The Lonaria (or Lonari, Lonmali, Lonkar) are an Indian caste historically associated with saltmaking, as well as production of lime, charcoal, and cement.[1]

Organisation

The caste is often referenced as a subdivision of the Mahar[2] caste, traditionally an Untouchable community. Other listing group them slightly lower than the Mahar, as a "Lower Caste" along with the Garshi (drummers) and Kumhar (potters).[3]

In Belgaum (Karnataka), the caste has two subsets named for their professional product: Mith (salt) and Chune (lime).[4]

References

  1. ^ Paul Hockings (May 1992). Encyclopedia of world cultures: South Asia. G. K. Hall. ISBN 978-0-8161-1812-0. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  2. ^ Robert Vane Russell (1916). pt. II. Descriptive articles on the principal castes and tribes of the Central Provinces. Macmillan and Company, limited. pp. 132–. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. ^ Unesco. Research Centre on Social and Economic Development in Southern Asia (1961). Social and cultural factors affecting productivity of industrial workers in India. Unesco Research Centre on Social and Economic Development in Southern Asia. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  4. ^ Govind Sadashiv Ghurye (1969). Caste and Race in India. Popular Prakashan. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-81-7154-205-5. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
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