Sounti

Abstract

The term Sounti in Odia language means to collect or to gather . Since this community hasevolved over period of time by admitting into its fold the members of various clean castes whowere socially expelled from their respective original societies for committing serious offences inthe past, their neighbours designated them as Sounti . The then feudal chief of Keonjhar was kind enough to rehabilitate these outcast families of different princely States in his territory andin course of time their number grew by inclusion of such social outcastes. Due to their originfrom different clean castes, they continued to follow their respective caste customs and manners.As a result now they have almost turned into an example of a tribalised Hindu community. Numerically, the Sounti are a small tribe in Odisha. They are largely concentrated in the districts of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. In the Mayurbhanj district there are separate villages or hamletsinhabited exclusively by the Sounti. In Keonjhar district, they live with other caste Hindu neighbours. They are primarily agriculturists and their economic life revolves around farming and alliedpursuits. Being a Hinduised tribe, the Sounti profess Hinduism with elements of animism and supernaturalism. Their close culture contact with the neighbouring tribes and castes, coupled with various welfare measures taken up by the government for their wellbeing, has brought noticeable changes in their way of life.This photographic documentation of their life style is a part of the series on the Tribes of Odisha. It is hoped that the eager readers will find this literature useful while looking into the world of tribal culture of Odisha.