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Why do many Scheduled Caste communities use the name Dalit?
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Hinduism
Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma (left to right) pay homage to Mahadevi (the great goddess, in white in the form of Saraswati), attended by the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, in a painting dated c. 1750.
Many Scheduled Caste communities prefer the term Dalit because it serves as a powerful expression of self-identity, reflecting their shared history and experience of marginalization within the traditional Hindu social hierarchy.1
Derived from Sanskrit, the word means "crushed" or "oppressed". By adopting this name, these communities emphasize their collective struggle against the systemic discrimination and exclusion they have historically faced. This self-designation stands in contrast to other labels:231
- Untouchable: Formerly used to describe these groups, this term is now widely considered offensive.41
- Harijan: Meaning "Children of God," this term was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi but has largely been superseded by the preference for "Dalit" among the communities themselves.3
- Scheduled Caste: This is the official administrative designation used in the Indian constitution to provide legal protections, educational privileges, and political representation.1
Choosing the name "Dalit" is an act of empowerment, signaling a rejection of the social premises of the caste system and a commitment to asserting their rights and dignity.13