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{{Short description|Marginalized castes in India and South Asia}}
{{For|the legal term|Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

[[File:Indian Caste System.jpg|thumb|
Representation of the varna system hierarchy, depicting Brahmins (priests) at the highest level and Dalits (historically marginalized as untouchables, considered outside the varna system) at the lowest stratum.]]

'''Dalit''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|d|æ|l|ɪ|t}} from {{langx|sa|दलित}} meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for [[Untouchability|untouchables]] and [[Outcast (person)|outcasts]], who represented 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> They are also called '''Harijans'''.<ref>{{cite book|quote=The clusters of epithet include Outcastes , Exterior - Castes , Depressed Classes , Untouchables , Ex - Untouchables , Harijans and Dalits.|author=Santosh Bharatiya|page=230 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-F07ALiguEC&dq=Dalits/harijans&pg=PA230 |publisher=
Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt. Limited |year=2008 |title=Dalit And Minority Empowerment |isbn=978-8126715992}}</ref> Dalits were excluded from the fourfold [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] of the caste hierarchy and were seen as forming a 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 Europe]]an [[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 following [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]. The [[constitution of India]] includes Dalits as one of the [[Scheduled Castes]]; this gives Dalits the [[Scheduled_Castes_and_Scheduled_Tribes#Government_initiative_to_improve_the_situation_of_SCs_and_STs|right]] to protection, [[Affirmative action]] (known as [[reservation in India]]), and official development resources.

== Terminology ==
The term ''Dalit'' is for those called the "untouchables" and others that were outside of the traditional [[Hindu caste]] hierarchy.<ref name="kaminsky">{{cite book |first11=Arnold P. |last1=Kaminsky |first2=Roger D. |last2=Long |title=India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VVxlfDHGTFYC&pg=PA156 |year=2011 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-0-313-37463-0 |page=156 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref name="Kanmony">{{cite book |first1=Jebagnanam Cyril |last1=Kanmony |title=Dalits and Tribes of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UfUYBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 |year=2010 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-8324-348-3 |page=198 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Economist and reformer [[B. R. Ambedkar]] (1891–1956) said that untouchability came into Indian society around 400 CE, due to the struggle for supremacy between [[Buddhism]] and [[Historical Vedic religion|Brahmanism]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/article-in-rss-mouthpiece-misquotes-ambedkar-on-untouchability/article1-1338054.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416235122/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/article-in-rss-mouthpiece-misquotes-ambedkar-on-untouchability/article1-1338054.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2015 |title=Top RSS leader misquotes Ambedkar on untouchability |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> Some Hindu priests befriended untouchables and were demoted to low-caste ranks. [[Eknath]], who was an excommunicated Brahmin, fought for the rights of untouchables during the [[Bhakti movement|Bhakti period]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eknath {{!}} Marathi Poet, Bhakti Movement & Maharashtra |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eknath |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

In the late 1880s, the [[Marathi language|Marathi]] word 'Dalit' was used by [[Jyotirao Phule]] for the outcasts and untouchables who were oppressed and broken in the Hindu society.<ref name=Robinson2003>{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Rowena |year=2003 |title=Christians of India |pages=193–96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyU4nepW2xQC&pg=PA193 |isbn=0761998225 |publisher=Sage Publications|location=New Delhi |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> ''Dalit'' is a vernacular form of the [[Sanskrit]] दलित (''dalita''). In Classical Sanskrit, this means "divided, split, broken, scattered". This word was repurposed in 19th-century Sanskrit to mean "(a person) not belonging to one of the four [[Varna (Hinduism)|Varna]]s".<ref>"Dalit, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, June 2016. Web. 23 August 2016.</ref> It was perhaps first used in this sense by [[Pune]]-based social reformer [[Jyotirao Phule]], in the context of the oppression faced by the erstwhile "untouchable" castes from other [[Hindu]]s.<ref name="mendelsohnvicziany">{{cite book|first1=Oliver |last1=Mendelsohn|first2=Marika |last2=Vicziany|author-link2=Marika Vicziany|title=The Untouchables: Subordination, Poverty and the State in Modern India|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=FGbp9MjhvKAC |page=4}} |page=4|year=1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-55671-2}}</ref> The term ''Dalits'' was in use as a translation for the Indian census classification of ''Depressed Classes'' prior to 1935. It was popularised by Ambedkar, himself a Dalit,<ref name="katuwal">{{cite book |editor1-first=Panchanan |editor1-last=Mohanty |editor2-first=Ramesh C. |editor2-last=Malik |editor3-first=Eswarappa |editor3-last=Kasi |title=Ethnographic Discourse of the Other: Conceptual and Methodological Issues |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UfUYBwAAQBAJ |year=2009 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-0856-9 |chapter=The Issues and Concerns of Dalit Labourers in Nepal |first=Shyam Bahadur |last=Katuwal |page=114 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> who included all depressed people irrespective of their caste into the definition of Dalits.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Independent labour party: 19th July (1937) in Dalit History – Dr. Ambedkar took oath as the member of Bombay Legislative Council |url=https://drambedkarbooks.com/tag/independent-labour-party/ |website=drambedkarbooks.com/ |publisher=Dr. Ambedkar Books |access-date=9 November 2018}}</ref> It covered people who were excluded from the fourfold varna system of Hinduism and thought of themselves as forming a fifth varna, describing themselves as ''Panchama''.<ref>{{cite book |first1=S. |last1=Sagar |first2=V. |last2=Bhargava |chapter=Dalit Women in India: Crafting Narratives of Success |page=22 |title=Resistance in Everyday Life: Constructing Cultural Experiences |editor1-first=Nandita |editor1-last=Chaudhary |editor2-first=Pernille |editor2-last=Hviid |editor3-first=Giuseppina |editor3-last=Marsico |editor4-first=Jakob Waag |editor4-last=Villadsen |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XyEsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA22 |publisher=Springer |year=2017 |isbn=978-9-81103-581-4 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> In the 1970s its use was invigorated when it was adopted by the [[Dalit Panthers]] activist group.<ref name="kaminsky"/>

Socio-legal scholar Oliver Mendelsohn and political economist [[Marika Vicziany]] wrote in 1998 that the term had become "intensely political&nbsp;... While the use of the term might seem to express appropriate solidarity with the contemporary face of Untouchable politics, there remain major problems in adopting it as a generic term. Although the word is now quite widespread, it still has deep roots in a tradition of political radicalism inspired by the figure of B. R. Ambedkar." They went on to suggest that its use risked erroneously labelling the entire population of untouchables in India as being united by a radical politics.<ref name="mendelsohnvicziany"/> [[Anand Teltumbde]] also detects a trend towards denial of the politicised identity, for example among educated middle-class people who have converted to Buddhism and argue that, as Buddhists, they cannot be Dalits. This may be due to their improved circumstances giving rise to a desire not to be associated with what they perceive to be the demeaning Dalit masses.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dalits: Past, present and future |first=Anand |last=Teltumbde |author-link=Anand Teltumbde |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-31552-643-0 |pages=10–11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fZXgDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite book |first=James G. |last=Lochtefeld |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA168 |year=2002 |publisher=The [[Rosen Publishing Group]] |isbn= 978-0-8239-3179-8 |page=168 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

=== Other terms ===

==== Official term ====
India's [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]] considers official use of ''dalit'' as a label to be "unconstitutional" because modern legislation prefers ''[[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes]]''; however, some sources say that ''Dalit'' has encompassed more communities than the official term of ''Scheduled Castes'' and is sometimes used to refer to all of India's oppressed peoples. A similar all-encompassing situation prevails in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-05 |title=Why Dalits want to hold on to Dalit, not Harijan, not SC |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/dalit-scheduled-caste-information-and-broadcasting-media-5341220/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-05 |title=What's in a name?: on the use of the term 'Dalit' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/whats-in-a-name/article59780463.ece |access-date=2024-12-10 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

''Scheduled Castes'' is the official term for Dalits in the opinion of India's National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), who took legal advice that indicated modern legislation does not refer to Dalit and that therefore, it says, it is "unconstitutional" for official documents to do so. In 2004, the NCSC noted that some state governments used ''Dalits'' rather than ''Scheduled Castes'' in documentation and asked them to desist.<ref name="express2008a">{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Dalit-word-unconstitutional-says-SC-Commission/262903/ |title=Dalit word un-constitutional says SC|date=18 January 2008 |newspaper=[[Express India]] |access-date=27 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922060507/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Dalit-word-unconstitutional-says-SC-Commission/262903/ |archive-date=22 September 2009}}</ref>

