The Lonia are a Hindu other backward caste, found in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar adjoining areas, who were traditionally involved in salt-digging[1] and salt-making activities.[2] The Lonia are listed as extremely backward caste, along with the Mallaah, Bind and Beldar communities, by state governments.[3][4] The community leaders have been seeking Scheduled Tribe status for the socially deprived community.[5][6] It is also spelled as Lunia, or Nonia.
Lonia | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 70 Lakhs | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India | |
| Bihar | 2.0 percent of Bihar's population[7] |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
 Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Noniya • Lonia • Lonari • Beldar | |
Surnames
People of this cast have various surnames usually depending on which part of country they are from. They use 'Chauhan', 'Prasad', 'Mehto', 'Nuniya', 'Singh Chauhan', 'Jamedar', 'Loniya', 'Beldar'. Women usually have 'Devi' in their surname if they don't use their husbands surname.
Role in the Indian independence movement
Mukutdhari Prasad Chauhan, a member of the Noniya caste, played a key role in the Indian independence movement. He was involved in the Champaran Satyagraha, the 1930 Salt Satyagraha, and the 1942 Quit India Movement.
Origins and status
Their population is concentrated in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh such as Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau districts and some neighbouring areas. Lonia or Nonia like other communities, had been victim of colonial oppression, which resulted in rebellion and they contributed to the fight for independence.
In recent times, they have started writing Chauhan as their surname and calling themselves Rajput, which has no historical basis[8][9] or evidence, as scholars have given examples of entire communities of Shudra[10][11] origin "becoming" Rajput, termed as Rajputisation, even as late as the 20th century, under British Raj, for instance, William Rowe, in his "The new Chauhans : A caste mobility movement in North India", discusses an example of a large section of a Shudra caste - the Noniyas or Lonias- from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that had tried to "become" Rajputs over three generations in the Raj era to seek upper mobility in the social hierarchy by emulating their customs and traditions.[12]
Present circumstances
The Lonia or Nonia are one of the most socially, educationally and economically deprived communities, though recognised as OBCs by state governments, they have been seeking Scheduled Tribe status, for their upliftment.[13][14]
Notable people
- Kailash Purryag, fifth president of Mauritius.[15]
- Fagu Chauhan, Governor of Meghalaya.[16]
- Bharrat Jagdeo, former president of Guyana.[17]
- Renu Devi former deputy CM of Bihar
References
- ^ Russell, Robert Vane (28 September 2020). The Tribes and Castes of India By Robert Vane Russell. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 9781465582942. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "A Lunia, salt-digger". Science Photo Library. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "List of OBCs". National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Extremely backward castes seek ST tag". The Economic Times. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ "Bihar seeks ST status for Noniya caste". The Times of India. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Abhay Singh (18 March 2021). "Demand for ST status for Nonia, Mallaah communities". News18. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Noniya, Chauhan. "https://m.thewire.in/article/caste/bihar-caste-survey-the-whos-who-in-the-data-noniya".
{{cite news}}: External link in|title= - ^ Russell, Robert Vane (28 September 2020). The Tribes and Castes of India By Robert Vane Russell. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 9781465582942. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "The tribes and castes of central provinces of India". The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tribes and Castes by R.V. Russell. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Russell, Robert Vane (28 September 2020). The Tribes and Castes of India By Robert Vane Russell. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 9781465582942. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "The tribes and castes of central provinces of India". The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tribes and Castes by R.V. Russell. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Lloyd Rudolph 1967, p. 127.
- ^ Sanjay Singh (14 June 2018). "Nitish Kumar reiterates ST demand for Mallaah, Nishad and Nonia". The Economic Times. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ Ashok Mishra (18 March 2021). "As Nitish Tries to Nullify Hindutva through Caste-based Census, Modi Govt Walks a Tightrope". News18. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "I'm proud to be a Bihari, says Mauritius president | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ^ "Bihar governor attends BJP-backed 'caste meeting', Sushil Modi says it's for social harmony". The Print. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Jagdeo visits ancestral village, embraces grandfather's sister launches web site dedicated to tracing family roots". Retrieved 31 August 2023.
Sources
- Lloyd Rudolph (1967). The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in India. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-73137-7.