Lonia

The Lonia (or Lunia) are a Hindu group of caste which belongs to other backward class (OBC).
Some of the chauhan who are living in East Uttar Pradesh are Rajput  Chauhan.

Origins and status
Originally, the Lonia were resident in Rajasthan they are of the varna Kshatriya at time of chauhan ruler but after decay of Chauhan dynasty they are scattered all over in India and as result they lost their power and glory after it they were engaged in the manufacture of salt.Some were also engaged in the construction of houses and mainly architecture work for houses.

In some times and places, such as Uttar Pradesh in the mid-20th century, the Lonia were engaged in farming .</ref> In contrast, the community itself has at various times claimed to be of the Kshatriya (warrior) varna in the caste system as it resulted that again they are said as Kshatriya as they were called in time period of chauhaan dynasty.But at time of freedom of india this community was a rural community thus they were put Over Backwards: An Essay on Reservations, and on Judicial ... - Page 72] ...more dignified title, for admission to a higher caste or exclusion from a caste which is considered low in the social scale and is rarely based on any ... Bhat to Brahm Bhat Brahman; Panchal to Vishwa Brahman; Vidura to Parashar Brahman; Lunia to Lunia Kshatriya; Mahar to Kashyap Rajput; Gond to ... "The foregoing catalogue shows that several castes which had hitherto been classified as untouchable.</ref>

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.

Beldar, a scheduled caste found mostly in Eastern and Central Uttar Pradesh is also called Lonia.

References

Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
Category:Hindu communities
Category:Saltmaking castes
Category:Dalit communities