Dalit is a self-designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as low caste or untouchables (
outcasteOutcaste may refer to*by extension, anything or anyone with a social stigma, due to criminal behavior or non-acceptance of societal norms.*Dalit *Casteless people in Japan...
s). Dalits are a mixed population of numerous caste groups all over South Asia, and speak various languages. It is impossible to differentiate between Dalits and the various other caste groups on the basis of phenotypes or genetics. Consequently, population statistics remain controversial and are often subject to political agendas.
The caste system is a social construct among South Asian peoples, and has no genetic basis.
While the caste system has been formally abolished under the Indian constitution, there is still discrimination and prejudice against Dalits in South Asia. Since Indian independence, significant steps have been taken to provide opportunities in jobs and education. Many social organizations have encouraged proactive provisions to better the conditions of dalits through improved education, health and employment.
Etymology
The word "Dalit" comes from the Sanskrit language, and means "ground", "suppressed", "crushed", or "broken to pieces". It was first used by Jyotirao Phule in the nineteenth century, in the context of the oppression faced by the erstwhile "untouchable" castes of the
twice-bornDvija is one of the members of the first three varnas in Hindu Dharma. Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are included in Dvija, although in many Shastras, Dvija usually refers to Brahmin....
Hindus.
Gandhi's coinage of the word
HarijanHarijan was a term coined by Gandhi for Dalits, which is now considered patronizing. The term can also be attributed to Dalits of Pakistan called the haris, who are a group of mud-hut builders. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable'...
, translated roughly as "Children of God", to identify the former Untouchables. The terms "Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes" (SC/ST) are the official terms used in Indian government documents to identify former "untouchables" and tribes. However, in 2008 the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, noticing that "Dalit" was used interchangeably with the official term "scheduled castes", called the term "unconstitutional" and asked state governments to end its use. After the order, the
ChhattisgarhChhattisgarh , a state in central India, formed when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi-speaking southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained statehood on November 1, 2000. Raipur serves as its capital. It is the 10th largest state of India by area of 52,199 sq mi...
government ended the official use of the word "Dalit".
"
Adi DravidaAdi Dravida is term used by the state of Tamil Nadu in India to denote Dalits. It means Original natives or indigenous people of Dravida land ...
", "Adi Karnataka" and "Adi Andhra" are words used in the states of
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
,
KarnatakaKarnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It was created on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act...
and
Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh , abbreviated A.P., is a state situated on the south-eastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Hyderabad...
, respectively, to identify people of former "untouchable" castes in official documents. These words, particularly the prefix of "Adi", denote the aboriginal inhabitants of the land.
Sub-groups
Dalits in North India include
DombaThe Domba or Dom are an ethnic or social group, or groups, scattered across India. They are usually segregated from the mainstream community as outcastes....
s, ChandalaChandala or Chandal is an opprobrious term, reserved for a despised group of peoples in India by people of India in the Sanskritic literature. Currently it is a caste title used specifically in the Indo-Aryan speaking regions of India...
s, leather-workers (called
ChamarChamar is a prominent occupational caste in India 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...
), carcass handlers (called
MaharThe Mahars are an important social group within the Indian state of Maharashtra state and surrounding states. A grouping of related endogamous castes, the Mahar are the largest scheduled caste group in Maharashtra. In the early 1980s, the Mahar community was estimated to make up about 9% of the...
), poor farmers, landless labourers,
night soilNight soil is a euphemism for human feces. "Night soil" is produced as a result of a waste management system in areas without community infrastructure such as a sewage treatment facility, or individual septic disposal...
scavengers (called
BhangiBhangi is an Indian caste even though they are outside of traditional Jāti also treated as Untouchables. Bhangis are traditionally restricted to the two job functions of cleaning latrines and handling dead bodies...
), street handcrafting people, folk artists,
PasiThe Pasis are found in India, in the states of Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. They are one of the Schedule caste but not untouchables.-Origin:...
, village watchmen, street cleaners, sweepers (
ChuraChura is a caste in Punjab whose traditional occupation is sweeping. Churas are followers of Sikhism also churas were treated as un touchable in some parts of India as they belong to Shudra category in Hinduism.-Chura Sikhs or Mazhabi:...
) and washermen (
DhobiA dhobi is a Muslim community in Pakistan and India.-Scope and job:Dhobis usually operate from door to door collecting dirty linen from households. After a day or two, they return the linen washed, sometimes starched and ironed. Dhobis were the forerunners on the Indian subcontinent to modern...
). In South India the
Parayas, Pulayas, MalasMala or Malla is a social group or caste mostly from Andhra Pradesh state of India. Along with Madigas they form the largest segment of what is considered to be the Dalit castes of Andhra...
, MadigaMadiga is a social group or caste mostly from Andhra Pradesh and neigbhours. Along with Malas they form the largest segment of what is considered to be the Dalit castes of Andhra. They are also no parallel castes found in north India. Chamars in Hindus and ravidas or raidas in Sikhs in North India...
s are notable Dalit groups, amongst many others.