Some sources say that ''Dalit'' encompasses a broader range of communities than the official ''Scheduled Caste'' definition. It can include nomadic tribes and another official classification that also originated with the [[British Raj]] [[positive discrimination]] efforts in 1935, being the ''Scheduled Tribes''.<ref name="zelliot">{{cite journal |last=Zelliot |first=Eleanor |author-link=Eleanor Zelliot |year=2010 |title=India's Dalits: Racism and Contemporary Change|url=http://www.worlddialogue.org/content.php?id=490 |journal=Global Dialogue |volume=12 |issue=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430015723/http://www.worlddialogue.org/content.php?id=490 |archive-date=30 April 2013}}</ref> It is also sometimes used to refer to the entirety of India's oppressed peoples,<ref name="kaminsky"/> which is the context that applies to its use in Nepalese society.<ref name="Kanmony"/> An example of the limitations of the ''Scheduled Caste'' category is that, under Indian law, such people can only be followers of Buddhism, Hinduism or Sikhism,<ref name=2011Census/> yet there are communities who claim to be [[Dalit Christian]]s and Muslims,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Kerala Christians and the Caste System |first=C. J. |last=Fuller |author-link=Chris Fuller (academic)|journal=Man |series=New series |volume=11 |issue=1 |date=March 1976 |pages=53–70 |doi=10.2307/2800388 |jstor=2800388}}</ref> and the tribal communities often practise [[Tribal religions in India|folk religions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/india/57.htm |title=Tribal Religions |work=U.S. [[Library of Congress]] |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] Country Studies |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref>

==== Harijan ====
{{Redirect|Harijan|the weekly founded by Gandhi|Harijan (magazine)}}
The term ''Harijan'', or 'children of God', was coined by [[Narsinh Mehta]], a Gujarati poet-saint of the Bhakti tradition, to refer to all devotees of [[Krishna]] irrespective of caste, class, or sex.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ramabadran |first1=Sudharshan |last2=Paswan |first2=Guru |title=Makers of Modern Dalit History |date=2021 |publisher=Penguin Random House India |isbn=978-0143451426 |page=xv}}</ref> Mahatma Gandhi, an admirer of Mehta's work, first used the word in the context of identifying Dalits in 1933. Ambedkar disliked the name as it placed Dalits in relation to a greater Hindu nation rather than as in an independent community like Muslims. In addition, many Dalits found, and still find, the term patronizing and derogatory, with some even claiming that the term really refers to children of [[devadasi]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/stop-calling-dalits-harijan-sc-calls-term-abusive-we-remain-ignorant-and-insensitive-59315 |title=Stop calling Dalits 'Harijan': SC calls the term abusive, as we remain ignorant and insensitive |date=27 March 2017 |work=The News Minute |access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Omvedt |first=Gail |author-link=Gail Omvedt |title=Ambedkar: towards an enlightened India |year=2008 |publisher=[[Penguin Random House|Penguin]] |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-0143065906}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2017}} When [[untouchability]] was outlawed after Indian independence, the use of the word ''Harijan'' to describe ex-untouchables became more common among other castes than within Dalits themselves.<ref>{{cite book |last=Perez |first=Rosa Maria |title=Kings and untouchables : a study of the caste system in western India |year=2004 |publisher=Chronicle Books |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-8-18028-014-6 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GDRWAglUumEC&pg=PA15 |access-date=25 July 2017 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

==== Regional terms ====
In Southern India, Dalits are sometimes known as ''[[Adi Dravida]]'', ''[[Adi Karnataka]]'', and ''Adi Andhra'', which literally mean First Dravidians, Kannadigas, and Andhras, respectively. These terms were first used in 1917 by Southern Dalit leaders, who believed that they were the indigenous inhabitants of India.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Untouchables: Subordination, Poverty and the State in Modern India |first1=Oliver |last1=Mendelsohn |first2=Marika |last2=Vicziany |author-link2=Marika Vicziany |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1998|isbn=978-0-52155-671-2 |page=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FGbp9MjhvKAC&pg=PA3 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> The terms are used in the states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Andhra Pradesh]]/[[Telangana]], respectively, as a generic term for anyone from a Dalit caste.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}{{clarify|reason=Andhra has now bifurcated – does it apply in Telangana also?|date=July 2017}}

In [[Maharashtra]], according to historian and women's studies academic Shailaja Paik, ''Dalit'' is a term mostly used by members of the [[Mahar]] caste, into which Ambedkar was born. Most other communities prefer to use their own caste name.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Mahar–Dalit–Buddhist: The history and politics of naming in Maharashtra |first=Shailaja |last=Paik |journal=Contributions to Indian Sociology |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=217–241 |date=September 2011 |doi=10.1177/006996671104500203 |s2cid=144346975}}</ref>

In Nepal, aside from ''Harijan'' and, most commonly, ''Dalit'', terms such as ''Haris'' (among Muslims), ''Achhoot'', ''outcastes'' and ''neech jati'' are used.<ref name="katuwal"/>

== History ==
{{broader|Caste system in India#History}}
[[Gopal Baba Walangkar]] (c. 1840–1900) is generally considered to be the pioneer of the Dalit movement, seeking a society in which they were not discriminated against. Another pioneer was [[Harichand Thakur]] (c. 1812–1878) with his [[Matua Mahasangha|Matua]] organisation that involved the [[Namasudra]] ([[Chandala]]) community in the [[Bengal Presidency]]. Ambedkar himself believed Walangkar to be the progenitor.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dalits: Past, present and future |first=Anand |last=Teltumbde |author-link=Anand Teltumbde |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-31552-643-0 |pages=52–54 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fZXgDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT52}}</ref> Another early social reformer who worked to improve conditions for Dalits was [[Jyotirao Phule]] (1827–1890).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=Jyotirao Phule {{!}} Biography, Social Reformer, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jyotirao-Phule |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-11 |title=Mahatma Phule coined the term 'Dalit' – Know more about Maharashtrian reformer Jyotiba Phule on his Jayanti |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/mahatma-phule-had-coined-term-dalit-know-more-about-maharashtrian-reformer-jyotiba-phule-on-his-jayanti/216130 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}</ref>

The present system has its origins in the 1932 [[Poona Pact]] between Ambedkar and [[Mahatma 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.<ref name="keane">{{cite book |title=Religion, Human Rights and International Law: A Critical Examination of Islamic State Practices |editor1-first=Javid |editor1-last=Rehman |editor2-first=Susan |editor2-last=Breau |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|BRILL]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-9-04742-087-3 |first=David |last=Keane |chapter=Why the Hindu Caste System Presents a New Challenge for Human Rights |pages=284–285 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-mwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA284 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> The notion of a separate electorate had been proposed in the [[Communal Award]] made by the British Raj authorities,<ref>{{cite book |title=Religion and Conflict in Modern South Asia |first=William |last=Gould |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-13949-869-2 |pages=151–152 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2oexn_mLPIC&pg=PA151 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> and the outcome of the Pact – the [[Government of India Act 1935]] – introduced the new term of ''Scheduled Castes'', as a replacement for the term ''Depressed Classes'', and also reserved seats for them in the legislatures.<ref>{{cite book |title=Social Exclusion: Essays in Honour of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak |volume=1 |editor-first=A. K. |editor-last=Lal |publisher=Concept Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=978-8-18069-053-2 |chapter=Positive Discrimination in the Constitution of India |first=B. N. |last=Srivastava |page=181 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o38ZT8UVw8UC&pg=PA181 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

Soon after [[Indian Independence Act 1947|its independence]] in 1947, India introduced a [[Reservation in India|reservation system]] to enhance the ability of Dalits to have political representation and to obtain government jobs and education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Background Of Reservation In Educational Institutions In India |url=https://www.thelawadvice.com/articles/historical-background-of-reservation-in-educational-institutions-in-india |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.thelawadvice.com |language=en}}</ref> The 1950 Constitution of India included measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of Dalits. Aside from banning untouchability, these included the reservation system, a means of [[positive discrimination]] that created the classification of Scheduled Castes as Dalits. Communities that were categorised as being one of those groups were guaranteed a percentage of the seats in the national and state legislatures, as well as in government jobs and places of education.

By 1995, of all federal government jobs in India – 10.1 per cent of Class I, 12.7 per cent of Class II, 16.2 per cent of Class III, and 27.2 per cent of Class IV jobs were held by Dalits.<ref name="scs1">{{cite web|title=Status of caste system in modern India |year=2004 |publisher=Ambedkar.org |url=http://www.ambedkar.org/News/reservationinindia.pdf |pages=34–35}}</ref> Of the most senior jobs in government agencies and government-controlled enterprises, only 1 per cent were held by Dalits, not much change in 40 years.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} In the 21st century, Dalits have been elected to India's highest judicial and political offices.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news |title=Profile: Mayawati Kumari |date=16 July 2009 |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1958378.stm}}</ref><ref name="meira">{{cite web |title=Meira Kumar, a Dalit leader is the new Lok Sabha Speaker |year=2009 |publisher=NCHRO |url=http://www.nchro.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6863:meira-kumar-a-dalit-leader-is-the-new-lok-sabha-speaker&catid=5:dalitsatribals&Itemid=14|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415094430/http://www.nchro.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6863:meira-kumar-a-dalit-leader-is-the-new-lok-sabha-speaker&catid=5:dalitsatribals&Itemid=14|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> In 1997, India elected its first Dalit President, [[K. R. Narayanan]]. Many social organisations have promoted better conditions for Dalits through education, healthcare and employment. Nonetheless, while caste-based discrimination was prohibited and untouchability abolished by the [[Constitution of India]], such practices are still widespread. To prevent harassment, assault, discrimination and similar acts against these groups, the [[Government of India]] enacted the [[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|Prevention of Atrocities Act]], also called the SC/ST Act, on 31 March 1995.

In accordance with the order of the [[Bombay High Court]], the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry) of the Government of India issued an advisory to all media channels in September 2018, asking them to use "Scheduled Castes" instead of the word "Dalit".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/stop-using-the-term-dalit-i-b-ministry-tells-media-1331855-2018-09-04/ |title=Stop using the term Dalit: I&B Ministry tells media |website=India Today|date=4 September 2018 }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:2011 Census Scheduled Caste caste distribution map India by state and union territory.svg|thumb|360px|Scheduled Castes distribution in India by state and union territory according to the 2011 Census of India.<ref name=2011Census>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Documents/SCST%20Presentation%2028-10-2013.ppt Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract]{{PPTlink}}, Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India (28 October 2013).</ref> [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] had the highest proportion of its population as SC (around 32%), while India's island territories and two northeastern states had approximately zero.<ref name=2011Census/>]]

Scheduled Caste communities exist across India and comprised 16.6% of the country's population, {{As of|2011|alt=according to the}} 2011 Census of India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/scs-sts-form-25--of-population-says-census-2011-data/1109988/|title=SCs, STs form 25% of population, says Census 2011 data |date=1 May 2013 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> [[Uttar Pradesh]] (21%), [[West Bengal]] (11%), [[Bihar]] (8%) and Tamil Nadu (7%) between them accounted for almost half the country's total Scheduled Caste population.<ref>{{cite news |title=Half of India's dalit population lives in 4 states |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Half-of-Indias-dalit-population-lives-in-4-states/articleshow/19827757.cms |work=The [[Times of India]] |date=2 May 2013 |first=B. |last=Sivakumar |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> They were most prevalent as a proportion of the states' population in Punjab, at about 32 per cent,<ref name="Welfare Department">{{cite web |url=http://welfarepunjab.gov.in/SCpopulation.html|title=Scheduled Caste Population in Punjab |website=Welfare Department |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423052611/http://welfarepunjab.gov.in/SCpopulation.html |archive-date=23 April 2016 |access-date=25 April 2016}}</ref> while [[Mizoram]] had the lowest at approximately zero.<ref name=2011Census/>

Similar groups are found throughout the rest of the Indian subcontinent; less than 2 per cent of Pakistan's population are Hindu and 70–75 per cent of those Hindus are Dalits,<ref name="Ghosh2020">{{cite book |first=Lipi |last=Ghosh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=umsJEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT115 |title=Political Governance and Minority Rights: The South and South-East Asian Scenario |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |date=29 November 2020 |isbn=978-1-00-008390-3 |pages=115– |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> in Nepal,<ref name="Kanmony" /> Bangladesh had 5 million Dalits in 2010 with the majority being landless and in chronic poverty,<ref name="Committee2010">Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: International Development Committee. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=n2JhCnVni4kC&pg=PA93 DFID's programme in Bangladesh: third report of session 2009–10, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence]''. The Stationery Office; 4 March 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-215-54435-3}}. p. 93–.</ref> and Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Separatist Conflict in Sri Lanka: Terrorism, Ethnicity, Political Economy |first=Asoka |last=Bandarage |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-13597-085-7 |page=186 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TOuSAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA186 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> They are also found as part of the Indian diaspora in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite news |last=Soundararajan |first=Thenmozhi |title=Black Indians |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?281938|work=Outlook India |date=20 August 2012 |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rath |first=Kayte |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21659744 |title=Outlaw caste discrimination in UK, peers tell government |work=[[BBC News]] |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lepoer |first=Barbara Leitch |title=GPO for the Library of Congress |url=http://countrystudies.us/singapore/18.htm |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="Naidu">{{cite web |last1=Naidu |first1=Janet |title=Retention and Transculturation of Hinduism in the Caribbean |url=http://www.guyanajournal.com/hinduism_caribbean.html |work=Guyana Journal |access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref> While discrimination against Dalits has declined in urban areas and in the public sphere,<ref>{{cite web |title=The caste system |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521225627/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml |archive-date=21 May 2009 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref> it still exists in rural areas and in the private sphere, in everyday matters such as access to eating places, schools, temples and water sources.<ref name="TheHindu">{{cite news |last=Dasgupta |first=Manas |date=28 January 2010 |title=Untouchability still prevalent in rural Gujarat: survey |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article95821.ece |access-date=1 April 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=India}}</ref> Some Dalits successfully integrated into urban Indian society, where caste origins are less obvious. 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.<ref name="indianchristians.in">{{cite web |date=15 October 2006 |title=Hindus Support Dalit Candidates in Tamil Nadu |url=http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/311/48/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005015048/http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/311/48/ |archive-date=5 October 2011 |access-date=20 November 2011 |publisher=Indianchristians.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Somini |date=29 August 2008 |title=Crusader Sees Wealth as Cute for Caste Bias |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/world/asia/30caste.html?pagewanted=2&ref=asia |access-date=20 November 2011 |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=India}}</ref>

India is home to over 200 million Dalits.<ref>{{cite news |title=India top court recalls controversial caste order |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49889815 |work=BBC News |date=1 October 2019}}</ref> According to [[Paul Diwakar]], a Dalit activist from the [[National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights]], "India has 600,000 villages and almost every village a small pocket on the outskirts is meant for Dalits."<ref>{{cite news |title=Under India's caste system, Dalits are considered untouchable. The coronavirus is intensifying that slur |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/15/asia/india-coronavirus-lower-castes-hnk-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=16 April 2020}}</ref>

== Socioeconomic status and discrimination ==
{{Discrimination sidebar}} 
[[Persecution of Dalits|Discrimination against Dalits]] has been observed across [[South Asia]] and among the South Asian diaspora. In 2001, the quality of life of the Dalit population in India was worse than that of the overall Indian population on metrics such as access to health care, life expectancy, education attainability, access to drinking water and housing.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the progress in elementary education participation in India during the last two decades?|first=Deepa |last=Shankar|publisher=The World Bank|year=2007|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTINDIA/2132853-1191444019328/21497941/SankarProgressinElementaryEducationusingNSS.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Singh |first=Darshan |year=2009 |title=Development of Scheduled Castes in India – A Review |url=http://www.nird.org.in/OctLevel%209.pdf |journal=[[Journal of Rural Development]] |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=529–42 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222164718/http://nird.org.in/OctLevel%209.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Changing Educational Inequalities in India in the Context of Affirmative Action |first1=Sonalde |last1=Desai |first2=Veena |last2=Kulkarni |journal=[[Demography (journal)|Demography]] |date=May 2008 |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=245–70 |pmc=2474466 |pmid=18613480 |doi=10.1353/dem.0.0001}}</ref> According to a 2007 report by [[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW), the treatment of Dalits has been like a "hidden apartheid" and that they "endure segregation in housing, schools, and access to public services". HRW noted that [[Manmohan Singh]], then [[Prime Minister of India]], saw a parallel between the [[apartheid]] system and untouchability.<ref name="HA">{{cite web |title=India: "Hidden Apartheid" of Discrimination Against Dalits |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |date=27 May 2002 |url=http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm |access-date=27 September 2008}}</ref> [[Eleanor Zelliot]] also 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".<ref name="zelliot" /> Though the Indian Constitution abolished untouchability, the oppressed status of Dalits remains a reality. In rural India, stated [[Klaus Klostermaier]] in 2010, "they still live in secluded quarters, do the dirtiest work, and are not allowed to use the village well and other common facilities".<ref>{{cite book |first=Klaus |last=Klostermaier |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |title=A Survey of Hinduism: Third Edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC |year=2010 |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |isbn=978-0-7914-8011-3 |page=297 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> In the same year, Zelliot noted that "In spite of much progress over the last sixty years, Dalits are still at the social and economic bottom of society."<ref name="zelliot" />

