Dalit
Term for untouchables and outcasts in the Indian subcontinent.
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Dalit (from Sanskrit, meaning "broken" or "scattered") is a term for people historically called "untouchables" and outcasts, who occupy the lowest position in the caste system of the Indian subcontinent. They were excluded from the four traditional varna categories of Hindu society and were sometimes considered a fifth varna, called Panchama. The word was repurposed in 19th-century Sanskrit to mean someone not belonging to any of the four varnas, and was popularized by the economist and reformer B. R. Ambedkar.
Dalits mostly follow Hinduism, but significant numbers practice Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam. India’s Constitution lists Dalits as Scheduled Castes, granting them legal protection, affirmative action (called reservation), and access to development resources.
The term "Dalit" was used in the late 1880s by social reformer Jyotirao Phule for outcasts and untouchables oppressed within Hindu society. It is a vernacular form of the Sanskrit dalita, meaning "divided, split, broken, scattered." Before 1935, it was used as a translation for the British census category "Depressed Classes." Ambedkar, himself a Dalit, broadened the definition to include all depressed people regardless of caste, covering those excluded from the fourfold varna system who identified as Panchama. The term gained renewed use in the 1970s when the Dalit Panthers activist group adopted it.
Scholars have drawn parallels between Dalits and Japan’s Burakumin, Korea’s Baekjeong, and the peasant class of medieval European feudalism. Socio-legal scholar Oliver Mendelsohn and political economist Marika Vicziany noted in 1998 that the term had become "intensely political," warning that using it generically might wrongly imply all untouchables share a radical political identity. Anand Teltumbde observed a trend among some educated middle-class Dalits, especially Buddhist converts, to reject the politicized label, possibly due to improved circumstances. James Lochtefeld, a professor of religion and Asian studies, said in 2002 that the term’s adoption reflects Dalits’ growing awareness and assertiveness in demanding their rights.
Other terms
India’s National Commission for Scheduled Castes considers the official use of "Dalit" unconstitutional, as modern legislation uses "Scheduled Castes." However, some sources note that "Dalit" can include more communities, such as nomadic tribes and Scheduled Tribes, and is sometimes used for all oppressed peoples in India and Nepal. For example, Indian law limits Scheduled Caste status to followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, or Sikhism, while Dalit Christians and Muslims exist, and some tribal communities practicing folk religions also claim Dalit identity.
The term "Harijan" (children of God) was coined in the 15th century by Gujarati poet-saint Narsinh Mehta for all Krishna devotees regardless of caste. Mahatma Gandhi first used it for Dalits in 1933. Ambedkar disliked the name, arguing it defined Dalts in relation to a larger Hindu nation rather than as an independent community. Many Dalits find the term patronizing and derogatory, with some claiming it refers to children of devadasis.
Lore & Background
The term Dalit is for those called the 'untouchables' and others outside the traditional Hindu caste hierarchy. Economist and reformer B. R. Ambedkar said that untouchability came into Indian society around 400 CE, due to the struggle for supremacy between Buddhism and Brahmanism. Some Hindu priests befriended untouchables and were demoted to low-caste ranks. Eknath, an excommunicated Brahmin, fought for the rights of untouchables during the Bhakti period.
In the late 1880s, the Marathi word 'Dalit' was used by Jyotirao Phule for the outcasts and untouchables who were oppressed and broken in Hindu society. The term was popularised by Ambedkar, who included all depressed people irrespective of their caste into the definition of Dalits. In the 1970s its use was invigorated when it was adopted by the Dalit Panthers activist group.
Reader's Guide
Dalits represent the lowest stratum of the caste system in the Indian subcontinent, historically excluded from the fourfold varna hierarchy and considered a fifth varna (Panchama). The term Dalit, meaning 'broken/scattered', was repurposed in the 19th century by social reformer Jyotirao Phule and later popularized by B. R. Ambedkar, who himself was a Dalit. The Constitution of India includes Dalits as Scheduled Castes, granting them protection, affirmative action (reservation), and official development resources. However, India's National Commission for Scheduled Castes considers official use of 'Dalit' as a label to be 'unconstitutional' because modern legislation prefers 'Scheduled Castes'.
The term has become intensely political, with some scholars noting that its use risks erroneously labeling all untouchables as united by radical politics. Despite this, the term reflects growing awareness and assertiveness among Dalits in demanding their legal and constitutional rights. Parallels have been drawn between Dalits and the Burakumin of Japan, the Baekjeong of Korea, and the peasant class of medieval European feudalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the term "Dalit" mean?
Dalit is a label for people historically treated as untouchables and outcasts in the Indian subcontinent, positioned below the traditional four-tier Hindu caste structure. The word comes from Sanskrit roots conveying the idea of being broken, scattered, or divided.
Who first used "Dalit" in a modern political sense?
Jyotirao Phule applied the term in the late 1880s to describe communities excluded from the varna system. It was later championed by B. R. Ambedkar, who turned it into a rallying identity for social reform and self-assertion.
Where do Dalits sit in the traditional caste hierarchy?
In orthodox Hindu varna theory, Dalits were placed outside the four recognized varnas and sometimes referred to as a fifth, Panchama, category. This exclusion meant they were barred from many social, religious, and economic privileges granted to upper-varna groups.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Dalit (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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