Social status of Dalits
In the context of traditional
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
society, Dalit status has often been historically associated with occupations regarded as ritually impure, such as any involving butchering, removal of rubbish, removal of waste and leatherwork. Dalits work as manual labourers, cleaning latrines and sewers, and clearing away rubbish. Engaging in these activities was considered to be polluting to the individual, and this pollution was considered contagious. As a result, Dalits were commonly segregated, and banned from full participation in Hindu social life. For example, they could not enter a temple or a school, and were required to stay outside the village. Elaborate precautions were sometimes observed to prevent incidental contact between Dalits and other castes. Discrimination against Dalits still exists in rural areas in the private sphere, in everyday matters such as access to eating places, schools, temples and water sources. It has largely disappeared in urban areas and in the public sphere.
Some Dalits have successfully integrated into urban Indian society, where caste origins are less obvious and less important in public life. In rural India, however, caste origins are more readily apparent and Dalits often remain excluded from local religious life, though some qualitative evidence suggests that its severity is fast diminishing. Dalits and similar groups are also found in
NepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
,
Sri LankaSri Lanka , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India...
and
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. In addition, the
Burakuminare a Japanese social minority group. The burakumin are one of the main minority groups in Japan, along with the Ainu of Hokkaidō, the Ryukyuans of Okinawa and the residents of Korean and Chinese descent....
of Japan,
BaekjeongThe baekjeong were an “untouchable” outcaste group of Korea, often compared with the burakumin of Japan and the dalits of India and Nepal.-Social history:...
of Korea and
MidganThe Madhiban , also known as the Midgaan , is a Somali clan.Its members are principally concentrated in northern Somalia, numbering only around 9,000 individuals ....
of
SomaliaSomalia , officially the Republic of Somalia and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa...
are similar in status to Dalits.
Genetics
One study found some association between caste status and Y-chromosomal genetic markers seeming to indicate a more European lineage of the higher castes; however, many recent studies indicate no racial and genetic differences between upper and lower castes. Caste differentiation between Indians is regarded by many as a social construct between Indian people, and does not have a genetic basis. Genetic testing further indicates that, as a whole, Indian genetic groups do not show a great affinity to any non-South Asian groups .
Dalits and religion
Sachar CommitteeThe Rajinder Sachar Committee, appointed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India was a high level committee for preparation of a report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India....
report of 2006 revealed that scheduled castes and tribes of India are not limited to the religion of Hinduism. The 61st Round Survey of the
NSSONSSO may refer to:* National Sample Survey Organisation* National Security Space Office...
found that almost nine-tenths of the Buddhists, one-third of the Sikhs, and one-third of the Christians in India belonged to the notified scheduled castes of the Constitution.
| Religion |
Scheduled Caste |
Scheduled Tribe |
BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
|
89.50% |
7.40% |
| Christianity Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
|
9.00% |
32.80% |
SikhismSikhism, founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab, is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat or the Sikh Dharma...
|
30.70% |
0.90% |
| Hinduism |
22.20% |
9.10% |
ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster , after whom the religion is named. The term Zoroastrianism is, in general usage, essentially synonymous with Mazdaism, i.e...
|
- |
15.90% |
JainismJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
|
- |
2.60% |
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām, [There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
|
0.80% |
0.50% |
Hinduism
The large majority of the Dalits in India are Hindus, although some in
MaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located on the western coast of India. Maharashtra is a part of Western India. It is India's third largest state by area and second largest by population....
and other states have converted to
BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
, often called Neo-Buddhism. Dalits in Sri Lanka can be Buddhist (See
RodiyaRodi or Rodiya are one of the widely reported untouchable social group or caste amongst the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka. Their status was very similar to all the Untouchable castes of India with segregated communities, ritualized begging, eating off the refuse of upper castes and refusal for the...
) or Hindus.
Historical attitudes
The term,
ChandalaChandala or Chandal is an opprobrious term, reserved for a despised group of peoples in India by people of India in the Sanskritic literature. Currently it is a caste title used specifically in the Indo-Aryan speaking regions of India...
can be seen used in the
Manu Smriti' or Manusmriti , also known as Mānava-Dharmaśāstra , is the most important and earliest metrical work of the Dharmaśāstra textual tradition of Hinduism. Generally known in English as the Laws of Manu, it was first translated into English in 1794 by Sir William Jones, an English Orientalist and...
(codes of caste segregation) to the
MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . The epic is part of the Hindu itihāsa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
the religious epic. In later time it was also used as a synonym for
DombaThe Domba or Dom are an ethnic or social group, or groups, scattered across India. They are usually segregated from the mainstream community as outcastes....
indicating both terms were interchangeable and did not represent one ethnic or tribal group. Instead, it was a general opprobrious term. In the early Vedic literature several of the names of castes that are spoken of in the Smritis as Antyajas occur. We have
CarmannaChamar is a prominent occupational caste in India 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...
