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Dalits in Jaipur
Dalits in Jaipur

In the Indian caste system, Dalits, sometimes called untouchables, or outcasts, are people who according to traditional Hindu belief do not have any "varna" (according to the traditional caste system). Jaipur ( Hindi: जयपुर also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Caste (Sanskrit Gyati ज्ञाति, Hindi Biradari बिरादरी samaj समाज jati जाति etc, Urdu Zat ज़ात) is an Endogamous group Varna (sa वर्ण varṇa) is a Sanskrit term derived from the root meaning "to enclose" Caste (Sanskrit Gyati ज्ञाति, Hindi Biradari बिरादरी samaj समाज jati जाति etc, Urdu Zat ज़ात) is an Endogamous group

Varna refers to the Hindu belief that most humans were supposedly created from different parts of the body of the divinity Purusha. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. In Hinduism, Purusha ( Sanskrit puruṣa पुरुष "man Cosmic Man " in Sutra literature also called puṃs The part from which a varna was supposedly created defines a person's social status with regard to issues such as whom they may marry and which professions they may hold. [1] Dalits fall outside the varnas system and have historically been prevented from doing any but the most menial jobs. Varna (sa वर्ण varṇa) is a Sanskrit term derived from the root meaning "to enclose" [1] (However, a distinction must be made between lower-caste people and Pariahs. )

Included are leather-workers (called chamar), carcass handlers (called mahar), poor farmers and landless labourers, night soil scavengers (called bhangi or chura), street handcrafting people, folk artists, street cleaners, dhobi, etc. Chamar (" tanner " from the Sanskrit Charmakara) is a prominent occupational Caste in India. Night soil is a Euphemism for human Feces. "Night soil" is produced as a result of a Waste management system in areas without community Infrastructure Bhangi is an Indian Caste even though they are outside of traditional Jati also treated as Untouchables A dhobi is a washerman in Pakistan and India. Scope and job Dhobis usually operate from door to door collecting dirty linen from households Traditionally, they were treated as pariahs in South Asian society and isolated in their own communities, to the point that even their shadows were avoided by the upper castes. Discrimination against Dalits still exists in rural areas in the private sphere, in ritual matters such as access to eating places and water sources. It has largely disappeared, however, in urban areas and in the public sphere, in rights of movement and access to schools[2]. The earliest rejection of discrimination, at least in spiritual matters, was made as far back as the Bhagavada Gita, which says that no person, no matter what, is barred from enlightenment. There are an estimated 160 million Dalits in India. [3]

Contents

Related terms

The term is not the name of any traditional caste. Dalit is the term used in modern India and Western countries for the so called untouchable people of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings With respect to the legal terminology in India, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has held that the term "Scheduled Castes" to be the proper constitutional usage for the castes identified as Dalits. A Dalit, is hence a person who belongs to one of the castes identified as Scheduled Caste. [4] Offensive terms used in Indian languages include chura, bhangi, neech, kanjjar, mahar and mirasi. Whereas the terms chura and bhangi are profession-based terms for scavengers, they can serve as general terms for the so-called low-born; others are actual names of the caste. Harijan was a term for untouchable, coined by Mahatma Gandhi, which means Children of God — Hari is another name for the god Vishnu. Harijan ( son of God) was a term coined by Gandhi for Dalits, which is now considered patronizing Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific It is now considered to be a patronizing term. Calling a person 'Harijan' is now a punishable offence in India. [5] Neo-Buddhist Dalits try to make 'Harijan' appear as a disgrace to all Dalits as it comes from a Hindu name. This term had already been used, in a different form, by the medieval philosopher Ramanuja who uplifted many backward caste peoples: as Thirukulattar, or People of Holy Clan. (He was probably the first to allow the untouchables into temples, albeit for limited periods).

