Chamar

Chamar ( "tanner"; from the Sanskrit Charmakara) is a prominent occupational caste in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Chamar is a Dalit sub-caste mainly found in the northern states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and in Nepal at least north to the Himalayas. The traditional occupation of this caste was processing, manufacturing and trading in leather and leather goods, but agriculture is another important occupation in which they engage, either as owners or as tenants. However, professor Ram Narayan Rawat at the University of Pennsylvania posits that this association with tanning was constructed, and that the chamars were historically agriculturists.

Chamars have a population of over 50 million. They are known to be one of the most highly influential groups amongst scheduled castes. Traditionally, their social status was low in the Indian caste system because of their association with tanning and thus are still considered as untouchables in some parts of India.