(a tanner of hides) in the Rig Veda (VIII.8,38) the Chandala and Paulkasa occur in Vajasaneyi Samhita.
Vepa or
Vapta (barber) in the Rig Veda. Vidalakara or Bidalakar occurs in the Vajasaneyi Samhita.
Vasahpalpuli (washer woman) corresponding to the Rajakas of the Smritis in Vajasaneyi Samhita. Fa Hien, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who recorded his visit to India in the early
4th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400.- Overview :...
C.E., noted that Chandalas were segregated from the mainstream society as untouchables. Traditionally, Dalits were considered to be beyond the pale of Varna or caste system. They were originally considered as
Panchama or the fifth group beyond the four fold division of Indian people. They were not allowed to let their shadows fall upon a non-Dalit caste member and they were required to sweep the ground where they walked to remove the 'contamination' of their footfalls. Dalits were forbidden to worship in temples or draw water from the same wells as caste Hindus, and they usually lived in segregated neighborhoods outside the main village. In the Indian countryside, the dalit villages are usually a separate enclave a kilometre or so outside the main village where the other hindu castes reside.
Some upper-caste
HindusHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
did warm to Dalits and Hindu priests demoted to low-caste ranks. An example of the latter was
DnyaneshwarSant Jñāneshwar / Sant Dnyāneshwar , also known as Jñanadeva - ज्ञानदेव, was a 13th century Maharashtran saint, poet, philosopher and yogi of the Nath tradition whose works Bhavartha deepika teeka , and Amrutanubhav are considered to be milestones in Marathi...
, who was excommunicated into Dalit status in the 13th century but continued to compose the
DnyaneshwariThe Dnyaaneshwari is the commentary on Bhagavad Gita written by Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar during the 13th century at age 16...
, a commentary on the
Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important Hindu scriptures. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important philosophical classics of the world. The Bhagavad Gita comprises 700 verses, and is a part of the Mahabharata...
.
EknathEknāth was a prominent Marāthi religious poet in the Hindu tradition in India.Eknath was born and lived most of his life in Paithan in Mahārāshtra, India.He was a Kulkarni of that Village. Eknath's family name is almost unknown...
, another excommunicated
BrahminBrahmins have historically been the class of educators, scholars and preachers in Hinduism. They are considered as belonging to the "forward castes" of the four varnas of Hinduism....
, fought for the rights of untouchables during the Bhakti period. Historical examples of Dalit priests include
ChokhamelaChokhamela was a saint in Maharashtra, India in the 14th century. He belonged to the Mahar caste considered untouchable in India in that era. He was born at Mehuna raja, a village in Deulgaon Raja Taluka of Buldhana district. He lived at Mangalvedhe in Maharashtra. He wrote many Abhangas...
in the
14th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was the century which lasted from 1301 to 1400.-Events:* The transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age...
, who was India's first recorded Dalit poet and
RaidasGuru or Bhagat Ravidas was a north Indian Sant mystic of the bhakti movement who was active in the 15th century CE. Venerated in northern India and in the Indian state of Maharashtra, he is the Satguru of the Ravidasi sect and one of the fifteen Bhagats of the Sikhs...
, born into a family of cobblers. The 15th century saint
Sri Ramananda RayaSri Ramananda Ray was the Viceroy of the Rajamahendri,Godavari Province of Kalinga-Utkala Empire under the Emperor Gajapati Sri Prataparudra Dev. He was born in early 14th century at Cuttack in a noted Oriya Kayastha/Karana family...
also accepted all castes, including untouchables, into his fold. Most of these saints subscribed to the Bhakti movements in
HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
during the medieval period that rejected casteism.
NandanarNandanar was a Nayanar saint born in South India who became a great devotee of Lord Shiva.Nandanar was born in a village called Adhanurin a poor family...
, a low-caste Hindu cleric, also rejected casteism and accepted Dalits. Due to isolation from the rest of the Hindu society, many Dalits continue to debate whether they are 'Hindu' or 'non-Hindu'. Traditionally, Hindu Dalits have been barred from many activities that were seen as central to
Vedic religionThe religion of the Vedic period is the historical predecessor of Hinduism. Its liturgy is reflected in the Mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites that often involved sacrifices...
and Hindu practices of orthodox sects. Among Hindus each community has followed its own variation of
HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
, and the wide variety of practices and beliefs observed in Hinduism makes any clear assessment difficult.
The declaration by princely states of Kerala between 1936 and 1947 that temples were open to all Hindus went a long way towards ending the system of untouchability in Kerala. Some historical forms of untouchability which existed in Kerala, Nairs and Namboothiris, who constituted the forward castes forbid those belonging to lower castes within certain proximity to them, believing that the presence of lower castes would pollute them. A
NairNair , is the name of a Hindu Forward caste from the Southern Indian state of Kerala. They are a Kshatriya caste belonging to the Nagavanshi order...
was expected to instantly cut down a Tiar, or
MucuaMukkuvar also Mukkuva are a social group or caste primarily a fishing community, living in the coastal districts of Kerala, south Tamil Nadu in India and also in Sri Lanka. It is a community that has differing ethnic identities based on the state or country of domicile...
