AND THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THEIR TRADITIONAL ART OF JEWELLRY MAKING FROM THEIR MOTHER COUNTRY

Indian Sonars ( Jewelers) were well known in Trinidad during and after the indentureship period. Sonar or Sunar (also spelled Suniar) is from the Sanskrit suvarnakar, meaning worker in gold. The Sonars were master gold and silversmiths craftsmen. They designed and made jewellery that were elaborately designed and inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones.
They brought their traditional gift of the art of making delicate filigree jewellery designs from their mother country of India.
The East Indian Sonars went into the villages and sugar estates transacting business among the plantation workers and would use humble abode at seen in one of the attached vintage photos to set up their shop and display their items of jewellery.
Jewellery produced by these master craftsmen during this period included the Khanpul (earrings), nakphul ( nose – rings) , chanahar ( necklace) ,churi ( bracelets) and bera. For the East Indian women wearing of gold and silver jewellery was not only part of their ancestral tradition but it helped the East Indian women who traditionally had no say in things, to have financial security.
(Source: Virtual Museum of T&T, May 20, 2024)