Lonari

The Lonari caste primarily resides in various regions of India such as Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Dhule, Surat, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Khandesh, Nasik, Satana, Pune, Baramati, Indapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Jalna, the Satara agency, and the southern Maratha country. In 1901, their population was recorded at 19,222 individuals, with 9,672 males and 9,550 females. Originally engaged in cement-making and lime-burning activities, they were initially considered to be part of the Maratha community but later established themselves as a distinct group by specializing in lime and charcoal production and trade. The Lonari community did not have any caste reservations initially and were classified under the General category; however, they were granted Other Backward Class (OBC) status in Maharashtra during the mid-1990s. In Belgaum district, Lonaris are further divided into Mith (salt) and Chuna (lime) Lonaris who share meals but do not intermarry. In districts like Ahmednagar, Pune, and Solapur, they are categorized as Lonari proper and Kadu, Akaramashe. While Lonaris predominantly identify as Marathas, some political influences and strong leadership led them to opt for OBC status when it was officially granted. It is worth noting that Lonari individuals are spread across various states in India such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Vidarbha, but their origins can be traced back to Maharashtra from ancient times.

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