, who presumed to defile him by touching his person; and a similar fate awaited a slave, who did not turn out of the road as a Nair passed. Historically other castes like Nayadis, Kanisans and Mukkuvans were forbidden within distance from Nairs.
Today there is no such evil practice like untouchability. Its observance is a criminal offence.
Reform Movements
The earliest known historical people to have rejected the caste system were
Gautama BuddhaSiddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher in the north eastern region of the Indian subcontinent who founded Buddhism. He is regarded by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddha of our age. The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c...
and
MahaviraMahavira is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamana who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24
th and the last Tirthankara...
. Their teachings eventually became independent religions called
BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
and
JainismJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
. The earliest known reformation within
HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
happened during the medieval period when the Bhakti movements actively encouraged the participation and inclusion of Dalits. In the 19th Century, the
Brahmo SamajBrahmo Samaj is the societal component of Brahmoism. It has without doubt proved to be the most influential religious movement of the nineteenth century...
,
Arya SamajArya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded in India by Swami Dayananda in 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda advocated the doctrine of karma and reincarnation, and emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya and sanyasa...
and the
Ramakrishna MissionRamakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Sri Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda...
actively participated in the emancipation of Dalits. While there always have been segregated places for Dalits to worship, the first "upper-caste" temple to openly welcome Dalits into their fold was the Laxminarayan Temple in
WardhaWardha is a city and a municipal council in Wardha district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Wardha gets its name from the Wardha River which flows at the North, West and South boundaries of district. Founded in 1866, the town is now an important centre for the cotton trade. It is the...
in the year 1928. It was followed by the
Temple Entry ProclamationThe Temple Entry Proclamation issued by Maharaja Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and his Dewan Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer in 1936 abolished the ban on low-caste people or avarnas from entering Hindu Temples in the state of Travancore The edict is as follows:Today, the Temple Entry proclamation...
issued by the
last King of TravancoreSree Chithira Thirunal was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Travancore.-Accession:...
in the Indian state of
KeralaKerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language...
in 1936.
The
SikhSikhism, founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab, is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat or the Sikh Dharma...
reformist Satnami movement was founded by
Guru Ghasidas-Satguru Charann :First the feet of Satguru is worshipped. First we worship the feet and Charann Khadaau [Chandan wooden shoes of Satguru] and the dust particle of feet of Satguru Ghasidas.- Introduction :...
, born a Dalit. Other notable Sikh Gurus such as Guru Ravidas were also Dalits. Other reformers, such as Jyotirao Phule,
AyyankaliAyyankali was a leader of the Indian lower caste Dalits known as the Untouchables. He pioneered many reforms to improve the lifes of the Dalits. In 1937 he was praised by Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Venganoor, Ayyankali's home town...
of Kerala and
Iyothee ThassIyothee Thass or Pandit C. Ayodhya Dasa was a practitioner of Siddha medicine who is regarded as a pioneer of the Dravidian Movement.- Early life :...
of Tamil Nadu worked for emancipation of Dalits. The 1930s saw key struggle between
Mahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and
B. R. AmbedkarBhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist, jurist, Dalit, political leader, activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and the revivalist of Buddhism in India. He was also the...
over whether Dalits would have separate or joint electorates. Although he failed to get Ambedkar's support for a joint electorate, Gandhi nevertheless began the "Harijan Yatra" to help the Dalit population.
Palwankar BalooBabaji Palwankar Baloo, , commonly known as Palwankar Baloo, was an Indian cricketer. He bowled left-arm orthodox spin with great accuracy and the ability to turn the ball both ways...
, a Dalit politician and a cricketer, joined the Hindu Mahasabha in the fight for independence.
Other
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
groups have reached out to the Dalit community in an effort to reconcile with them. On August 2006, Dalit activist
Namdeo DhasalNamdeo Laxman Dhasal is a Marathi writer and Dalit activist from Maharashtra, India.-Biography:Dhasal was born on February 15, 1949, in a village near Pune, India. A member of the Dalit class, he grew up in dire poverty...
engaged in dialogue with the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak SanghThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , also known as the Sangh or the RSS, is world's largest volunteer organization in India. It was founded by Dr. K. B...
in an attempt to "bury the hatchet". Hindu temples are increasingly receptive to Dalit priests, a function formerly reserved for Brahmins. Suryavanshi Das, for example, is the Dalit priest of a notable temple in
BiharBihar is a state in eastern India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at 38,202 sq mi , and 3rd largest by population. Close to 85 percent of the population lives in villages...
