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The Lonia (or Lunia) are a Hindu saltmaking caste, found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
Contents
Origins and status
Originally, the Lonia were resident in Rajasthan where they were engaged in the manufacture of salt.
In some times and places, such as Uttar Pradesh in the mid-20th century, the Lunia were counted among the Untouchable castes. In contrast, the community itself has at various times claimed to be of the Kshatriya (warrior) varna in the caste system.
Present circumstances
In 1883, some Lonias formed a caste association called the Akhilbhartiya Shree Rajput Dharmpracharniya Mahasabha, under the leadership of Thakur Lalamathura Prasad Singh. The association later changed its name to Shree Rajput Heetkarni Mahasabha and in 1984 it merged into the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha at Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.