TheChunara are anethnic group found in the state ofGujarat in India. A small number are also found in the port city ofKarachi inPakistan. There are now two communities of Chunara, one Hindu and the other Muslim.
The wordchunara inGujarati literally means someone who manufactures chuna (lime). According to their traditions, they were originallyRajputs who migrated fromRajasthan toGujarat and joined the army of theGaekwars ofBaroda. After having a fallout with their employer, theMaratha ruler of Baroda, they took to manufacturing lime. A section of the Chunara then converted to Islam, and there are now distinct Chunara communities, one Hindu and the other Muslim.[1]