.. Anecdotal evidence suggests that discrimination against Hindu Dalits is on a slow but steady decline . For instance, an informal study by Dalit writer
Chandrabhan PrasadChandra Bhan Prasad is a Dalit writer and is the first Dalit to have a regular column in an Indian English newspaper.Prasad started writing a weekly column titled Dalit Diary in 1999 for The Pioneer, an English daily with a limited circulation in Delhi and Lucknow...
and reported in the New York Times states: "In rural
Azamgarh-Early History:Azamgarh -a town and the district headquarters of the district of Azamgarh in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.Like most big settlements of Northern India, Azamgarh too, is situated on the banks of a river—in this case on the Tons River. Azamgarh was founded around 1665, by a...
District [in the state of
Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh , [often referred to as U.P.] is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 190 million people,...
], for instance, nearly all Dalit households said their bridegrooms now rode in cars to their weddings, compared with 27 percent in 1990. In the past, Dalits would not have been allowed to ride even horses to meet their brides; that was considered an upper-caste privilege."
Many Hindu Dalits have achieved affluence in society, although vast millions still remain poor. In particular, some Dalit intellectuals such as
Chandrabhan PrasadChandra Bhan Prasad is a Dalit writer and is the first Dalit to have a regular column in an Indian English newspaper.Prasad started writing a weekly column titled Dalit Diary in 1999 for The Pioneer, an English daily with a limited circulation in Delhi and Lucknow...
have argued that the living standards of many Dalits have improved since the economic liberalization in 1991 and have supported their claims through large qualitative surveys . Recent episodes of
Caste-related violence in IndiaCaste-related violence and hate crimes in India have occurred despite the gradual reduction of casteism in the country.According to a report by Human Rights Watch, "Dalits and indigenous peoples continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and acts of communal violence...
have adversely affected the Dalit community. In urban India, discrimination against Dalits in the public sphere is greatly reduced, but rural Dalits are struggling to elevate themselves . Government organizations and NGO's work to emancipate them from discrimination, and many Hindu organizations have spoken in their favor . Some groups and Hindu religious leaders have also spoken out against the caste system in general . However, the fight for temple entry rights for Dalits is far from finished and continues to cause controversy . Brahmins like Subramania Bharati also passed Brahminhood onto a Dalit, while in Shivaji's
Maratha EmpireThe Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was a Hindu state located in present-day India. It existed from 1674 to 1818...
there were Dalit Hindu warriors (the
Mahar RegimentThe Mahar Regiment is an Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army. Although it was originally intended to be a regiment consisting of troops from the Mahars in Maharashtra, the Mahar Regiment is one of the only regiments in the Indian Army that is composed of troops from all communities and regions of...
) and a
Scindia Dalit KingdomScindia, anglicized from Shinde, and also spelled as Sindhia, Sindia, is a Maratha family in India which included rulers of the Gwalior State in the 18th and 19th centuries, collaborators of the colonial British government during the 19th and the 20th centuries until India became independent, and...
. In modern times there are several
Bharatiya Janata PartyThe Bharatiya Janata Party , translation: Indian People's Party) is a major political party in India, founded in 1980. The party is a strong force in Hindu nationalism and advocates conservative social policies, self-reliance, free market economics, foreign policy driven by a nationalist agenda,...
leaders like Ramachandra Veerappa and Dr. Suraj Bhan. (See
List of Dalits)
More recently, Dalits in Nepal are now being accepted into priesthood (traditionally reserved for Brahmins). The Dalit priestly order is called "Pandaram"
Islam
Muslim society in India can also be separated into several caste-like groups. In contradiction to the teachings of Islam, descendants of indigenous lower-caste converts are discriminated against by "noble", or "ashraf", Muslims who can trace their descent to
ArabArab people or Arabs are an ethnic group whose members identify along linguistic, cultural or genealogical grounds...
,
IranianThe Iranian peoples are an ethnic and linguistic branch of Indo-European peoples, living mainly on the Iranian plateau and beyond in central, southern, and southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe. As a group of people, they are predominantly defined along linguistic lines as speaking the Iranian...
, or
Central-AsianAsia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to northern India in the south. It is also sometimes known as Middle Asia or Inner Asia, and is within the scope of the wider Eurasian continent.Various definitions of its...
ancestors. There are several groups in India working to emancipate them from upper-caste Muslim discrimination.
The Dalit Muslims are referred to by the Ashraf and Ajlaf Muslims as
Arzal or "ritually degraded". They were first recorded in the 1901 census as those “with whom no other Muhammadan would associate, and who are forbidden to enter the mosque or to use the public burial ground”. They are relegated to "menial" professions such as scavenging and carrying
night soilNight soil is a euphemism for human feces. "Night soil" is produced as a result of a waste management system in areas without community infrastructure such as a sewage treatment facility, or individual septic disposal...
.
Ambedkar wrote about the Dalit Muslims and was extremely critical of their mistreatment by upper-caste Muslims, writing: "Within these groups there are castes with social precedence of exactly the same nature as one finds among the Hindus."
Sikhism
Dalits form a class among the Sikhs who stratify their society according to traditional casteism.
