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[[File:Dalit-Poverty.jpg|thumb|A group of Dalit women in 2021]]
'''Dalit''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|d|æ|l|ɪ|t}} from {{lang-sa|दलित|dalita}} meaning "broken/scattered") is a term first coined by the Indian social reformer [[Jyotirao Phule]] for untouchables and outcasts., Itwho isrepresented the lowest stratum of the [[Caste system in India|castes in the Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/from-buddhist-texts-to-east-india-company-to-now-dalit-has-come-a-long-way/articleshow/65678182.cms |title=From Buddhist texts to East India Company to now, 'Dalit' has come a long way |website=The Times of India|date=5 September 2018 }}</ref> Dalits were excluded from the fourfold [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] of the caste hierarchy and were seen as forming a [[avarna|fifth varna]], also known by the name of ''Panchama''. Several scholars have drawn parallels between Dalits and the ''[[Burakumin]]'' of Japan,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hankins |first1=Joseph D |title=Working Skin: Making Leather, Making a Multicultural Japan |date=2014 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520959163 |page=113}}</ref> the ''[[Baekjeong]]'' of [[Korea]]<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.chakranews.com/castes-in-a-global-perspective-is-caste-only-a-hindu-problem-part-6/3243 |title=Castes in a Global Perspective - Is Caste Only a Hindu Problem? (Part 6) |last=Sudrania |first=OP |date=9 September 2012 |work=ChakraNews.com |access-date=5 May 2018 |language=en-US |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505210317/http://www.chakranews.com/castes-in-a-global-perspective-is-caste-only-a-hindu-problem-part-6/3243 |archive-date=May 5, 2018 }}</ref> and the [[peasant]] class of the medieval European [[Feudalism|feudal system]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Noble |first=Thomas |title=The Foundations of Western Civilization |publisher=[[The Teaching Company]] |location=Chantilly, VA |year=2002 |isbn=978-1565856370 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/foundationsofwes04nobl}}</ref>
Dalits predominantly follow [[Hinduism]], with significant populations of the adherents offollowing [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]. DalitsThe are[[constitution includedof underIndia]] theincludes categoryDalits as one of the [[Scheduled Castes]],; whothis getgives reservationsDalits underthe [[Scheduled_Castes_and_Scheduled_Tribes#Government_initiative_to_improve_the_situation_of_SCs_and_STs|right]] to protection, [[positive discrimination]], as(known per theas [[constitutionreservation ofin India|reservation]] in India), and official development resources.
== Terminology ==
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Caste-related violence between Dalit and non-Dalits stems from ongoing prejudice by upper caste members.<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062002535.html |title=A 'Broken People' in Booming India |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=20 November 2011 |first=Emily |last=Wax |date=21 June 2007}}</ref> The [[Bhagana, Hisar|Bhagana]] rape case, which arose out of a dispute of allocation of land, is an example of atrocities against Dalit girls and women.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Portrait of the Indian as a Young Dalit Girl |first=Priyanka |last=Dubey |date=10 September 2014 |work=[[Yahoo! News]]/Grist Media |url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/a-portrait-of-the-indian-as-a-young-dalit-girl-034726310.html |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021415/https://in.news.yahoo.com/a-portrait-of-the-indian-as-a-young-dalit-girl-034726310.html |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2015, due to continued alleged discrimination from upper castes of the village, about 100 Dalit inhabitants converted to Islam in a ceremony at [[Jantar Mantar, New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Manvir |last=Saini |title=Dalits from Bhagana convert to Islam |work=The [[Times of India]] |date=9 August 2015 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Dalits-from-Bhagana-convert-to-Islam/articleshow/48408805.cms |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> [[Inter-caste marriage]] has been proposed as a remedy,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/they-were-rivals-but-with-the-same-mission/story-ULAJpafNtjAi2Fg7LvbrEJ.html |title=They were rivals, but with the same mission |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |first=Ramachandra |last=Guha |date=26 October 2014 |access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref> but according to a 2014 survey of 42,000 households by the New Delhi-based [[National Council of Applied Economic Research]] (NCAER) and the [[University of Maryland]], it was estimated that only 5 per cent of Indian marriages cross caste boundaries.<ref>{{cite news |title=5% of Indian marriages are inter-caste: survey|url=http://www.thehindu.com/data/just-5-per-cent-of-indian-marriages-are-intercaste/article6591502.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |first=Rukmini |last=S. |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>
AccordingThe tolatest data foravailable 2000 collected byfrom [[National Crime Records Bureau|India's National Crime Records Bureau]], 25,455is crimes against Dalits were committed infrom the year 2000,. theIn latestthat year fora whichtotal theof data25,455 iscrimes onlyagainst available,Dalits were committed; 2 Dalits arewere assaulted every hour, and in each day 3 Dalit women arewere raped every day, 2 Dalits arewere murdered;, and 2 Dalit homes arewere set on fire every day.<ref name="natgeo">{{Cite web |date=2 June 2003 |title=India's "Untouchables" Face Violence, Discrimination |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/indias-untouchables-face-violence-discrimination |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220081329/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/indias-untouchables-face-violence-discrimination |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2021 |access-date=22 April 2021 |website=[[National Geographic]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] documented a high number of sexual assaults against Dalit women, which were often committed by landlords, upper-caste villagers, and policemen, according to a study published in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2001 |title=Sex hell of Dalit women exposed |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/09/lukeharding |access-date=22 April 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> According to the research, only about 5% of assaults are recorded, and policemenpolice dismiss at least 30% of rape reports as false. The study also discovered that copspolice often seek bribes, threaten witnesses, and conceal evidence. Victims of rape have also been killed.<ref name="natgeo" /> There have been reports of Dalits being forced to eat [[human faeces]] and drink [[urine]] by upper caste members and the police.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Dalit-tortured-forced-to-eat-human-excreta/articleshow/42926546.cms|title=Dalit tortured, forced to eat human excreta|website=The Times of India|date=19 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/upper-caste-youths-force-dalit-to-eat-excreta-in-tamil-nadu-64965-2010-01-14 |title=Upper caste youths force Dalit to eat excreta in Tamil Nadu |first1=M. C. |last1=Rajan |date=14 January 2010 |website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Man-tortured-made-to-drink-urine-by-cops/articleshow/46034793.cms |title=Man tortured, made to drink urine by cops |work=The [[Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/dalit-youth-assaulted-forced-to-eat-human-faeces-in-up/story-ykZ7xutIhOLiGsQHfRDVBM.html |title=Dalit youth assaulted, forced to eat human faeces in UP |date=25 April 2015 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> In September 2015, a 45-year-old dalitDalit woman was allegedly stripped naked and was forced to drink urine by perpetrators in Madhya Pradesh.<ref name="Nair 2015">{{cite news |last=Nair |first=Nithya |title=Dalit woman allegedly stripped in Madhya Pradesh, forced to consumed urine |work=India.com |date=2 September 2015 |url=http://www.india.com/news/india/dalit-woman-allegedly-stripped-in-madhya-pradesh-forced-to-consumed-urine-529997/ |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> In some parts of India, there have been allegations that Dalit grooms riding horses for wedding ceremonies have been beaten up and [[Ostracism|ostracised]] by upper caste people.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Families-of-2-dalit-grooms-ostracized-for-riding-horse-as-marriage-ritual/articleshow/36788880.cms |title=Families of 2 dalit grooms ostracized for riding horse as marriage ritual |website=The [[Times of India]]|date=19 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dalit groom beaten up in M.P. village for riding a horse |agency=Press Trust of India |date=9 June 2014|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dalit-groom-beaten-up-in-mp-village-for-riding-a-horse/article6096734.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dalit-wedding-fetes-face-feudal-rage-in-rajasthan/article6207590.ece |title=Dalit wedding fetes face feudal rage in Rajasthan |first=Aarti |last=Dhar |date=14 July 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> In August 2015, upper caste people burned houses and vehicles belonging to Dalit families and slaughtered their livestock in reaction to Dalits daring to hold a [[temple car]] procession at a village in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite news |title=Temple procession row: TN police nab 75 for torching Dalit houses |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=18 August 2015 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/temple-procession-row-tn-police-nab-75-for-torching-dalit-houses/ |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sivaraman |first=R. |title=70 held for burning Dalit houses in Villupuram |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 August 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/70-held-for-burning-dalit-houses-in-villupuram/article7548443.ece |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, it was claimed that a [[Jat people|Jat]] [[Khap|Khap Panchayat]] ordered the rape of two Dalit sisters because their brother eloped with a married Jat girl of the same village.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jat leaders in UP village deny ordering rape of Dalit sisters |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=1 September 2015 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jat-leaders-in-up-village-deny-ordering-rape-of-dalit-sisters/article1-1386379.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903180523/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jat-leaders-in-up-village-deny-ordering-rape-of-dalit-sisters/article1-1386379.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2015 |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Basu 2015">{{cite news |last=Basu |first=Indrani |title=9 Things You Need To Know About The Khap 'Rape Order' in India |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=8 September 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/09/08/dalit-girls-india_n_8095322.html |access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bahuguna 2015">{{cite web |last=Bahuguna |first=Ankush |title=A Khap Panchayat in UP Wants Two Dalit Sisters Raped Because Their Brother Eloped with a Married Woman |website=mensxp.com |date=28 August 2015 |url=http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/27465-a-khap-panchayat-in-up-wants-two-dalit-sisters-raped-because-their-brother-eloped-with-a-married-woman.html |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> In 2003, the higher caste Muslims in Bihar opposed the burials of lower caste Muslims in the same graveyard.<ref name="rediff_burial">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/06bihar.htm |title=Backward Muslims protest denial of burial |first=Anand Mohan |last=Sahay |work=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=6 March 2003}}</ref> A Dalit activist was killed in 2020 for social media posts criticising Brahmins.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 September 2020 |title='Anti-Brahmin' posts on social media: 5 more held for murder of Dalit lawyer in Kutch|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anti-brahmin-posts-on-social-media-5-more-held-for-murder-of-dalit-lawyer-in-kutch-6618523/|access-date=21 December 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> A Dalit was killed in 2019 for eating in front of upper-caste men.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 May 2019 |title=The Indian Dalit man killed for eating in front of upper-caste men |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48265387 |access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref>
=== Prevention of Atrocities Act ===
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In 1956, the Dalit jurist [[B. R. Ambedkar|Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar]] (1891–1956) launched the [[Dalit Buddhist movement]], leading several mass conversions of Dalits from Hinduism to Buddhism. Ambedkar's Buddhism is a new kind of Buddhism that focuses on [[Engaged Buddhism|social and political engagement]].<ref name="Robinson2003p192">{{cite book |author=Gary Tartakov |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNsoAAAAYAAJ |title=Religious Conversion in India: Modes, Motivations, and Meanings |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-19-566329-7 |editor-first=Rowena |editor-last=Robinson |pages=192–213 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Christopher Queen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_lmCgAAQBAJ |title=A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-119-14466-3 |editor=Steven M. Emmanuel |pages=524–525 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> About half a million Dalits joined Ambedkar in rejecting Hinduism and challenging its caste system.<ref name="skaria450">{{cite journal |last=Skaria |first=A |year=2015 |title=Ambedkar, Marx and the Buddhist Question |journal=Journal of South Asian Studies |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=450–452 |doi=10.1080/00856401.2015.1049726 |doi-access=free}}, Quote: "Here [Navayana Buddhism] there is not only a criticism of religion (most of all, Hinduism, but also prior traditions of Buddhism), but also of secularism, and that criticism is articulated moreover as a religion."