Asomar Hira Sampradai

Abstract

The Hiras are a Scheduled Tribe of Assam. Assam has two potter communities known as the Hiras and the Kumars. The traditional occupation of Hiras is pottery as well as making of earthen ware. In Assam, Hira community is mostly found in Goalpara, Kamrup, Nagaon, Darrang and Barpeta district of lower Brahmaputra valley of Assam. The Hiras are traditional pot makers and their specialty lies in the fact that they manufacture earthenware by hand without using the wheel like the Kumars do. This technique is one of the ancient techniques of earthen pot making. This book, written in Assamese language sneak peeks into the life of the Hira community of Assam. The author attempts to describe in detail the socio-history of the Hiras, their economy, polity, culture, art of pottery making, as well as the problems and issues surfacing in the life of the Hira community. The book is a succinct yet detailed, simple yet intricate description of the Hiras of Assam.