A bright white plaster or whitewash made from lime and shell that is used in South Asian construction, particularly in India.
From Hindi/Urdu 'chunam' (also 'chuna'), derived from Sanskrit 'chūrṇa' meaning powder. Used in English texts about Indian architecture and building practices since colonial times.
Chunam was the original high-tech building material of South Asia—it's naturally antimicrobial and stays cool in extreme heat, which is why colonial architects adopted it for bungalows in India; it's a material that's both ancient and scientifically smart.
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