According to the 2014 NCAER/University of Maryland survey, 27 per cent of the Indian population still practices untouchability; the figure may be higher because many people refuse to acknowledge doing so when questioned, although the methodology of the survey was also criticised for potentially inflating the figure.<ref>{{cite news |work=Scroll |title=Between the bathroom and the kitchen, there is caste |url=http://scroll.in/article/692513/Between-the-bathroom-and-the-kitchen,-there-is-caste |first=Shivam |last=Vij |date=1 December 2014 |access-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> Across India, Untouchability was practised among 52 per cent of [[Brahmin]]s, 33 per cent of Other Backward Classes and 24 per cent of non-Brahmin [[forward caste]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/casteism-exists-in-india-let-s-not-remain-in-denial/story-QLfGEEFCRVOQLv9eDXIJfN.html |title=Casteism exists in India, let's not remain in denial |last=Bhandare |first=Namita |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=6 December 2014 |access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref> Untouchability was also practised by people of minority religions – 23 per cent of Sikhs, 18 per cent of Muslims and 5 per cent of Christians.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/shashi-tharoor/caste-wont-disappear-india_b_6257354.html |title=Why Caste Won't Disappear From India |first=Shashi |last=Tharoor |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=8 December 2014}}</ref> According to statewide data, Untouchability is most commonly practised in Madhya Pradesh (53 per cent), followed by [[Himachal Pradesh]] (50 per cent), Chhattisgarh (48 per cent), [[Rajasthan]] and Bihar (47 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (43 per cent), and [[Uttarakhand]] (40 per cent).<ref>{{cite news|title=Biggest caste survey: One in four Indians admit to practising untouchability |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/one-in-four-indians-admit-to-practising-untouchability-biggest-caste-survey/ |work=The Indian Express |first=Seema |last=Chishti |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

Examples of segregation have included the Madhya Pradesh village of [[Ghatwani]], where the Scheduled Tribe population of [[Bhilala]] do not allow Dalit villagers to use the public borewell for fetching water and thus they are forced to drink dirty water.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dalits in MP village not allowed to use public borewell |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=23 May 2015 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dalits-in-mp-village-not-allowed-to-use-public-borewell/article1-1350537.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524095642/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dalits-in-mp-village-not-allowed-to-use-public-borewell/article1-1350537.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 May 2015 |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> In metropolitan areas around [[New Delhi]] and [[Bangalore]], Dalits and Muslims face discrimination from upper caste landlords when seeking places to rent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Study shows NCR homeowners turn away Dalits and Muslims |work=The Indian Express |date=16 June 2015 |first=Seema |last=Chishti |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rentals-ncr-homeowners-turn-away-dalits-muslims/ |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In 5 star Bengaluru hotel, Dalits show they have arrived |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=1 September 2015 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-5-star-bengaluru-hotel-dalits-show-they-have-arrived/article1-1386329.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903045915/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-5-star-bengaluru-hotel-dalits-show-they-have-arrived/article1-1386329.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2015 |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>

In 1855, Mutka Salve, a 14-year-old student of Dalit leader [[Savitribai Phule]], wrote that during the rule of [[Baji Rao II|Baji Rao]] of the [[Maratha Empire]], the Dalit castes were chased away from their lands to build large buildings. They were also forced to drink oil mixed with red lead causing them to die, and then they were buried in the foundations of buildings, thus wiping out generations of Dalits. Under the rule of Baji Rao, if a Dalit crossed in front of a gym, they would cut off his head and play "bat and ball" on the ground, with their swords as bats and his head as a ball. Under these 17th century kings, [[human sacrifice]] of untouchable persons was not unusual. They also created intricate rules and operations to ensure that they stayed untouchables.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=5 June 2015 |title=Contesting Power, Contesting Memories |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2012/42/special-articles/contesting-power-contesting-memories.html |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |language=en |volume=47 |issue=42 |pages=7–8}}</ref> 
George Kunnath claims that there "is and has been an internal hierarchy between the various Dalit castes". According to Kunnath, the [[Dusadh]]s are considered the highest while the [[Musahar]]s are considered the lowest within the Dalit groups.<ref>{{cite web |website=[[University of Oxford]] |title=Compliance or Defiance? The Case of Dalits and Mahadalits |first=George |last=Kunnath |year=2013 |pages=36–59 |url=https://www.anthro.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/anthro/documents/media/jaso5_1_2013_36_59.pdf |s2cid=35045790}}</ref>{{rp|38}}

=== Education ===
According to an analysis by The IndiaGoverns Research Institute, Dalits constituted nearly half of primary [[High school dropouts|school drop-outs]] in Karnataka during the period 2012–14.<ref>{{cite news |title=Half of school dropouts in K'taka are dalits |work=The [[Times of India]] |date=5 December 2014 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Half-of-school-dropouts-in-Ktaka-are-dalits/articleshow/45378145.cms |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref>{{clarify|reason=why does this indicate discrimination?|date=July 2017}} A sample survey in 2014, conducted by [[Dalit Adhikar Abhiyan]] and funded by [[ActionAid]], found that among state schools in [[Madhya Pradesh]], 88 percent discriminated against Dalit children. In 79 percent of the schools studied Dalit children are forbidden from touching [[Midday Meal Scheme|mid-day meals]]. They are required to sit separately at lunch in 35 percent of schools and are required to eat with specially marked plates in 28 percent.<ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Sravani |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/kids-bear-brunt-of-macabre-caste-abuses-in-rural-mp/article1-1293731.aspx |title=Children bear the brunt of caste abuses in rural areas |date=5 December 2014 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213194934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/kids-bear-brunt-of-macabre-caste-abuses-in-rural-mp/article1-1293731.aspx |archive-date=13 December 2014}}</ref>

There have been incidents and allegations of SC and ST teachers and professors being discriminated against and harassed by authorities, upper castes colleagues and upper caste students in different education institutes of India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dalit professor 'harassed' for SC quota reforms thesis|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dalit-scholar-harassed-for-sc-quota-reforms-thesis/1/163091.html |first=Prawesh |last=Lama |date=7 December 2011 |work=India Today |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=VHP, Bajrang Dal activists beat up a Dalit professor|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dalit-professor-beaten-up-in-dhule/article4366231.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Professor attempts suicide near Rajkot |work=The [[Times of India]] |date=15 April 2015 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Professor-attempts-suicide-near-Rajkot/articleshow/46926513.cms |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://coastaldigest.com/index.php/news/53911-dalit-headmistress-accuses-upper-caste-teachers-of-harassment |title=dalit-headmistress-accuses-upper-caste-teachers-of-harassment |access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/headmaster-booked-for-abusing-dalit-teacher-115032800696_1.html |title=Headmaster booked for abusing dalit teacher |date=28 March 2015 |work=Business Standard |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dalit-professor-alleges-harassment-by-colleague-students/article4542459.ece |title=Dalit professor alleges harassment by colleague, students |date=24 March 2013 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> In some cases, such as in Gujarat, state governments have argued that, far from being discriminatory, their rejection when applying for jobs in education has been because there are no suitably qualified candidates from those classifications.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prejudice reserved |url=http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/ahmedabad/cover-story/Prejudice-reserved/articleshow/47044090.cms |work=Ahmedabad Mirror |first=Niyati |last=Rana |date=25 April 2015 |access-date=1 August 2017}}</ref>