Kanshi RamKanshi Ram was an Indian politician of Dalit Raidasia/Ramdassia Sikh background. He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party , a political party with the stated goal of serving the traditionally lower castes of Indian society . He shared the BSP's leadership with Mayawati...
himself was of Sikh background although converted because he found that Sikh society did not respect Dalits and so became a neo-Buddhist.
The most recent controversy was at the Talhan village Gurudwara near Jalandhar where there was a dispute between Jat Sikhs and Ravidasia Sikhs. The Different Sikh Dalits are Ravidasia Sikh and
MazhabiA Mazhabi is a member of the Rangretta clans that are mainly found in the Punjab region, Kashmir and Rajastan...
Sikh. Although Sikhism does not recognize the Caste System, many families, especially the ones with immediate cultural ties to India, generally do not marry among different castes.
There are sects such as the Adi-Dharmis who have now abandoned Sikh Temples and the 5 Ks. They are like the Ravidasis and regard Ravidas as their guru. They are also clean shaven as opposed to the mainstream Sikhs. Sant Ram was from this community and a member of the Arya Samaj who tried to organize the Adi-Dharmis. Other Sikh groups include Jhiwars, Bazigars, Rai Sikh (many of whom are Ravidasias.) Just as with Hindu Dalits, there has been violence against Sikh Dalits.
Christianity
Across India, many Christian communities still follow the caste system. Sometimes the social stratification remains unchanged and in some cases such as among Goan Catholicss, the stratification varies as compared to the Hindu system. Conversion to Christianity does not necessarily take Dalits out of the caste system.
A 1992 study
http://indianhope.free.fr/site_eng/article_5.php3 of
CatholicThe word Catholic is derived from the Greek adjective , meaning "universal". In the context of Christian ecclesiology, it has a rich history and several usages. For some, the term "Catholic Church" refers to the church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, made up of the Latin Rite and the 22...
s in
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
found some
Dalit ChristianIn the late 1880's the Marathi word 'Dalit' was used by Mahatma Jotiba Phule for the outcasts and Untouchables who were oppressed and broken by Hindu society....
s faced segregated churches, cemeteries, services and even processions. Despite Christian teachings these Dalit also faced economic and social hardships due to discrimination by upper-caste priests and nuns. Other sources support these conclusions, including Christian advocacy groups for Dalits. A Christian Dalit activist with the
pen nameA pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Bama Faustina has written books providing a firsthand account of discrimination by upper-caste nuns and priests in
South IndiaSouth India, also known as the Dravida in the Indian anthem, is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of area...
.
Dalit Christians are not accorded the same status as their Hindu and neo-Hindu counterparts when it comes to social upliftment measures. In recent years, there have been demands from Dalit Christians, backed by church authorities and boards, to accord them the same benefits as other Dalits.
Buddhism
In
MaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located on the western coast of India. Maharashtra is a part of Western India. It is India's third largest state by area and second largest by population....
,
Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh , [often referred to as U.P.] is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 190 million people,...
,
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
and a few other regions, Dalits have come under the influence of the neo-Buddhist movement initiated by Ambedkar. Some of them have come under the influence of the Neo-Buddhist and Christian Missionaries and have converted away from Hinduism into religions such as
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
and
BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
in what they have been told is an "attempt to eliminate the prejudice they face".
BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha president
Bangaru LaxmanBangaru Laxman is an Indian politician. He was a minister of state for railways in Government of India from 1999 to 2000. Later he became President of Bharatiya Janata Party but resigned soon after Tehelka case.-Early life:...
(Organiser, 6-8-1995) accused Congress leader Sitaram Kesri, who had bracketed the Dalits with the minorities as "sufferers of Hindu oppression", of thereby showing "disrespect to [Dalit] saints like Ravidas, Satyakam Jabali, Sadhna Kasai, Banka Mahar, Dhanna Chamar and others who protected Hindus against foreign onslaughts."
In the officially Hindu country of
NepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, some Dalits and others are turning to
BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
from
VedicThe religion of the Vedic period is the historical predecessor of Hinduism. Its liturgy is reflected in the Mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites that often involved sacrifices...
Hinduism. Reasons cited are to embrace non-violence and as a response to the caste system, which has led to a substantial increase in Buddhists in the population while the number of those professing Hinduism has decreased from 88% in 1961 to 80% at present.
The Prevention of Atrocities Act
The Prevention of Atrocities ActThe Scheduled Castes and Tribes Act, 1989 was enacted by the Government of India, in order to prevent atrocities against Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes...
(POA) is a tacit acknowledgement by the Indian government that caste relations are defined by violence, both incidental and systemic. In 1989, the Government of India passed the Prevention of Atrocities Act (POA), which clarified specific crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (the Dalits) as “atrocities,” and created strategies and punishments to counter these acts. The purpose of The Act was to curb and punish violence against Dalits. Firstly, it clarified what the
atrocities were: both particular incidents of harm and humiliation, such as the forced consumption of noxious substances, and systemic violence still faced by many Dalits, especially in rural areas. Such systemic violence includes forced labor, denial of access to water and other public amenities, and sexual abuse of Dalit women. Secondly, the Act created Special Courts to try cases registered under the POA. Thirdly, the Act called on states with high levels of caste violence (said to be “atrocity-prone”) to appoint qualified officers to monitor and maintain law and order. The POA gave legal redress to Dalits, but only two states have created separate Special Courts in accordance with the law. In practice the Act has suffered from a near-complete failure in implementation. Policemen have displayed a consistent unwillingness to register offenses under the act. This reluctance stems partially from ignorance and also from peer protection. According to a 1999 study, nearly a quarter of those government officials charged with enforcing the Act are unaware of its existence.