The word 'Dalit(a)' comes from the Indo-Aryan root dal, and means 'held under check', 'suppressed', or 'crushed', or, in a looser sense, 'oppressed'. The Indo-Aryan languages (within the context of Indo-European studies also Indic) are a branch of the Indo-European language family Maharashtrian Dalit Activist and poet Namdeo Dhasal made it a symbol of pride to fight against social injustice. He said:

Yes, I do feel that the fight to eradicate caste has to be fought by Dalits and caste Hindus together carrying forward the tradition of Adi Shankara, which got broken somewhere in between

—[6]. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below

Ambedkar has never used the word "dalit". He has used the phrase "Depressed Classes" consistently in all his writing and speeches. [7]. So it is totally improbable that Dr. Ambedkar borrowed this term from Swami Vivekananda from his quote, "Deena-Dalita-Dukhi Devo Bhava!" ("Service to the weak, the down- trodden and the suffering masses itself is the worship of God")[8]

The usage of the term "dalit" seems to have originated from the Arya Samaj and their 'dalitoddhâra' (upliftment of the down-trodden). Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( Arya Samaj ( Sanskrit ārya samāja sa आर्य समाज " Noble Society" is a Hindu reform movement founded in India [9] The Arya Samaj began the All India Shraddhanand Dalitodwar Sabha to specialize in the upliftment of the Dalits.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a Dalit, and one of the leaders of the Indian independence movement, is considered the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, in which Article 17 abolishes untouchability. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956 The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant The Constitution of India ( Hindi: भारतीय़ संविधान see names in other Indian languages) is the supreme law of India. Ever since, under the aegis of the Constitution of India, as a part of affirmative action under the Government of India, a "reservation system" (privilege in education and other services given only to the Dalits) has been implemented for the benefit of the Dalits. Affirmative action in the United States|Employment equity (Canada|Reservation in India|Numerus clausus The term affirmative action describes many policies aimed at a historically Reservation in Indian law is a form of Affirmative action whereby a percentage of seats are reserved in the public sector units union and state civil services

The terms scheduled castes/scheduled tribes (SC/ST) and non-caste tribes are also used in the Indian legal system to refer to this social group in India. Scheduled Castes ("SC"s and Scheduled Tribes ("ST"s are Indian population groupings that are explicitly recognized by the Constitution of Ādivāsīs (in Devanagari script: आदिवासी literally "original inhabitants" comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population The three major legal systems of the world today consist of civil law, Common law and Religious law.

Social background and origins

In the context of traditional Hindu society, Dalit status has often been historically associated with occupations regarded as ritually impure, such as any occupation involving killing, handling of animal cadavers or night soil (human feces). A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Night soil is a Euphemism for human Feces. "Night soil" is produced as a result of a Waste management system in areas without community Infrastructure One million Dalits work as manual scavengers, cleaning latrines and sewers by hand and clearing away dead animals. [10] Engaging in these activities was considered to be polluting to the individual who performed them, and this pollution was considered to be 'contagious'. As a result, Dalits were commonly banned and segregated from full participation in Hindu social life (they could not enter the premises of a temple or a school and stayed outside the village), while elaborate precautions were sometimes observed to prevent incidental contact between Dalits and other Hindus. [11]

An estimated 40 million people in India, most of them Dalits, are bonded workers, many working in slave-like conditions to pay off debts that were incurred generations ago. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country [12] The majority of Dalits live in segregation and experience violence, murder, rape and atrocities to the scale of 110,000 registered cases a year according to 2005 statistics. [13] No one believes these numbers are anywhere close to the reality of crimes committed against Dalits. Most crimes go unreported, and few registered cases ever get to trial. [14]

Historically, there may not have been clear demarcation between Dalit castes and the Shudra castes. Shudra ( IAST: Śūdra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Hindu society Dalits are not a single identifiable race or caste. Instead, like the rest of the Hindu society, they are divided into various subcastes known as 'jātis. Jātis (in Devanagari: जाति (the word literally means births) is the term used to denote communities and sub-communities in India