=== Poverty ===
According to a 2014 report to the [[Ministry of Minority Affairs]], 33.8 percent of Scheduled Caste (SC) populations in rural India were living [[Below Poverty Line (India)|below the poverty line]] in 2011–12. In urban areas, 21.8 percent of SC populations were below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-dalits-in-india-are-poorer-than-muslims-government-report-2032739|title=Dalits in India are poorer than Muslims: Government report|date=7 November 2014|website=dna}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/691545/who-among-indias-young-are-likely-to-become-modern-slaves|title=Who among India's young are likely to become modern slaves?|first=Vasudevan|last=Mukunth|website=Scroll.in|date=2 December 2014 }}</ref> A 2012 survey by [[Mangalore University]] in [[Karnataka]] found that 93 percent of Dalit families in the state of Karnataka live below the poverty line.<ref name="TNN 2012">{{cite news |title=93% dalit families still live below poverty line, says survey |work=The [[Times of India]] |date=28 October 2012 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/93-dalit-families-still-live-below-poverty-line-says-survey/articleshow/16987809.cms |access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>

Some Dalits have achieved affluence, although most remain poor. 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.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|last=Sengupta |first=Somini |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/world/asia/30caste.html?ref=asia |title=Crusader Sees Wealth as Cure for Caste Bias |location=India |work=The New York Times |date=29 August 2008 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083002299.html |title=In an Indian Village, Signs of the Loosening Grip of Caste |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=20 November 2011 |first=Emily |last=Wax |date=31 August 2008}}</ref> According to the [[Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011]], nearly 79 percent of Adivasi households and 73 percent of Dalit households were the most deprived among rural households in India. While 45 percent of SC households are landless and earn a living by manual casual labour, the figure is 30 per cent for Adivasis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Landlessness is higher among Dalits but more adivasis are 'deprived' |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=6 July 2015 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/landlessness-is-higher-among-dalits-but-more-adivasis-are-deprived/ |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>

=== Occupations ===
In the past, they were believed to be so impure that upper-caste Hindus considered their presence to be polluting. The "impure status" was related to their historic hereditary occupations that caste Hindus considered to be "polluting" or debased, such as working with [[leather]], disposing of dead animals, [[manual scavenging]], or [[sanitation worker|sanitation work]], which in much of India means collection & disposal of faeces from latrines.<ref>{{cite book|first=James G. |last=Lochtefeld |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration |year=2002 |publisher=The [[Rosen Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/720 720]}}</ref>

Forced by the circumstances of their birth and poverty, Dalits in India continue to work as sanitation workers: manual scavengers, cleaners of drains and sewers, garbage collectors, and sweepers of roads.<ref name="PRIA">PRIA (2019): [https://pria.org/knowledge_resource/1560777260_Occasional%20Paper%204%20(2019)%20(Lived%20Realities%20of%20Women%20Sanitation%20Workers%20i....pdf Lived Realities of Women Sanitation Workers in India: Insights from a Participatory Research Conducted in Three Cities of India]. Participatory Research in Asia, New Delhi, India</ref>{{rp|4}} As of 2019, an estimated 40 to 60 percent of the 6 million Dalit households are engaged in sanitation work.<ref name="PRIA" />{{rp|5}} The most common Dalit caste performing sanitation work is [[Valmiki caste|Valmiki]] (also Balmiki) caste.<ref name="PRIA" />{{rp|3}}

=== Healthcare and nutrition ===
Discrimination against Dalits exists in access to healthcare and nutrition. A sample survey of Dalits, conducted over several months in Madhya Pradesh and funded by ActionAid in 2014, found that health field workers did not visit 65 per cent of Dalit settlements. 47 per cent of Dalits were not allowed entry into ration shops, and 64 per cent were given fewer grains than non-Dalits.<ref name="hindustantimes.com"/> In [[Haryana]] state, 49 per cent of Dalit children under five years were underweight and [[Malnutrition|malnourished]] while 80 percent of those in the 6–59 months age group were [[Anemia|anaemic]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |first=Manvir |last=Saini |title=49% of Haryana's dalit kids are malnourished: Report |work=The [[Times of India]] |date=29 July 2015 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/49-of-Haryanas-dalit-kids-are-malnourished-Report/articleshow/48259523.cms |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
Dalits comprise a slightly disproportionate number of India's prison inmates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prejudice Blamed For Dalit Prisoners |work=The New Indian Express |first=Pon Vasanth |last=Arunachalam |date=3 November 2014 |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Prejudice-Blamed-For-Dalit-Prisoners/2014/11/03/article2505842.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129072053/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Prejudice-Blamed-For-Dalit-Prisoners/2014/11/03/article2505842.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> While Dalits (including both SCs and STs) constitute 25 percent of the Indian population, they account for 33.2 percent of prisoners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Skew in Dalit Jail Inmate Ratio: NCRB |first=Pon Vasanth |last=Arunachalam |work=The New Indian Express |date=3 November 2014 |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Skew-in-Dalit-Jail-Inmate-Ratio-NCRB/2014/11/03/article2505782.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141212002220/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Skew-in-Dalit-Jail-Inmate-Ratio-NCRB/2014/11/03/article2505782.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 December 2014 |access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref> About 24.5 percent of death row inmates in India are from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which is proportionate to their population. The percentage is highest in Maharashtra (50 percent), Karnataka (36.4 percent) and Madhya Pradesh (36 percent).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thewire.in/34244/three-quarters-of-death-row-prisoners-are-from-lower-castes-or-religious-minorities/ |title=Three-Quarters of Death Row Prisoners are from Lower Castes or Religious Minorities |first=Jahnavi |last=Sen |date=6 May 2016 |work=The Wire}}</ref> Dalits have been arrested on false pretexts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2018 |title=Withdraw false cases, release arrested Dalits: Congress on police action |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/withdraw-false-cases-release-arrested-dalits-congress-on-police-action/articleshow/63615886.cms |access-date=23 December 2020 |website=The [[Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> According to Human Rights Watch, politically motivated arrests of Dalit rights activists occur and those arrested can be detained for six months without charge.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] |title=India: Dalit rights activists detained |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b87de2e4.html |access-date=23 December 2020 |website=Refworld |language=en}}</ref>

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>

The latest data available from [[National Crime Records Bureau|India's National Crime Records Bureau]] is from the year 2000. In that year a total of 25,455 crimes against Dalits were committed; 2 Dalits were assaulted every hour, and in each day 3 Dalit women were raped, 2 Dalits were murdered, and 2 Dalit homes were set on fire.<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 police dismiss at least 30% of rape reports as false. The study also discovered that police often seek bribes, threaten witnesses, and conceal evidence. Victims of rape have also been killed.<ref name="natgeo" /> There have been some reports of Dalits being forced to eat [[human faeces]] and drink [[urine]] by upper caste members in some villages <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 Dalit woman was allegedly stripped naked and 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 villages 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 ===
{{Main|Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989}}{{See also|Caste-related violence in India}}
The Government of India has attempted on several occasions to legislate specifically to address the issue of caste-related violence that affects SCs and STs. Aside from the Constitutional abolition of untouchability, there has been the Untouchability (Offences) Act of 1955, which was amended in the same year to become the Protection of Civil Rights Act. It was determined that neither of those Acts were effective, so the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 (POA) came into force.<ref name="hindu20150823">{{cite news |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Children of a different law |first=G. |last=Sampath |date=23 August 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sunday-anchor/sunday-anchor-g-sampaths-article-on-children-of-a-different-law/article10327614.ece |access-date=22 July 2017}}</ref>

The POA designated specific crimes against SCs and STs as "atrocities" – a criminal act that has "the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane" – which should be prosecuted under its terms rather than existing criminal law.<ref name="hindu20150823"/> It created corresponding punishments. Its purpose was to curb and punish violence against Dalits, including humiliations such as the forced consumption of noxious substances. Other atrocities included forced labour, denial of access to water and other public amenities, and sexual abuse. The Act permitted Special Courts exclusively to try POA cases. The Act called on states with high levels of caste violence (said to be "atrocity-prone") to appoint qualified officers to monitor and maintain law and order.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In 2015, the [[Parliament of India]] passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act to address issues regarding the implementation of the POA, including instances where the police put procedural obstacles in the way of alleged victims or indeed outright colluded with the accused. It also extended the number of acts that were deemed to be atrocities.<ref name="hindu20150823"/><ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Centre notifies rules for amended SC/ST Act |date=24 April 2016 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Centre-notifies-rules-for-amended-SCST-Act/article14253691.ece |access-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> One of those remedies, in an attempt to address the slow process of cases, was to make it mandatory for states to set up the exclusive Special Courts that the POA had delineated. Progress in doing so, however, was reported in April 2017 to be unimpressive. [[P. L. Punia]], a former chairman of the NCSC, said that the number of pending cases was high because most of the extant Special Courts were not exclusive but rather being used to process some non-POA cases, and because "The special prosecutors are not bothered and the cases filed under this Act are as neglected as the victims".<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |title=States lag in setting up courts to address SC, ST grievances |first=Smriti Kak |last=Ramachandran |date=16 April 2017 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/states-lag-in-setting-up-courts-to-address-sc-st-grievances/story-K7r3tuEVHnYWHaRGS6zV6K.html |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> While Dalit rights organisations were cautiously optimistic that the amended Act would improve the situation, legal experts were pessimistic.<ref name="hindu20150823"/>

