20 Facts About Dalits

1.

Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming a fifth varna, known by the name of Panchama.

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2.

In Southern India, Dalits are sometimes known as Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka, and Adi Andhra, which literally mean First Dravidians, Kannadigas, and Andhras, respectively.

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3.

Dalits have had lowest social status in the traditional Hindu social structure but James Lochtefeld, a professor of religion and Asian studies, said in 2002 that the "adoption and popularization of [the term Dalit] reflects their growing awareness of the situation, and their greater assertiveness in demanding their legal and constitutional rights".

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4.

From soon after its independence in 1947, India introduced a reservation system to enhance the ability of Dalits to have political representation and to obtain government jobs and education.

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5.

The system has its origins in the 1932 Poona Pact between Ambedkar and Gandhi, when Ambedkar conceded his demand that the Dalits should have an electorate separate from the caste Hindus in return for Gandhi accepting measures along these lines.

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6.

Some Dalit intellectuals, such as Chandra Bhan Prasad, have argued that the living standards of many Dalits have improved since the economic system became more liberalised starting in 1991 and have supported their claims through large surveys.

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7.

Discrimination against Dalits has been observed across South Asia and among the South Asian diaspora.

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8.

Eleanor Zelliot notes Singh's 2006 comment but says that, despite the obvious similarities, race prejudice and the situation of Dalits "have a different basis and perhaps a different solution.

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9.

Some Dalits successfully integrated into urban Indian society, where caste origins are less obvious.

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10.

In rural India, however, caste origins are more readily apparent and Dalits often remain excluded from local religious life, though some qualitative evidence suggests that exclusion is diminishing.

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11.

Dalits's wrote that if a Dalit learned to read and write, Baji Rao would say that their education takes away a Brahmin's job, and they were punished.

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12.

Dalits comprise a slightly disproportionate number of India's prison inmates.

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13.

About half a million Dalits joined Ambedkar in rejecting Hinduism and challenging its caste system.

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14.

Caste-based occupations held by Dalits show a clear segregation which perpetuated even after becoming Christian.

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15.

Dalits was member of the Constituent assembly that drafted India's constitution.

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16.

In modern times several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were Dalits, including Dinanath Bhaskar, Ramchandra Veerappa and Suraj Bhan.

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17.

Dalits who have converted to other religions have asked that benefits be extended to them.

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18.

Many Dalits first came to the United States to flee caste-based oppression in South Asia.

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19.

Dalits have faced discrimination and mistreatment throughout their existence in the United States.

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20.

Until the 1980s, Dalits had little involvement in Bollywood or other film industries of India and the community were rarely depicted at the heart of storylines.

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