One study found some association between caste status and Y-chromosomal genetic markers seeming to indicate a more European lineage of the higher castes. [15]. However, there have been other studies done to indicate no racial and genetic differences between upper and lower castes. Many sociologists, anthropologists and historians have rejected the racial origins and racial emphasis of caste and consider the idea to be one that has political undertones. Sociologist, Andre Béteille, who writes that treating caste as a form of racism is "politically mischievous" and worse, "scientifically nonsense" since there is no discernible difference in the racial characteristics between Brahmins and Scheduled Castes such as the jatav. He writes that "Every social group cannot be regarded as a race simply because we want to protect it against prejudice and discrimination". [5]

Dalit diversity may be due to newly outcast individuals or communities over the years. It is noteworthy that regional tribes that are considered Dalits are sometimes seen by Indians as ethnically distinct. In both northern and southern India it is different. For example, in North India, in places such as Rajasthan they are usually lighter because Rajasthan was invaded several times by light-skinned tribes. In addition they also have different color of eyes and sometimes hair.

Many Dalits who have converted to other religions in the past few centuries continue to retain their Dalit heritage. In the 1991 census, Dalits numbered just over 130 million and constituted more than 16% of India's population. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Discrimination against Dalits is not limited to the Hindu community. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that non-Hindu Dalit groups have traditionally not been recognized as Scheduled Castes under hiring quota laws. The Dalit Muslims or "Arzal", as well as Dalit Christians form an integral part of the caste system in South Asia among Muslims and Christians. Many Dalit Muslims are discriminated against by the upper-caste "Ashraf" Muslims, and Dalit Christians are discriminated against by upper caste Christian priests and nuns.

Some Dalits have successfully integrated into urban Indian society, where caste origins are less obvious and less important in public life. In rural India, caste origins are more readily apparent and Dalits remain excluded from local religious life, though this exclusion in its severity is in fact fast diminishing due to changing social norms of acceptable behavior.

Dalits and similar groups are also found in Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially In addition, the Burakumin of Japan are also compared to Dalits, as are the Baekjeong of Korea. Burakumin (ja {{linktext 部 落 民}} buraku, tribe + min, people is a term often used to describe a Japanese social Minority group. The baekjeong were an “ Untouchable ” outcaste group of Korea, often compared with the Burakumin of Japan and the Dalits [16]

Dalits and religion

Hindu Dalits

The large majority of the Dalits are Hindus, although some in Maharashtra have converted to Buddhism, often called Neo-Buddhism mostly by Hindus to mark the line. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks

Historical attitudes and discrimination

Traditionally, Dalits were not allowed to let their shadows fall upon a non-Dalit caste member and they were required to sweep the ground where they walk 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. However, there have been cases of upper caste Hindus warming to the Dalits and Hindu priests, demoted to outcaste ranks, who continued practising the religion. An example of the latter was Dnyaneshwar, who was excommunicated into Dalit status from society in the 13th century, but continued to compose the Dnyaneshwari, a Dharmic commentary on the Bhagwad Gita. Sant Jñāneshwar / Sant Dnyāneshwar (1275-1296 ( ज्ञानेश्वर in Marathi) (also known as Jñanadeva - ज्ञानदेव The Dnyaaneshwari (or Jñaneshwari is the commentary on Bhagavad Gita written by Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar during the 13th century Other excommunicated Brahmins, such as Eknath, fought for the rights of untouchables during the Bhakti period. Eknāth (1533-1599 was a prominent Marāthi religious poet in the Hindu tradition in India. Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Historical examples of Dalit priests include Chokhamela in the 14th Century, who was India's first recorded Dalit poet, Raidas, born into Dalit cobblers, and others. Chokhamela was a Saint in Maharashtra, India in the 14th century Indian Hindu religious leader and founder Satguru of the " Ravidasi " beliefs revered by most Hindus as a Sant, by The 15th century saint Ramananda also accepted all castes, including untouchables, into his fold. Ramananda ( 1400 ?- 1470 ? was a Vaishnava Sant, a Ramayat, a devotee of Lord Ram. Most of these saints subscribed to the Bhakti movements in Hinduism during the medieval period that rejected casteism. The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice was loving devotion to God, or Bhakti. Nandanar, a low-caste Hindu cleric, also rejected casteism and accepted Dalits[17]. Nandanar ( Tamil: நந்தனார் or திருநாளைப் போவார் நாயனார், Thirunalai Povar Nayanar

