Dalit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:40, 16 January 2007

Revision as of 23:43, 16 January 2007

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==Terms associated with the Dalit caste==

Dalit is the latest and currently most politically correct of many terms used for the caste. Offensive terms used mostly in the past include ''chura, bhangi, neech, kanjjar,'' and ''mirasi''. Whereas the terms ''chura'' and ''bhangi'' are profession-based terms for scavengers, they can serve as general terms for the 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]]. It is now considered patronizing. The term can also be attributed to Dalit castes of Pakistan called the ''haris'', who are a group of mud-hut builders. 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 [[Marathi]] root ''dal'', and means 'held under check', 'suppressed', or 'crushed', or, in a looser sense, 'oppressed'. Maharashtrian Dalit Activist and poet Namdeo Dhasal made it a symbol of pride to fight against social injustice. He said: