Sonkar (surname)

Sonkar is a caste community found primarily in northern and central India. The legal caste classification of the Sonkar community varies by state and is determined by state- and central-government notifications. In Uttar Pradesh, Sonkar is officially recognized as a Scheduled Caste (SC), while in several other Indian states the community is classified under Other Backward Classes (OBC) or equivalent backward categories.

• Sonkar families were associated with goldsmithing, jewellery making, and metal-related artisan work
• Over time, many shifted into trade, business, farming, government jobs, and private-sector work

The term Sonkar is generally considered to be derived from Swarna (gold), indicating a historical association with goldsmithing and metal-based artisan occupations.

The Sonkar community is predominantly found in:

• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• Chhattisgarh
• Rajasthan
• Maharashtra

The highest concentration of the community is in Uttar Pradesh, where its caste classification is legally distinct from that in other states.

In Uttar Pradesh, Sonkar is listed as a Scheduled Caste under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order applicable to the state. Individuals belonging to this community are eligible for constitutional safeguards and reservation benefits provided to Scheduled Castes in education, employment, and welfare schemes.

In states such as Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, the Sonkar community is generally classified under Other Backward Classes (OBC) or related backward-category lists. The community is not listed as a Scheduled Caste in these states.

Caste status is determined by the state in which a caste certificate is issued and does not automatically transfer between states.

Traditionally, members of the Sonkar community have been associated with:

• Goldsmithing and jewellery making
• Metalwork and artisan crafts
• Small-scale trading and related occupations

Over time, occupational patterns have diversified, with many community members entering agriculture, business, government service, and private-sector employment.

The inclusion of Sonkar under the Scheduled Caste category in Uttar Pradesh reflects the historical social discrimination experienced by the community in that region. In other states, differing historical and social conditions have resulted in alternative classifications.

In contemporary India, members of the Sonkar community are represented across various professional fields, including education, administration, commerce, and technical sectors. Community organizations advocate for social awareness, educational advancement, and political participation.

Sonkar is sometimes confused with other goldsmith-associated communities such as Sunar or Swarnkar. Despite similarities in traditional occupation, these communities are socially distinct and have different caste classifications depending on the state.

• Bizay Sonkar Shastri, Former Member of Parliament and current BJP spokesperson
• Neelam Sonkar, 16th Lok Sabha
• Rajnath Sonkar Shastri, Member of Parliament, Loksabha (1980-1984)
• Ram Raj Sonkar, known as Udit Raj, Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha^[1]
• Vinod Sonkar, Member of the Lok Sabha since 2014

• Anchal Sonkar, member of the 2013 Legislative Assembly of India
• Banke Lal Sonkar, member of 13th Legislative Assembly
• Bheem Prasad Sonkar, Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Jagdish Sonkar, Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Kailash Nath Sonkar, Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Prakash Sonkar, Former Member of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Rajesh Sonkar, Member of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Ravi Kumar Sonkar, Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Shriram Sonkar, member of 11th, 13th, and 17th Legislative Assembly
• Vidyasagar Sonkar, Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council
• Deep Chandra Sonkar, Former Member of Shahganj Legislative Assembly
• Saroj Sonkar, MLA, She won Balha Assembly Constituency by 89627 votes in 2019 Sub-election.

• Pinki Sonkar, featured in Smile Pinki (2008), a 39-minute documentary directed by Megan Mylan. The documentary won the 81st Academy Awards for Best Documentary.^[2][3]

• Barkha Sonkar, International basketball player, member of India women's national basketball team^[4] and represented India in 2017 FIBA WOMEN'S ASIA CUP DIVISION B.