- Source: Lonia
The Lonia are a Hindu other backward caste, found in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar adjoining areas, who were traditionally involved in salt-digging and salt-making activities. The Lonia are listed as extremely backward caste, along with the Mallaah, Bind and Beldar communities, by state governments. The community leaders have been seeking Scheduled Tribe status for the socially deprived community. It is also spelled as Lunia, or Nonia.
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 or evidence, as scholars have given examples of entire communities of Shudra 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.
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.
Notable people
Kailash Purryag, fifth president of Mauritius.
Fagu Chauhan, Governor of Meghalaya.
Bharrat Jagdeo, former president of Guyana.
Renu Devi former deputy CM of Bihar
References
Sources
Lloyd Rudolph (1967). The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in India. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-73137-7.
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