Due to their isolation from the rest of the Hindu society, many Dalits continue to debate whether they are 'Hindu' or 'non-Hindu'. Traditionally, Hindu Dalits or Harijans have been barred from many activities that were seen as central to Vedic religion and Hindu practices of orthodox sects. Among Hindus each community has followed its own variation of Hinduism. The wide variety of practices and beliefs observed in Hinduism makes any clear assessment difficult. Each community, including the Dalit see their importance in the history of Hinduism. For example, Sant Tirumalisai was a Hindu saint and Vidura was the ruler of Hastinapur during the Mahabharata war. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Hastinapur (हस्‍तिनापुर (Hastinapura in Sanskrit) is a town and a Nagar panchayat

The VHP leader Ashok Singhal has said:

The Ravi Dasis, Passis and Khatiks all have a royal lineage. They were the freedom fighters of the medieval times but were turned into scheduled castes and tribes because they were defeated.

Reform Movements

Some of the movements in Hinduism have welcomed Dalits into their fold, the earliest being the Bhakti movements of the medieval period. The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice was loving devotion to God, or Bhakti.

In the 19th Century, the Brahmo Samaj under Ram Mohan Roy and later under Keshub Chunder Sen, actively campaigned against untouchability. Brahmo Samaj ( Bengali ব্রাহ্ম সমাজ Bramho Shômaj) is the societal component of Brahmoism. Ram Mohan Roy ( August 14, 1774 – September 27, 1833) was a founder in 1828 (with Dwarkanath Tagore and other Bengali Keshub Chunder Sen ( Bengali: কেশব চন্দ্র সেন Keshob Chôndro Shen) (also Keshab Chandra Sen (November 19 1838 - January 8 1884 The Arya Samaj founded by Swami Dayanand also renounced discrimination against Dalits. Arya Samaj ( Sanskrit ārya samāja sa आर्य समाज " Noble Society" is a Hindu reform movement founded in India This page is about the founder of the Arya Samaj. For others known by the same name please see Swami Dayananda (disambiguation Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's disciple Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission that actively participated in the emancipation of Dalits. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa ( Bangla: রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংস Ramkṛiṣṇo Pôromôhongśo) ( February 18, 1836 - Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic volunteer organization founded by Sri Ramakrishna 's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on May 1, 1897 Upper caste Hindus, such as Mannathu Padmanabhan also participated in movements to abolish Untouchability against Dalits, opening his family temple for Dalits to worship. Mannathu Padmanabhan (1878-1970 was a social reformer and a freedom fighter from the State of Kerala, India.

While there always have been places for Dalits to worship, the first "upper-caste" temple to openly welcome Dalits into their fold was the Laxminarayan Temple in Wardha in the year 1928 (the move was spearheaded by reformer Jamnalal Bajaj). WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Wardha is a city and a Municipal council in Wardha district in the Indian state Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jamnalal Bajaj (1886 – 11 February, 1942) was an Industrialist, a Philanthropist, and Indian independence fighter. Also, the Satnami movement was founded by Guru Ghasidas, a Dalit himself.

Other reformers, such as Jyotirao Phule also worked for the emancipation of Dalits. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule ( Marathi:ज्योतिराव गोविंदराव फुले ( April 11, 1827 &mdash November 28, Ayyankali was a prominent figure in the Dalit emancipation struggle in Kerala in the early 20th century. Ayyankali (1863 - 1941 was a leader of the Indian lower Caste Dalits known as the Untouchables. Another example of Dalit emancipation was the Temple Entry Proclamation issued by the last Maharaja of Travancore in the Indian state of Kerala in the year 1936. The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by Maharaja Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and his Dewan Sir C Sree Chithira Thirunal (born as Balarama Varma November 7, 1912 &ndash July 19, 1991) was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Maharaja proclaimed that "outcastes should not be denied the consolations and the solace of the Hindu faith". A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Even today, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple that first welcomed Dalits in the state of Kerala is revered by the Dalit Hindu community. Padmanabhaswamy temple (aka Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple) ( Malayalam: ശ്രീ പദ്മനാഭ സ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം is a famous Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};

The 1930s saw key struggles between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar, most notably over whether Dalits would have separate electorates or joint electorates with reserved seats. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956 The Indian National Congress was the only national organisation with a large Dalit following, but Gandhi failed to gain their commitment. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Gandhi however, continued to spread his cause for uplifting the Dalits and began the Harijan Yatra.