== Religion ==
{{See also|Self-Respect Movement}}

Discrimination is illegal under Indian law by the Removal of Civil Disabilities Act (Act 21 of 1938), the Temple Entry Authorization and Indemnity Act 1939 (Act XXII of 1939) and Article 17 of the Constitution which outlawed Untouchability.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fighting caste discrimination is about changing attitude, than law |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/to-fight-caste-discrimination-is-about-changing-attitude-than-law/articleshow/77778710.cms |access-date=23 December 2020 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> After India's independence in 1947, secular nationalism based on a "composite culture" made all people equal citizens. 

=== Hinduism ===
Most Dalits in India are Hindu.<ref name="Gurusamy2019">S. Gurusamy. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=nqmcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA104 Dalit Empowerment in India]''. MJP Publisher; 11 June 2019. GGKEY:SW8XELLJGLC. p. 104–.</ref> There have been incidents which showed that Dalits were restricted from entering temples by high-caste Hindus,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kesalu |first1=Satri Veera |last2=Srinivasulu |first2=Vukkala |date=1 November 2019 |title=Dalits and Their Religious Identity in India: A Critical Look at Existing Practices |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/2455328X18822909 |journal=Contemporary Voice of Dalit |language=en |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=94–106 |doi=10.1177/2455328X18822909 |s2cid=150583258|issn=2455-328X|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=1 November 2019 |title=Dalit women not allowed to enter temple |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dalit-women-not-allowed-to-enter-temple/article29847456.ece |access-date=23 December 2020 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2020 |first=Ajay |last=Sura |title=Not allowed to enter temple, dalit minister tells Himachal Pradesh assembly|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/not-allowed-to-enter-temple-dalit-minister-tells-himachal-pradesh-assembly/articleshow/73148162.cms|access-date=23 December 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> and participation in [[Procession|religious processions]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Arulselvan |first=S. |date=2 April 2016 |title=Resisting ritual repression and reclaiming social positions by Dalits in Tamilnadu: a critical discourse analysis of media text |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/01296612.2016.1237459 |journal=Media Asia |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=91–101 |doi=10.1080/01296612.2016.1237459 |s2cid=131863641 |issn=0129-6612|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chandran |first=Rina |date=6 March 2020 |title=Denied in life, India's lower-caste Dalits fight for land in death |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-landrights-caste-trfn-idUSKBN20T0T1 |access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref>

[[File:A school of untouchables near Bangalore by Lady Ottoline Morrell 2.jpg|thumb|''A school of untouchables near Bangalore'', by [[Lady Ottoline Morrell]]]]

In the 19th century, the [[Brahmo Samaj]], [[Arya Samaj]] and the [[Ramakrishna Mission]] actively participated in the rights of Dalits. While Dalits had places to worship, the first upper-caste temple to openly welcome Dalits was the Laxminarayan Temple in [[Wardha]] in 1928.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-01-23 |title=First temple to allow Dalits entry |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/first-temple-to-allow-dalits-entry/articleshow/1387041.cms |access-date=2024-12-10 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> It was followed by the [[Temple Entry Proclamation]] issued by the [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma|last King of Travancore]] in the Indian state of [[Kerala]] in 1936.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}

In the 1930s, Gandhi and Ambedkar disagreed regarding the retention of the Varna system. Whilst Ambedkar wanted to see it destroyed, Gandhi thought that it could be modified by reinterpreting Hindu texts so that the untouchables were absorbed into the [[Shudra]] varna. It was this disagreement that led to the Poona Pact.<ref name="keane"/> Gandhi began the Harijan Yatra to help the Dalits, but ran into some opposition from Dalits that wanted a complete break from Hinduism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nath |first=Suryakant |title=Gandhi's Harijan Padyatra in Orissa in 1934: Claims over a Contested Social Space |date=2013 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158858 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=74 |pages=564–570 |jstor=44158858 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref>

The declaration by princely states of Kerala between 1936 and 1947 that temples were open to all Hindus went a long way towards ending untouchability there.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} However, educational opportunities for Dalits in Kerala remain limited.<ref>{{cite news |first=Aaliya |last=Rushdi |title=In Kerala, Dalit students facing difficulties to get educated |url=http://www.twocircles.net/2010mar17/kerala_dalit_students_facing_difficulties_get_educated.html |access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>

Other Hindu groups attempted to reconcile with the Dalit community. Hindu temples are increasingly receptive to Dalit priests, a function formerly reserved for Brahmins. Brahmins such as [[Subramania Bharati]] passed Brahminhood onto a Dalit{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}, while in Shivaji's [[Maratha Empire]] Dalit warriors joined his forces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/751529/how-history-has-systematically-distorted-the-figure-of-shivaji-excerpt-from-govind-pansares-book |title=How history has systematically distorted the figure of Shivaji: Excerpt from Govind Pansare's book |first=Govind |last=Pansare |website=Scroll.in|date=28 August 2015 }}</ref> However, in the 19th century, Dalits in the [[Mahar Regiment]] of [[British Bombay]], defeated the oppressive rule of the [[Peshva]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scroll.in/article/801298/why-lakhs-of-people-celebrate-the-british-victory-over-the-maratha-peshwas-every-new-year |title=Why lakhs of Indians celebrate the British victory over the Maratha Peshwas every New Year |first=Mridula |last=Chari |website=Scroll.in|date=3 January 2016 }}</ref>

The fight for temple entry rights for Dalits continues to cause controversy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Temples-of-unmodern-India/articleshow/2096083.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811070926/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-04/india/27978159_1_jagannath-temple-hindus-temple-management-committee |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Temples of Unmodern India |access-date=20 November 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=4 June 2007}}</ref> In a 2015 incident in [[Meerut]], a Dalit belonging to the [[Valmiki caste]] was denied entry to a Hindu temple; he went on to convert to [[Islam]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Ali |first=Mohammad |title=Denied temple access, Dalit converts to Islam |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=14 March 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/denied-temple-access-dalit-converts-to-islam/article6991578.ece |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> In September 2015, four Dalit women were fined by the upper-caste Hindus for entering a temple in Karnataka.<ref name="T. 2015">{{cite news |last=T. |first=Sathish G. |title=Dalits fume over fine on their women for entering temple in Karnataka |website=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 September 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dalits-fume-over-fine-on-their-women-for-entering-temple/article7622311.ece |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref>

There have been allegations that [[Religion in Nepal|Dalits in Nepal]] are denied entry to Hindu temples.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jha |first=Hari Bansh |url=http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2005/10-12/18-29_nepal.shtml |title=Nepal's Downtrodden |date=October 2005 |work=Hinduism Today |access-date=31 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513073026/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2005/10-12/18-29_nepal.shtml |archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dalits 'barred' from entering temple |work=The Kathmandu Post |date=27 February 2014 |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2014-02-27/dalits-barred-from-entering-temple-385994.html |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> In at least one case, Dalits were reportedly beaten by upper-caste people while attempting to enter a local temple.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nepal: Dalits beaten up for entering temple |work=Rediff.com |date=18 September 2006 |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/18nepal.htm |access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref>

