THE HISTORY OF ‘DALIT’

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 THE HISTORY OF ‘DALIT’

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• Meaning of the term: Dalit means broken or scattered in Sanskrit and Hindi. This term is used for groups (castes) that have been historically disadvantaged socially. 
• How were they disadvantaged: In the ancient traditions of Hinduism (as documented by historians), the dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system and were seen as forming a fifth varna, Panchama. Over time, dalits took to new religious beliefs, including Buddhism, Christianity and Sikhism.
• Historical facts:

1. As per Dr. Ambedkar said that untouchability came into Indian society around 400 AD, due to the struggle for supremacy between Buddhism & Brahmanism. This term was popularised by the economist and reformer B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956), himself a Dalit.
2. Saint Eknath, an excommunicated Brahmin, fought for the rights of untouchables during the Bhakti period. Gopal Baba Walangkar (ca. 1840–1900) is generally considered to be the pioneer of the Dalit movement, seeking a society in which they were not discriminated. Another early social reformer who worked to improve conditions for Dalits was Jyotirao Phule (1827-1890).
3. Historical examples of Dalit priests include Chokhamela in the 14th century, who was India's first recorded Dalit poet. 
4. The noted saint Raidas (Ravidass), born into a family of cobblers, is considered a guru by Dalits and is held in high regard. His teachings and writings form part of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. 
5. The 15th-century saint Ramananda Ray accepted all castes, including Untouchables, into his fold. Most of these saints subscribed to the medieval era Bhakti movement in Hinduism that rejected casteism. 
6. In the 19th century, the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and the Ramakrishna Mission actively participated in Dalit emancipation. 
7. While Dalits had places to worship, the first upper-caste temple to openly welcome Dalits was the Laxminarayan Temple in Wardha in 1928. It was followed by the Temple Entry Proclamation issued by the last King of Travancore in the Indian state of Kerala in 1936.
8. The Punjabi reformist Satnami movement was founded by Dalit Guru Ghasidas. Guru Ravidas was also a Dalit. Giani Ditt Singh, a Dalit Sikh reformer, started Singh Sabha movement to convert Dalits. 
9. In the 1930s, Gandhi and Ambedkar disagreed regarding retention of the caste system. Whilst Ambedkar wanted to see it destroyed, Gandhi thought that it could be modified by reinterpreting Hindu texts. It was this disagreement that led to the Poona Pact. Despite the disagreement, Gandhi began the Harijan Yatra. The term dalits was in use as translation for the British Raj census classification of Depressed Classes before 1935. 
10. In 1932, the British Raj recommended separate electorates to select leaders for Dalits in the Communal Award. This was favoured by Ambedkar but when Mahatma Gandhi opposed the proposal it resulted in the Poona Pact. That in turn influenced the Government of India Act, 1935, which introduced the reservation of seats for the Depressed Classes, now renamed as Scheduled Castes. 
11. Its use was invigorated in the 1970s when it was adopted by the Dalit Panthers activist group. 
12. From soon after its independence in 1947, India introduced a reservation system to enhance the ability of Dalits to have political representation and get government jobs and education.
13. In 1997, India elected its first Dalit President, K. R. Narayanan. 
14. To prevent harassment, assault, discrimination and similar acts against these groups, the Government of India enacted a stringent law – the Prevention of Atrocities Act on 31 March 1989 (rules notified 1995). Its reinterpretation in 2018 by Supreme Court created a flutter.

• Isolation from mainstream: Due to isolation from the rest of Hindu society, many Dalits continue to debate whether they are "Hindu" or "non-Hindu". Traditionally, Hindu Dalits were barred from many activities of the orthodox sects. 
• Variety within SCs: Scheduled Caste communities exist across India, although they are mostly concentrated in four states; they do not share a single language or religion. They comprise 16.6 per cent of India's population, according to the 2011 Census of India. Similar communities are found throughout the rest of South Asia, in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They have emigrated to countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and the Caribbean.
• The 2018 controversy on “dalit” word: In Sept 2018, in accordance with the order of Bombay High Court, Information and Broadcasting Ministry(I&B Ministry) of Government of India issued an advisory to all media channels asking them to use "Scheduled Castes" instead of the word "Dalit". However, this is being strongly resisted as activists say that the word “Dalit” goes way beyond mere legal technicalities, and represents the entire set of oppressed people.
• Why the decision: Scheduled Castes is the official term for Dalits in the opinion of India's National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), which took legal advice that indicated modern legislation does not refer to Dalit and that therefore, it says, it is "unconstitutional" for official documents to do so. In 2004, the NCSC noted that some state governments used Dalits rather than Scheduled Castes in documentation and asked them to desist.
• Dalit politics: 

1. There are many names including Bahujan Samaj Party, Republican Party of India factions, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Puthiya Tamilagam in Tamil Nadu, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, led by Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar, Ambedkar's grandson, Lok Janshakti Party, Bihar, Bahujan Shakti Party, Nepal, Dalit Janajati Party, Nepal etc. 
2. In India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, Dalits have had a major political impact with the Dalit-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) having run the government. Ms Mayawati is considered a strong icon of women empowerment. But now, new names have emerged, e.g. Chandrashekhar Azad (featured by TIME magazine of the USA).

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