Similar padyatras borrowing from Gandhi's example were established to uplift the Harijans including Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji's Padayatras in Bangalore. The Pradeshika Harijan Sevak Sangha was Gandhi's organization aimed at working on uplifting the backward-castes. [18] Mahatma Gandhi is well respected by the Dalits of today. (A few Dalits, such as those of Bhatra, even worship him. )[19]

Ambedkar, a Dalit himself, developed a deeper analysis of Untouchability, but lacked a workable political strategy: his conversion to Buddhism in 1956, along with millions of followers, highlighted the failure of his political endeavours[2]. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, based on his own relationship with Dalit reformer Ambedkar, also spread information about the dire need to eradicate untouchability for the benefit of the Dalit community. Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956

In more contemporary times, India has had an elected Dalit president, K. R. Narayanan, who has stated that he was well-treated in his community of largely upper-caste Hindus[20] (24 July 2002). The President of India or Rashtrapati ( Hindi: राष्ट्रपति a Sanskrit Neologism, lit Kocheril Raman Narayanan ( Malayalam: കോച്ചേരില്‍ രാമന്‍ നാരായണന്‍ 27 October 1920 &mdash Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Another popular Harijan includes Babaji Palwankar Baloo, who joined the Hindu Mahasabha and was both a politician and a cricketer. Babaji Palwankar Baloo, ( Dharwad, 19 March 1876 &ndash 4 July 1955, Bombay, now Mumbai commonly known as Palwankar He was an independence fighter. In addition, other Hindu groups have reached out to the Dalit community in an effort to reconcile with them, with productive results. On August 2006, Dalit activist Namdeo Dhasal, engaged in dialogue with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in an attempt to "bury the hatchet"[6]. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Namdeo Laxman Dhasal (b February 15, 1949) is a Marathi writer and Dalit activist The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ National Volunteers' Organisation) also known as the Sangh or

Also, the "Pandaram" Hindu priests (a task traditionally reserved for the Brahmins) based largely in Nepal and parts of South India[21]. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union These Pandaram priests maintain the same tradition as the Brahmin priests, including using Sanskrit for the rituals (a language traditionally reserved for the Brahmins). Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical They perform religious ceremonies from weddings to death rituals. They are not generally as well trained as the Brahmin priests, but are highly respected within their community and are addressed reverentially[22]. Also, Hindu temples are increasingly more receptive to Dalit priests, such as Suryavanshi Das, the Dalit priest of a notable temple in Bihar[23]. Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. Discrimination against Hindu Dalits is on a slow but steady decline. Many Hindu Dalits have achieved affluence in society, although vast millions still remain poor. Recent episodes of Caste-related violence in India have adversely affected the Dalit community. Caste -related violence and Hate crimes in India have occurred despite the gradual reduction of casteism in the country In urban India, discrimination against Dalits in the public sphere is largely disappeared, 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[24].

Brahmins like Subramania Bharati also passed Brahminhood onto a Harijan. Subramania Bharati (சுப்ரமணிய பாரதி ( December 11, 1882 - September 11, 1921) was a Tamil poet from Tamil Nadu There have been several Medieval Dalit Hindu movements and Modern Dalit Hindu movements. For example, in Shivaji's Maratha Empire there were the several Dalit Hindu warriors Mahar Regiment and the Scindia Dalit Kingdom. The Mahar Regiment is an Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army. For the School in Gwalior India see Scindia School. For the Italian city see Sindia Italy. In modern there there are several Dalit Hindu figures BJP leaders Ramachandra Veerappa and Dr. Suraj Bhan.