=== Buddhism ===
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 Scheduled Caste status.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vC6hDQAAQBAJ|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 ===
{{See also|Ad-Dharmi}}
[[Guru Nanak]] in ''Guru Granth Sahib'' calls for everyone to treat each other equally. Subsequent [[Sikh Gurus]], all of whom came from the [[Khatri]] caste, also denounced the hierarchy of the caste system.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oberoi |first1=Harjot |title=The construction of religious boundaries: culture, identity, and diversity in the Sikh tradition |date=1994 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Chicago|isbn=978-0226615936 |page=109 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1NKC9g2ayJEC&pg=PR10|access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> Despite this, social stratification exists in the Sikh community. The bulk of the Sikhs of Punjab belong to the [[Jat]] caste;<ref>{{cite news |title=Akali Dal demands inclusion of Jat Sikhs in OBC list |work=News East West |date=23 December 2013 |url=http://newseastwest.com/akali-dal-demands-inclusion-of-jat-sikhs-in-obc-list/}}</ref> there are also two Dalit Sikh castes in the state, called the [[Mazhabi]]s and the [[Ramdasia]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=McLeod |first=W. H. |title=The A to Z of Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |location=Lanham |isbn=978-0-81086-344-6 |page=49 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vgixwfeCyDAC&pg=PA49 |access-date=30 July 2017 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

Surinder S. Jodhka says that, in practice, Sikhs belonging to the landowning dominant castes have not shed all their prejudices against the Dalit castes. While Dalits would be allowed entry into the village gurudwaras they would not be permitted to cook or serve langar (the communal meal). Therefore, wherever they could mobilise resources, the Sikh Dalits of Punjab have tried to construct their gurudwara and other local-level institutions to attain a certain degree of cultural autonomy.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jodhka|first1=Surinder S|title=Caste and Untouchability in Rural Punjab|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|date= 17 May 2002|volume= 37|issue=19|page=1822|jstor=4412102}}</ref> In 1953, Sikh leader [[Tara Singh (activist)|Master Tara Singh]] succeeded in winning the demands from the government to include Sikh castes of the converted untouchables in the list of scheduled castes. In the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee]] (SGPC), 20 of the 140 seats are reserved for low-caste Sikhs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apnaorg.com/research-papers/harish-puri/|title=Punjabi|website=apnaorg.com}}</ref>

Sikh women are required to have the surname "Kaur", and men, the surname "Singh", to eradicate caste identities and discrimination.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cole |first=Owen |title=Sikhism - An Introduction: Teach Yourself |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NF04AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT51 |publisher=John Murray Press |isbn=9781444131017 |pages=51 |date=2010 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

In 2003 the [[Talhan]] village [[Gurudwara]] endured a bitter dispute between [[Jat Sikh]]s and [[Chamar]]s. The Chamars came out in force and confronted the Randhawa and Bains Jat Sikh landlords, who refused to give the Chamars a share on the governing committee of a shrine dedicated to Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh. The shrine earned 3–7 [[crore]] Indian Rupees, and the Jat Sikh [[landlord]] allegedly "gobbled up a substantial portion of the offerings". Though Dalits form more than 60 per cent of Talhan's 5,000-strong population, local traditions ensured that they were denied a place on the committee. The landlords, in league with radical Sikh organisations and the SGPC, attempted to keep out the Dalits by razing the shrine overnight and constructing a gurdwara on it, but the Dalit quest for a say in the governing committee did not end.<ref name="tehelka.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main16.asp?filename=Cr021806Talhan_scores.asp |title=Talhan scores for Dalit rights |work=Tehelka |first=Vikram Jit |last=Singh |date=18 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219040226/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main16.asp?filename=Cr021806Talhan_scores.asp |archive-date=19 February 2014}}</ref>

Chamars fought a four-year court battle with the landlords and their allies, including the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]]. In that time Jats conducted several boycotts against the Chamars. The Jat Sikhs and their allies cut off the power supply to their homes. In addition, various scuffles and fights set Chamar youths armed with [[Fighting stick|lathis]], rocks, bricks, soda bottles and anything they could find fought Jat Sikh landlords, youths and the Punjab police. Dalit youngsters painted their homes and motorcycles with the slogan, ''Putt Chamar De'' (''proud sons of Chamars'') in retaliation to the Jat slogan, ''Putt Jattan De''.<ref name="tehelka.com"/>

=== Jainism ===
Historically Jainism was practised by many communities across India.{{sfn|Sangave|1980|pp=f63–124}} They are often conservative and are generally considered upper-caste.<ref name="Chapple2006">{{cite book |first=Christopher Key |last=Chapple |title=Jainism and Ecology: Nonviolence in the Web of Life |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=abLZNdYxay8C |page=79}} |page=79 |year=2006 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-2045-6}}</ref>

In 1958,<ref>Nathuram Chandalia, Mewad men Veerwal Pravriti, pp. 220–21</ref> a [[Sthanakvasi]] Jain called Muni Sameer Muni<ref>वीरवाल जैन समाज के गुरु की पुण्यतिथि मार्च में, Bhaskar News Network|31 December 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bhaskar.com/article/MAT-RAJ-UDA-c-17-517497-NOR.html|title=Latest Udaipur News 31/12/2013: वीरवाल जैन समाज के गुरु की पुण्यतिथि मार्च में – www.bhaskar.com|work=bhaskar.com|access-date=27 January 2014|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114010/http://www.bhaskar.com/article/MAT-RAJ-UDA-c-17-517497-NOR.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> came into contact with members of the [[Khatik]] community in the Udaipur region, who decided to adopt Jainism. Their centre, Ahimsa Nagar, located about four miles from [[Chittorgarh]], was inaugurated by [[Mohanlal Sukhadia]] in 1966. Sameer Muni termed them ''Veerwaal'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jagran.com/haryana/ambala-10803168.html |script-title=hi:धर्म के नाम पर देश तक बंट गए : पहाड़िया |title=dharm ke naam par desh tak bant gae: pahaadiya |language=hi |trans-title=Even the country was divided in the name of religion: Paharia |date=18 October 2013}}</ref> that is, belonging to [[Mahavira]]. A 22-year-old youth, Chandaram Meghwal, was initiated as a Jain monk in Ahore town in Jalore district in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb012005/n10.asp |title=Dalit youth turns Jain monk |date=1 February 2005 |access-date=27 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202201216/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb012005/n10.asp|archive-date=2 February 2014 |agency=Abha Sharma DH News Service |location=Jaipur}}</ref> In 2010 a [[Mahar]] engineer called Vishal Damodar was initiated as a Jain monk by Acharya Navaratna Sagar Suriji at Samet Shikhar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dalit Engineer Becomes a Jain Monk |work=Ahimsa Times |date=June 2010 |url=http://jainsamaj.org/magazines/ahimsatimesshow.php?id=195}}</ref> Acharya Nanesh, the eighth Achayra of Sadhumargi Jain Shravak Sangha, had preached among the [[Balai]] community in 1963 near [[Ratlam]].<ref>[http://chhotikashi.com/?p=17015 'दिव्य महापुरुष थे आचार्य नानेश'] Vinay N. Joshi on 14 June 2010,</ref> His followers are called ''Dharmapal''.<ref>[http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other-news/--/articleshow/6589054.cms 'दाता' के दातार बन गए तारणहार, नवभारत टाइम्स], 20 September 2010</ref> In 1984, some of the [[Bhangi]]s of Jodhpur came under the influence of Acharya Shri Tulsi and adopted Jainism.<ref name="Shyamlal1997">{{cite book |last=Shyamlal |title=From Higher Caste to Lower Caste: The Processes of Asprashyeekaran and the Myth of Sanskritization |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=qRBuAAAAMAAJ|page=129}} |pages=129, 135 |year=1997 |publisher=Rawat Publications}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Shyamlal |title=Jain Movement and Socio-Religious Transformation of the 'Bhangis' of Jodhpur, Rajasthan |journal=Indian Journal of Social Work |volume=53 |pages=59–68 |date=1992}} I01743</ref>

=== Christianity ===
{{Further|Dalit Christian}}
Christian Dalits are found in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mohanty |first1=Panchanan |last2=Malik |first2=Ramesh C. |last3=Kasi |first3=Eswarappa |year=2009 |title=Ethnographic Discourse of the Other: Conceptual and methodological issues |pages=39–116 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars}}</ref>