Dalits and contemporary Indian politics
While the Indian Constitution has duly made special provisions for the social and economic uplift of the Dalits, comprising the so-called scheduled castes and tribes in order to enable them to achieve upward social mobility, these concessions are limited to only those Dalits who remain Hindu. There is a demand among the Dalits who have converted to other religions that the statutory benefits should be extended to them as well, to "overcome" and bring closure to historical injustices.
Another major politically charged issue with the rise of
HindutvaHindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism....
's (Hindu nationalism) role in Indian politics is that of religious conversion. This political movement alleges that conversions of Dalits are due not to any social or theological motivation but to allurements like education and jobs. Critics argue that the inverse is true due to laws banning conversion, and the limiting of social relief for these backward sections of Indian society being revoked for those who convert.
Bangaru LaxmanBangaru Laxman is an Indian politician. He was a minister of state for railways in Government of India from 1999 to 2000. Later he became President of Bharatiya Janata Party but resigned soon after Tehelka case.-Early life:...
, a Dalit politician, was a prominent member of the
HindutvaHindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism....
movement.
Another political issue is over the affirmative-action measures taken by the government towards the upliftment of Dalits through quotas in government jobs and university admissions. About 8% of the seats in the National and State Parliaments are reserved for Scheduled Caste and Tribe candidates, a measure sought by
B. R. AmbedkarBhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist, jurist, Dalit, political leader, activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and the revivalist of Buddhism in India. He was also the...
and other Dalit activists in order to ensure that Dalits would obtain a proportionate political voice.
Anti-Dalit prejudices exist in fringe groups, such as the extremist militia
Ranvir SenaRanvir Sena is a caste supremacist group mainly based in Bihar, India. This group is thought to be formed by Bhumihar landlords. It carries out actions against the Dalit. It has, on several occasions, been accused of human rights abuses. It is regarded as a terrorist group and classified...
, largely run by upper-caste landlords in areas of the Indian state of
BiharBihar is a state in eastern India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at 38,202 sq mi , and 3rd largest by population. Close to 85 percent of the population lives in villages...
. They oppose equal treatment of Dalits and have resorted to violent means to suppress the Dalits. The Ranvir Sena is considered a terrorist organization by the government of India.
In 1997,
K. R. NarayananKocheril Raman Narayanan , also known as K. R. Narayanan, was the tenth President of India...
became the first Dalit
PresidentThe President of India or Rashtrapati is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. In theory, the President possesses considerable power...
.
In 2008,
MayawatiMayawati is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She has been the Chief Minister during three other short tenures but her party holds the absolute majority in the state as of date. She is the highest income-tax payer among all politicians in India paying Rs...
, a Dalit from the
Bahujan Samaj PartyThe Bahujan Samaj Party is a national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans, literally meaning "People in majority" i.e. OBC, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act, 1989 . The party claims to be inspired by the philosophy of B. R. Ambedkar...
, was elected as the Chief Minister of India's biggest state
Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh , [often referred to as U.P.] is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 190 million people,...
. Her victory was the outcome of her efforts to expand her political base beyond Dalits, embracing in particular the Brahmins of Uttar Pradesh . Mayawati, together with her political mentor
Kanshi RamKanshi Ram was an Indian politician of Dalit Raidasia/Ramdassia Sikh background. He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party , a political party with the stated goal of serving the traditionally lower castes of Indian society . He shared the BSP's leadership with Mayawati...
, saw that the interests of the average Dalit (most of whom are landless agricultural laborers) were more in conflict with the middle castes such as the
YadavYadav or Jhadhav is an Indian caste that claims descent from Yadu. Yadavas have been mentioned as one of the panchjanya tribes in ancient Vedic texts. In Indian history, particularly with reference to the Vedic Period, the Yadavs had a glorious past and Yadavs were known for their bravery and...
caste, who owned most of the agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh, than with the predominantly city-dwelling upper castes . Her success in welding the Dalits and the upper castes has led to her being projected as a potential future
Prime Minister of IndiaThe Prime Minister of India is the head of government of the Republic of India, and head of the Council of Ministers, appointed by the President to assist the latter in the administration of the affairs of the executive in India...
.
Dalit literature
Dalit literature forms an important and distinct part of
Indian literatureIndian literature refers to the literature produced on the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and in the Republic of India thereafter. The Republic of India has 22 officially recognized languages....