Dalit saints in Hinduism

Maharishis

Saints and sages only can become real advisors to the kings, because they are selfless and possess the highest wisdom. They only can improve the morality of the masses. They alone can show the way to eternal bliss and mortality. Shivaji had Swami Ramdas as his adviser, King Dasaratha had Maharshi Vasishtha as his advisor.

Muslim Dalits (Arzal)

Muslim society in India can also be separated into several caste-like groups. Descendants of indigenous lower-caste converts are discriminated against by "noble", or "ashraf",[25] Muslims who can trace their descent to Arab, Iranian, or Central-Asian ancestors. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding The Iranian people are a collection of Ethnic groups defined along linguistic lines as speaking Iranian languages. Central Asia 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 Pakistan in the south There are several groups in India working to emancipate them from upper-caste Muslim discrimination [16][17]. 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 soil[26][27]. Night soil is a Euphemism for human Feces. "Night soil" is produced as a result of a Waste management system in areas without community Infrastructure Babasaheb Ambedkar, a renowned Dalit activist and the framer of the Constitution of India, wrote about the Dalit Muslims and was extremely critical of their mistreatment by upper-caste Muslims quoting that "Within these groups there are castes with social precedence of exactly the same nature as one finds among the Hindus" [28] [29]. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956

In Pakistan, there are estimated to be 6. 8 million Mayazurs (bonded laborers) in Punjab and another 7. Debt bondage or bonded labor is a means of paying off loans with direct labor instead of currency or goods 5 million in Sindh. [30] Although the Pakistani Supreme Court has ruled bonded labor unconstitutional and the National Assembly has passed laws prohibiting it, these laws remain largely unenforced due to the influence of large landlords. The National Assembly is either a Legislature, or the Lower house of a Bicameral legislature in some countries [31]. Furthermore, the AIBMM is striving to achieve the SC status for India's Dalit Muslims. The lowest of among the Muslim communities is a "Muhajir". They are mainly assigned the position of a laborer and looked down upon by the Ashraf. [32]

Sikh Dalits

Dalits form a class among the Sikhs who stratify their society according to traditional casteism. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Kanshi Ram himself was of Sikh background although converted because he found that Sikh society did not respect Dalits and so became a neo-Buddhist. For the Indian independence activists of the Congress party and the Ghadar Party, see Baba Kanshi Ram and Pandit Kanshi Ram respectively The most recent controversy was at village Talhan Gurudwara near Jalandhar where there was a dispute between Jatt Sikhs and Ravidasia Sikhs. Ravidasi ( Panjabi: ਰਬਿਦਾਸੀ or ਆਦ ਧਰਮ) is a sect based on the teachings of Ravidas, who is considered the Satguru. The Different Sikh Dalits are Ravidasia Sikh , Ramdasia Sikh , Mazhabi Sikh. Ravidasi ( Panjabi: ਰਬਿਦਾਸੀ or ਆਦ ਧਰਮ) is a sect based on the teachings of Ravidas, who is considered the Satguru. Ramdasia Ramdasia community comprises of Julahas (Weavers and Sikhs from this community are known as Ramdasia Sikhs A Mazhabi is a Sikh who converted from the Balmiki faith and also practices Valmikism 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. Prominent Dalit Sikhs 1. Kanshi Ram - Former President of BSP 2. For the Indian independence activists of the Congress party and the Ghadar Party, see Baba Kanshi Ram and Pandit Kanshi Ram respectively Charanjit Singh Atwal - Former Lok Sabha Speaker

There are sects such as the Ad-Dharmis who have now abandoned Sikh Temples and the 5 Ks. Charanjit Singh Atwal (born 15 March, 1937) is deputy speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. 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 Samak who tried to organize the Ad-Dharmis.

