Dalit
Term for untouchables and outcasts in the Indian subcontinent.
Dalit (English: /ˈdælɪt/, Hindi: [d̪əlɪt̪] from Sanskrit: दलित meaning 'broken/scattered'), also called Harijans, is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represent the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold varna of the caste hierarchy in Hinduism and were seen as forming a fifth varna, also known by the name of Panchama. The term Dalit was repurposed in 19th-century Sanskrit to mean '(a person) not belonging to one of the four Varnas' and was popularized by economist and reformer B. R. Ambedkar.
- label
- Dalit
- also_known_as
- Harijans, Panchama, Scheduled Castes
- origin_of_term
- Sanskrit दलित (dalita), meaning 'divided, split, broken, scattered'
- first_modern_use
- Jyotirao Phule, late 1880s
- key_popularizer
- B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956)
- official_classification
- Scheduled Castes under the Constitution of India
- religions_followed
- Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam
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.
Did You Know?
- The term Dalit was first used in the late 1880s by Jyotirao Phule for outcasts and untouchables.
- B. R. Ambedkar believed untouchability entered Indian society around 400 CE due to conflict between Buddhism and Brahmanism.
- The Dalit Panthers activist group revived the term in the 1970s.
- India's National Commission for Scheduled Castes has not declared the term 'Dalit' unconstitutional.
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.
What is the difference between "Dalit" and "Scheduled Castes"?
"Scheduled Castes" is the formal government classification under India's Constitution identifying groups eligible for affirmative-action policies, whereas "Dalit" is a self-chosen, politically charged identity term. "Harijan" is another older label that many Dalit activists reject as patronizing.
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.
Why is the Dalit identity important in discussions of prejudice?
Dalit history illustrates how a social group can be systematically dehumanized through religious and cultural norms, making it a central case study in social-identity theory. The movement led by figures like Ambedkar shows how reclaiming a stigmatized label can become a tool for collective resistance and rights advocacy.
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