. One of the first Dalit writers was Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived in the reign of
Western ChalukyasThe Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...
and who is also regarded by some scholars as the "father of Vachana poetry". Another poet who finds mention is Dohara Kakkaiah, a Dalit by birth, six of whose confessional poems survive.
Modern Dalit literature
In the modern era, Dalit literature received its first impetus with the advent of leaders like Mahatma Phule and Ambedkar in
MaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located on the western coast of India. Maharashtra is a part of Western India. It is India's third largest state by area and second largest by population....
, who brought forth the issues of Dalits through their works and writings; this started a new trend in Dalit writing and inspired many Dalits to come forth with writings in Marathi, Hindi,
TamilTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in Malaysia, Mauritius and Réunion as well as emigrant communities around the world...
and
PunjabiPunjabi or Panjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region ....
.
By the 1960s, Dalit literature saw a fresh crop of new writers like
Baburao BagulBaburao Bagul was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India; a pioneering of Dalit literature in Marathi and an important figure in the Indian short story during late 20th century, when it experienced a radical departure from the past, with the advent of Dalit writers such as him .He most known...
, Bandhu Madhav and Shankarao Kharat, though its formal form came into being with the
Little magazine movementThe Little Magazine Movement is a literary movement launched by Indian Literary magazines. It originated in the fifties and the sixties in many Indian languages like Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi, Malayalam and Gujarati, as it did in the west, in the early part of the 19th century .-Early 20th...
.
Dalit VoiceDalit Voice is a political magazine published in Bangalore, India that claims to express the views of the Dalit movement. The current full title is "Dalit Voice: the voice of the persecuted nationalities denied human rights" and it appears fortnightly in both internet and print formats. It was...
, a political magazine which started publishing in 1981, was another force in the rise of Dalit literature in India. In
Sri LankaSri Lanka , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India...
, Dalit writers like
Dominic JeevaDominic Jeeva is a prominent minority Sri Lankan Tamil author and literary figure from Sri Lanka. He is also a member of the marginalized Dalit caste. Dominic Jeeva was for a period of time forgotten as a writer...
gained mainstream popularity in the late 1960.
See also
- Annabhau Sathe
Annabhau Sathe Annabhau Sathe Annabhau Sathe (Devanagari: (अण्णाभाऊ साठे) (August 1, 1920 - July 18, 1969) was a social reformer and writer from Maharashtra, India.-Early life:Sathe was born in the village of Wategaon near Sangli in a family belonging to the Dalit Matang community...
- Caste-related violence in India
Caste-related violence and hate crimes in India have occurred despite the gradual reduction of casteism in the country.According to a report by Human Rights Watch, "Dalits and indigenous peoples continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and acts of communal violence...
- 2006 Dalit protests in Maharashtra
In November-December 2006, the desecration of a Ambedkar statue in Kanpur triggered off violent protests by Dalits in Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
- Dalit Freedom Network
Dalit Freedom Network is an evangelical Christian organization whose official mission is to "empower the Dalits in their quest for social freedom and human dignity by networking human, financial, and informational resources." Founded by Dr. Joseph D'souza, who heads the "All India Christian...
- Persecution of Dalits
Further reading
- Untouchable!: Voices of the Dalit Liberation Movement, by Barbara R. Joshi, Zed Books, 1986. ISBN 0862324602, 9780862324605.
- An Anthology Of Dalit Literature, by Mulk Raj Anand. 1992, Gyan Books. ISBN 8121204194, ISBN 9788121204194.
- Dalits and the Democratic Revolution - Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit Movement in Colonial India, by Gail Omvedt. 1994, Sage Publications. ISBN 8170363683.
- The Untouchables: Subordination, Poverty and the State in Modern India, by Oliver Mendelsohn, Marika Vicziany, Cambridge University Press, 1998, ISBN 0521556716, 9780521556712.
- Dalit Identity and Politics, by Ranabira Samaddara, Ghanshyam Shah, Sage Publications, 2001. ISBN 0761995080, 9780761995081.
- Journeys to Freedom: Dalit Narratives, by Fernando Franco, Jyotsna Macwan, Suguna Ramanathan. Popular Prakashan, 2004. ISBN 8185604657, 9788185604657.
- Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature, by Sharankumar Limbale. 2004, Orient Longman. ISBN 8125026568.
- From Untouchable to Dalit - Essays on the Ambedkar Movement, by Eleanor Zilliot. 2005, Manohar. ISBN 8173041431.
- Dalit Politics and Literature, by Pradeep K. Sharma. Shipra Publications, 2006. ISBN 8175412712, 9788175412712.
- Dalit Visions: The Anti-caste Movement and the Construction of an Indian Identity, by Gail Omvedt. Orient Longman, 2006. ISBN 8125028951, 9788125028956.
- Dalits in Modern India - Vision and Values, by S M Michael. 2007, Sage Publications. ISBN 9780761935711.
- Dalit Literature : A Critical Exploration, by Amar Nath Prasad & M.B. Gaijan. 2007. ISBN 8176258172.