Other backward Sikh groups include Jhiwars, Bazigars, Rai Sikh (many of whom are Ravidasias. )

Just like the violence against Harijans (Hindu Dalits) and Muhajirs (Muslim Dalits), there has been violence against Sikh Dalits. [33]

Christian Dalits

In the Indian state of Goa, mass conversions were conducted by Portuguese missionaries from the 16th century onwards. Goa ( Konkani: गोंय /ɡɔ̃j/ is India 's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. Hindu converts often retained their caste prejudices, attributed to the effectively involuntary nature of mass conversions, sometimes of entire villages. Without conscientious understanding of Christian belief existing social stratification was often left unaffected. The Portuguese colonists, despite their violent anti-Hindu iconoclasm, were unable to destroy all aspects of the indigenous culture. Anti-Hindu prejudice is a negative perception or Religious intolerance against the practice and practitioners of Hinduism. Iconoclasm, Greek for "image-breaking" is the deliberate destruction within a culture of the culture's own religious Icons and other symbols or monuments Thus, the Dalits who converted to Christianity were still referred to as "Maharas" and "Chambars" (an apellation of the anti-Dalit ethnic slur "Chamaar"). Several ethnic groups who did not convert to Christianity and remained Hindus (such as Marathas) were nevertheless incorporated into the predominately Christian group "Chaddho"[34]. The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day

Attempts by Christian Missionaries to convert Dalits to Christianity continue. The Constitution of India guarantees religious freedom and the right to choose one's religion. The Constitution of India ( Hindi: भारतीय़ संविधान see names in other Indian languages) is the supreme law of India. However, controversies related to mass-conversions have led to laws being passed against such events in some Indian states.

A 1992 study [18] of Catholics in Tamil Nadu found some Dalit Christians faced segregated churches, cemeteries, services and even processions. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. 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 [35], including Christian advocacy groups for Dalits. [36] One famous Christian Dalit activist with the nom-de-plume Bama Faustina has written books providing a first-hand account of discrimination by several upper-caste nuns and priests in South India. A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a Pseudonym adopted by an Author or their publishers to conceal their identity South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union [37]. In the wake of these discriminations, Christian Dalits have started to reconvert back to Hinduism. [38]

Dalits and Neo-Buddhism

Main article: Dalit Buddhist movement

In Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and a few other regions, Dalits have come under the influence of the neo-Buddhist movement initiated by Ambedkar. The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956 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 Christianity and Buddhism in what they have been told is an "attempt to eliminate the prejudice they face"[1]. The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha president Bangaru Laxman (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. Bangaru Laxman was minister of state for railways in Government of India from 1999 to 2000 ” (most of these were Ramanandi saints of the late Middle Ages). [39]

In the officially Hindu country of Nepal, Dalits and other populations are turning to Buddhism from Vedic Hinduism. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. 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 those professing Hindusim have decreased from 88% in 1961 to 80% and declining at present. [40] .

Dalits and contemporary Indian politics

In urban areas and some villages the old concepts of a rigid caste system and untouchability of education, economic status, or, of course, romantic love.

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 Hindutva's role in Indian politics is that of religious conversion. For Veer Savarkar's book see Hindutva (book. Hindutva (Devanagari हिन्दुत्व "Hinduness" a word coined by Vinayak 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 with laws banning conversion, and the limiting of social relief for these backward sections of Indian society being revoked for those who convert. Bangaru Laxman, a Dalit politician, was a prominent member of the Hindutva movement. Bangaru Laxman was minister of state for railways in Government of India from 1999 to 2000 For Veer Savarkar's book see Hindutva (book. Hindutva (Devanagari हिन्दुत्व "Hinduness" a word coined by Vinayak

Another political issue is over the affirmative action measures taken by the government towards the uplift of the Dalits by implementation of quotas in government jobs and university admissions aimed at improving Dalit representation. 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. Ambedkar and other Dalit activists in order to ensure that Dalits would obtain a proportionate political voice. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956

