowdhury, Deka, Thakuria, Talukdar, Tahbildar, Sarkar and Kakoti. The Kalitas took an active part and supported the Ek Saraniya Naam Dharma propounded by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva
Srimanta Sankardeva
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva , was the greatest Assamese saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer and a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India...
after its appearance in Assam. In present day Assam, the Kalitas are ubiquitous in every subdivision of Assam and one of its foremost groups, seen in all spheres of life and making their presence felt in the socio-cultural-literary-economic scene of the state.
Presently, there is a small Kalita Assamese diaspora around the world, especially in the UK and USA, engaged in all professions and with notable achievements.
Language
The Kalitas of Asssam speak Assamese in its various dialects. The KamrupiKamrupi
Kamarupi or present Kamrupi is the language that was spoken in the Kamarupa kingdom in the first millennium, which, some linguists claim, gave rise to or influenced various eastern Indo-European languages like Assamese and Bengali.During British India at some point Kamrup was divided into two big...
dialect of Assamese is spoken by many Kalitas in the districts of Kamrup, Nalbari
Nalbari
Nalbari is a city and a municipal board in Nalbari district in the Indian state of Assam. Nalbari is headquarter of Nalbari District.-Education:...
, Darrang
Darrang District
Darrang is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Mangaldai. The district occupies an area of 3481 km².-History:In 1983 Sonitpur district was formed from part of Darrang...
, and Barpeta
Barpeta
Barpeta is the headquarters of Barpeta district, Assam, India. The city is located about north west of Guwahati.Barpeta is renowned in the Historical map of Assam as the "Land of the Satras"...
. The Goalpariya dialect of Assamese is spoken by Kalitas in Bongaigaon
Bongaigaon
Bongaigaon is the district headquarters of Bongaigaon District, Assam, India. The city is situated north west of Guwahati.It is a very developing City in Lower Assam. It has two parts - Old Bongaigaon and New Bongaigaon. Bongaigaon is predominantly inhabited by the Koch Rajbongshi Community which...
, Goalpara
Goalpara
Goalpara is the district headquarter of Goalpara district, Assam, India. It is situated west of Guwahati.-Etymology:The name of Goalpara is said to have originally derived from `Gwaltippika` meaning `Guwali village` or the village of the milk men. In the local dialect "para" means...
, Kokrajhar
Kokrajhar
Kokrajhar is a city in Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam, one of the North East States and territories of India.Kokrajhar city is located along the bank of Gourang River. The North East Indian Railways divides the city into two sides, north and the south...
, and Dhubri
Dhubri
Dhubri is the headquarters of Dhubri district India. It is a small old town on the bank of the Brahmaputra and Gadadhar Rivers. In 1883, the town was first constituted as a Municipal Board and is situated about west from Guwahati, the state capital.Dhubri was an important commercial centre and...
districts. Standard Assamese is spoken by the Kalitas of Central and North-Western Assam.
Religion
All Assamese Kalitas profess the Hindu religion and are of the KayasthaKayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
/ Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
caste system.
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva
Srimanta Sankardeva
Mahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva , was the greatest Assamese saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer and a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India...
(1449–1568) ((Assamese: Môhapurux Srimôntô Xônkôrdev), saint-scholar, playwright and social-religious reformer, was a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam. He is credited with providing a thread of unity to Assam straddling the two major kingdoms of Ahom and Koch, building on past literary activities to provide the bedrock of Assamese culture, and creating a religion that gave shape to a set of new values and social synthesis. The religion he started, Mahapuruxiya Dharma
Mahapuruxiya dharma
Ekasarana Dharma is a monotheistic religion founded and propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. Most of the adherents of this religion today live in the Indian state of Assam...
, was part of the Bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
movement then raging in India, and he inspired bhakti in Assam just as Ramananda, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Basava and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired it elsewhere. His literary and artistic contributions remain living traditions in Assam today. The religion he preached is practiced by a large part of the population, and the Sattra
Sattra
Satras are socio-religious institutions in the Assam region of India that belong to the Mahapuruxiya Dharma. Monks, called bhakats, live in satras under a satradhikar. In some orders of the religion, the bhakats are celibate . The satras are not merely religious institutions but play cultural...
s (monasteries) that he and his followers established continue to flourish and sustain his legacy.
In reverence to his personality, teachings and oeuvre, he is known as a Mahapurusha, or "Great Man".
Culture
BihuBihu
Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in...
is an important festival for all Assamese and hence for Kalitas too who form the majority of people in the Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta districts. Bohag Bihu
Bihu
Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in...
or Spring festival (April), Magh Bihu or harvest festival (January), and Kati Bihu signifying hope for a good harvest hold special places in the hearts of all Assamese Kalita people.
The Xottriyo Culture with its Borgeets and Kamrupi Lokogeets dance forms is an important aspect of Kalita Assamese culture and the backbone of the Assamese community.
Notable Kalita personalities
- Srimanta SankardevaSrimanta SankardevaMahapurusha Srimanta Shankardeva , was the greatest Assamese saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer and a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India...
(1449–1568) born into the Kayastha Hindu caste. - Maniram Dewan, freedom fighter
- Jeetumoni KalitaJeetumoni KalitaJeetumoni Kalita is a contemporary dancer from India. He was the winner of Zee TV's dance reality show Dance India Dance Li'l Masters 2010. After winning the dance contest, Kalita received a trophy and Rs 3 lakh as cash prize.- Personal background :Kalita was born in Guwahati City of Assam State...
, Winner of Dance India Dance Li'l Masters(2010)Dance India Dance Li'l MastersDance India Dance Li'l Masters is a new dance reality show that will launch on Zee TV from April 30, 2010. The tag line of the show is Dance Ke Baap. The show timings are Fri-Sat 9.30 pm.... - Khagen MahantaKhagen MahantaKhagen Mahanta is an exponent in folk and traditional music of Assam. He was awarded Sangeet Natak Academy award for folk and traditional music in the year 1992....
, traditional musician - Bimala Prasad ChalihaBimala Prasad ChalihaBimala Prasad Chaliha was a leader of Indian National Congress and the Chief Minister of Assam state. He was in office from December 28, 1957 to November 6, 1970...
, politician - Bishnu Ram Medhi, second Chief Minister of Assam (9 August 1950 to 27 December 1957 and former Governor of Madras from 1956 to May 1964). Bishnuram studied at Cotton Collegiate School in Gauhati and completed his matriculation in 1905. On completion of his schooling, he joined Presidency College, Kolkata and completed his post graduation in Organic Chemistry from Dhaka University in 1911. Bishnuram pursued studies in law and was called to the bar in 1914.
- Gauri Shankar KalitaGauri Shankar KalitaGauri Shankar Kalita was an Indian journalist.Kalita was one of the most popular journalists in the north-eastern state of Assam...
, journalist - Nabakanta BaruaNabakanta baruaNavakanta Barua , also known as Ekhud Kokaideu, was a prominent Assamese novelist and poet.-Early life and education:...
,(1926–2002), novelist and poet - Mohendra Mohan Choudhury,(1970–72), Governor of Punjab
- Mukut Medhi, present Vice President, Basketball Federation of India.
- Kanak Sen Deka,Editor in Chief, Assamese Daily newspaper "Agradoot"
- late Tarun Sen Deka,Famous Freedom Fighter from Nalbari District of Assam