</ref><ref name="omvedt2">{{Cite book |last=Omvedt |first=Gail |title=Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste |edition=3rd |location=London/New Delhi/Thousand Oaks |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]] |date=2003 |pages=2–15, 210–213}}</ref> The movement is centered in [[Maharashtra]], and according to the 2011 census, there were 6.5 million [[Marathi Buddhists]] (mainly Dalit Buddhists) in Maharashtra.<ref name="Census of India 2001">{{Cite web |url=http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/Religion_WhizMap1/housemap.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706213221/http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/Religion_WhizMap1/housemap.htm |url-status=dead |title=Census GIS Household<!-- Bot generated title --> |archive-date=6 July 2010}}</ref>
Another Dalit Buddhist leader and reformer was Pandit [[Iyothee Thass]], founder of the Sakya Buddhist Society of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Teltumbde2016p57">{{cite book |first=Anand |last=Teltumbde |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCIlDwAAQBAJ |title=Dalits: Past, Present and Future |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-315-52644-7 |pages=57–59 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> The Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Act, 1990 granted reservation to Dalit Buddhists and recognized their SC status.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.incom/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Secularism/vC6hDQAAQBAJ?hlid=en&gbpv=0vC6hDQAAQBAJ|title=The Oxford Handbook of Secularism|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-19998845-7|editor-first=John |editor-last=Shook |pages=224 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
=== Sikhism ===
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=== National Dalit-led political parties in India ===
[[File:Dileep bsp.jpg|thumb|Dalit leaders at Bahujan Samaj Party head office]]
* [[Bahujan Samaj Party]], a national political party as per [[Election Commission of India]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Recognized National Parties |website=Election Commission of India |date=25 October 2021 |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/261-recognized-national-parties/ |access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref>
* [[Azad Samaj Party]]
* [[Dalit League]]
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[[Bhangi|Balmikis]] and [[Pasi (caste)|Pasis]] in the 1990s boycotted the BSP, claiming it was a [[Chamar|Jatav]] party.{{sfn|Jain|2005|p = 322}} <ref name="Vij 2009"/>
Many converted Dalit Sikhs claim a superior status over the Hindu [[Regar|Raigar]]s, [[Chamar|Joatia Chamar]]s and Ravidasis and sometimes refuse to intermarry with them.{{sfn|Jain|2005|p = 306}} They are divided into [[gotras]] that regulate their marriage alliances. In Andhra Pradesh, [[Mala (caste)|Mala]] and [[Madiga]] were constantly in conflict with each other<ref>{{cite book |first=Anderson H. M. |last=Jeremiah |title=Community and Worldview Among Paraiyars of South India: 'Lived' Religion |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=3Q1MAQAAQBAJ}} |date=14 May 2013 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-4411-7881-7}}</ref> but as of 2015 Mala and Madiga students work for common dalit cause at Universityuniversity level.<ref name="Henry 2015">{{cite news |last=Henry |first=Nikhila |title=The rising rage against in-campus policing |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 September 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-rising-rage-against-incampus-policing/article7619761.ece |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref>
Although the [[Khateek]] (butchers) are generally viewed as a higher caste than Bhangis, the latter refuses to offer cleaning services to Khateeks, believing that their profession renders them unclean. They also consider the Balai, Dholi and Mogya as unclean and do not associate with them.<ref name="Shyamlal1992">{{cite book |last=Shyamlal |title=The Bhangi: A Sweeper Caste, Its Socio-economic Portraits: with Special Reference to Jodhpur City |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=DUsxDMyv3fcC |page=25}} |page=25 |date=1 January 1992 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7154-550-6}}</ref>
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* [https://www.getbengal.com/home/story_detail/is-there-dalit-literature-in-bangla Is there ‘Dalit’ literature in Bangla?]
{{Caste in India}}
{{Social issues in India}}
{{Discrimination}}
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