Anti-Dalit prejudices exist in fringe groups, such as extremist far-right militia Ranvir Sena, largely run by upper-caste landlords in backward areas of the Indian state of Bihar. Far right, extreme right, ultra-right, or radical right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group Ranvir Sena ( रणवीर सेना) was an upper-caste militant outfit of Bihar, India. Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. They oppose equal treatment of Dalits and have resorted to violent means to suppress them. The Ranvir Sena is considered a terrorist organization[41]. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c BBC News Article: Low-caste Hindus adopt new faith, Last accessed 15 October 2006
  2. ^ a b Mendelsohn, Oliver & Vicziany, Maria, "The Untouchables,Subordination, Poverty and the State in Modern India", Cambridge University Press, 1998
  3. ^ The Caste System
  4. ^ Dalit word unconstitutional
  5. ^ Untouchables, Harijans
  6. ^ a b Dalit leader buries the hatchet with RSS, Sangh Parivar insider's perspective
  7. ^ www. Annabhau Sathe ( 1 August 1920 - 28 July 1969) was a well-known social reformer and Indian writer who was born in the Dalit community Caste -related violence and Hate crimes in India have occurred despite the gradual reduction of casteism in the country This article lists a number of ancient and medieval Hindu Sants including legendary figures This is a list of Indian warriors (both legendary and historical figures In November-December 2006 the Desecration of a Ambedkar statue in Kanpur triggered off violent Protests by Dalits in Maharashtra, Ayyankali (1863 - 1941 was a leader of the Indian lower Caste Dalits known as the Untouchables. 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 The Dalits in India are often either landless labourers or small land holders The Sangh Parivar (संघ परिवार Translation: Family of Associations refers to the family of organisations built around the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ambedkarquotes. wordpress. com
  8. ^ Sevabharati.net
  9. ^ Credal definitions
  10. ^ Manual scavenging - the most indecent form of work
  11. ^ India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits (Human Rights Watch, 13-2-2007)
  12. ^ Each in their place: caste and class are both complex defence
  13. ^ UN report slams India for caste discrimination
  14. ^ India Criticized for Discrimination Against Untouchables
  15. ^ Utah, America, "Genetic Evidence on the Origins of Indian Caste Populations" 30 September 2006
  16. ^ The Politics of Cultural Practice: Thinking Through Theatre in an Age of Globalization By Rustom Bharucha, Page 18, Wesleyan University Press,1992
  17. ^ Shaivam.org
  18. ^ Harijan Upliftment Movement in Orissa During National Freedom Struggle
  19. ^ Gandhi worshiped by Dalits of Bhatra in Sambalpur
  20. ^ K. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. R. Narayanan: Farewell address to the nation, 24 Jul. 2002. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  21. ^ Moffatt, Michael, An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus. Man, New Series, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Mar. , 1980), p. 208
  22. ^ Nepal's Downtrodden, Hinduism Today
  23. ^ Dalit priest in temple of Buddha and Hanuman,Hindustan Times
  24. ^ The Dharmic battle against Untouchability,Hindu Voice
  25. ^ Caste System
  26. ^ Dereserve these myths by Tanweer Fazal,Indian express
  27. ^ Faziur Rashid Khan (May 1979). "District town elites in Bangladesh". Asian Survey 19 (5): 468-484. doi:10.1525/as.1979.19.5.01p00462. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.  
  28. ^ Ambedkar, Bhimrao. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Marathi:डॊभीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ( April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956 Pakistan or the Partition of India. Thackers Publishers.  
  29. ^ Web resource for Pakistan or the Partition of India
  30. ^ EPM Resource - Thirteen Statistics Regarding Child Slavery
  31. ^ Anti-Slavery - Submissions 1999 - Bonded Labour in Pakistan
  32. ^ Kaur, Ravinder, P. 178, Religion, Violence And Political Mobilisation in South Asia
  33. ^ Sikh Dalit woman molested, beaten up
  34. ^ CASTE STRUCTURE (in Goa)
  35. ^ [1]
  36. ^ [2][3][4][5]
  37. ^ The Hindu : A palmyra leaf that sears us
  38. ^ Tamil Nadu: A thousand Dalit Christians reconvert to Hinduism, Asianews. it
  39. ^ Are neo-Buddhists- Hindus?
  40. ^ Hinduism in Nepal declining
  41. ^ Ranvir Sena,South Asia Terrorism Portal
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