Mass conversions of lower caste Hindus to Christianity took place in order to escape the discrimination. The main Dalit groups that participated in these conversions were the Chuhras of Punjab, Chamars of North India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh), Vankars of Gujarat, and Pulayas of Kerala.<ref name="Dalit Christians in India">{{cite web |author=Sobin, George |year=2012 |title=Dalit Christians in India |website=DalitStudies.org.in |url=http://www.dalitstudies.org.in/uploads/publication/1473146694.pdf |access-date=29 April 2020 |archive-date=5 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105094620/http://www.dalitstudies.org.in/uploads/publication/1473146694.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The first people converted to Christianity by [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] of the Madura Mission were members of Nadars, Maravars, and Pallar.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Mosse, David |date=September 1996 |title=[no title cited] |journal=The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute |volume=2 |number=3}}{{full citation needed|date=August 2020|reason=article title, page#, which country's Royal Inst.?}}</ref>
They believed that "Christianity is a true religion; a desire for protection from oppressors and, if possible, material aid; the desire for education for their children; and the knowledge that those who have become Christians had improved".<ref>{{cite conference |conference=South Indian Missionary Congress |year=1908 |place=Madras, Tamil Nadu, IN |title=The Report of Conference Held at Madras}}</ref>

Christianity was thought to be egalitarian and could provide mobility away from the caste. Sometimes the only change seen was their religious identity. Even after conversion, in some cases, Dalits were discriminated against due to the "residual leftover" practice of caste discrimination from their previous traditions. This is attributed to the predominantly Hindu society they lived in.<ref name=Dumont_1980>{{cite book |author=Dumont, Louis |year=1980 |title=Homo Hierarchicus: The caste system and its implications |edition=Complete Revised |place=Chicago, IL |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]}}</ref> Discrimination against Dalit Christians also remained in interactions and mannerisms between castes; for example, during the earlier days, the 'lower caste Christians' had to [<!--close-->cover] their mouths when talking to a Syrian Christian.<ref name="Dalit Christians in India"/>
In many cases they were still referred to by their Hindu caste names: For example ''Pulayans'' in Kerala, ''Pariah'' in Tamil Nadu, and ''Madigas'' in Andhra Pradesh, by members of all religious backgrounds.<ref name=Louis2007>{{cite report |last=Louis |first=Prakash |year=2007 |title=Caste-based discrimination and atrocities on Dalit Christians and the need for reservations |series=Working Paper Series |volume=II |issue=4 |place=New Delhi, IN |publisher=Indian Institute of Dalit Studies}}</ref>

Even after conversion, to some extent segregation, restriction, hierarchy, and graded ritual purity remained. Data show that there is more discrimination and less class mobility among the people living in rural areas, where incidents of caste discrimination are higher among people from all religious backgrounds.<ref name="Dalit Christians in India"/>
In many cases, the churches referred to the Dalits as 'New Christians'. It is alleged to be a derogatory term which classifies the Dalit Christians to be looked down upon by other Christians. During the earlier days of Christianity, in some churches in south India, the Dalits had either separate seating or had to attend the mass outside.<ref name=Louis2007/> Dalit Christians are also said to be grossly underrepresented amongst the clergy in some places.<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC News |date=14 September 2010 |title=Indian Dalits find no refuge from caste in Christianity}}</ref>

Caste-based occupations held by Dalits also show a clear segregation which perpetuated even after becoming Christian. Occupational patterns (including manual scavenging) are prevalent among Dalit Christians in north-west India are said to be quite similar to those of Dalit Hindus.<ref>{{cite book |author=Dogar, Vidya Sagar |year=2000 |title=Rural Christian Community in North West India |place=New Delhi, IN}}</ref> Occupational discrimination for Dalit Christians goes so far as to restrict not only employment but in some cases for clean sanitation and water.<ref>Jose, Kananaikil. 1990. ''Scheduled Castes Converts and Social Disabilities: A survey of Tamil Nadu''{{full citation needed|date=August 2020|reason=Unclear: book? journal art.? If book needs publ., ISBN}}</ref>

=== Islam ===
{{Further|Dalit Muslim}}
Most of India's 140 million Muslims are descended from local converts. Many of them converted to Islam to escape Hindu upper-caste oppression. 75% of the present Indian Muslim population are Dalits.<ref name="BBCCaste">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36220329 |title=Why are many Indian Muslims seen as untouchable? |author=Soutik Biswas |work=[[BBC News]] |date=10 May 2016 |access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="outlook">{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/dalit-muslims/216144 |title=Dalit Muslims |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |date=20 June 2002 |access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref>

== Political involvement ==
{{Main|Dalit Panthers}}
[[File:Flags of "Bahujan Samaj Party" at Shivaji Park.png|thumb|right|[[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP) is an Indian Dalit party.]]
Dalit-led political parties include:

=== 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]]

=== Other recognized state political parties ===
* [[Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan|Azad Samaj Party]]
*[[Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi]], led by [[Ambedkar Prakash Yashwant|Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar]], Ambedkar's grandson
*[[Republican Party of India]] factions,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/Non-Dalits-flock-to-RPI/articleshow/38052819.cms|title=Non-Dalits flock to RPI|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref> active in Maharashtra
* [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi]] is the major Dalit party in Tamil Nadu<ref>{{Cite journal|year=1974|title=Dalit Panthers: Another View|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=9|issue=18|pages=715–716|jstor=41497050|issn=0012-9976}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Madhavan|first=Narayanan|date=2016-06-05|title=How Muhammad Ali inspired India's Dalits|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/nation/how-muhammad-ali-inspired-india-s-dalits/story-RWXBe295j9D7AFwwBKxsmI.html|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name="India TV News">{{cite news |title=Madras HC orders ECI to consider VCK's request for star symbol |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/madras-hc-orders-eci-to-consider-vck-s-request-for-star-symbol-35119.html |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=India TV News |date=4 April 2014 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/politics/tamil-nadu-elections-vck-dalit-liberation-panthers-party-thirumavalavan|title=How the VCK Emerged as More Than 'Just a Dalit Party' in the Tamil Nadu Elections|website=The Wire}}</ref>
* [[Lok Janshakti Party]], [[Bihar]]

=== Nepali Dalit-led parties ===
* [[Bahujan Shakti Party, Nepal]]<ref name="Varghese 2015">{{cite web |last=Varghese |first=Anil |title=Nepal Dalit leader says Modi's stress on consensus has meant dilution in draft constitution |website=Scroll.in |date=17 September 2015 |url=http://scroll.in/article/745901/modis-stress-on-consensus-for-nepals-constitution-has-led-to-a-setback-for-its-bahujan-majority |access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Dalit Janajati Party]], [[Nepal]]<ref name="The Kathmandu Post 2015">{{cite web |title=10 parties register amendment proposals |website=The Kathmandu Post |date=4 September 2015 |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-09-04/10-parties-register-amendment-proposal.html |access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref>

=== Dalit-led political parties in Pakistan ===
* [[Dalit Sujag Tehreek]], Pakistan

=== Other dalit groups ===
{{Main|Bhim Sena|Bhim Army}}
Anti-Dalit prejudices exist in groups such as the extremist militia [[Ranvir Sena]], largely run by upper-caste landlords in Bihar. They oppose equal treatment of Dalits and have resorted to violence. The Ranvir Sena is considered a terrorist organisation by the government of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/slideshow_explained-what-is-the-ranvir-sena-and-why-it-is-feared_1697737#top |title=Ranvir Sena banned and declared as a Terrorist Group |work=Daily News and Analysis |date=3 June 2012 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> In 2015, [[Cobrapost]] exposed many leaders especially like [[C. P. Thakur]] alongside former PM [[Chandra Shekhar]] associated with Ranvir Sena in Bihar Dalit massacres<ref name="Venkat 2015">{{cite news |last=Venkat |first=Vidya |title=Cobrapost film on Bihar Dalit massacres 'exposes' BJP links |website=The Hindu |date=18 August 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cobrapost-film-on-bihar-dalit-massacres-exposes-bjp-links/article7551350.ece |access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> while governments of [[Nitish Kumar]] (under pressure from BJP), [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] and [[Rabri Devi]] did nothing to get justice for Dalits.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nitish, Lalu and BJP in the dock again over Dalit massacres in Bihar |work=Tehelka |date=27 August 2015 |url=http://www.tehelka.com/2015/08/nitish-lalu-and-bjp-in-the-dock-again-over-dalit-massacres-in-bihar/ |access-date=19 September 2015 |archive-date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912015554/http://www.tehelka.com/2015/08/nitish-lalu-and-bjp-in-the-dock-again-over-dalit-massacres-in-bihar/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The rise of [[Hindutva]]'s (Hindu nationalism) role in Indian politics has accompanied allegations that religious conversions of Dalits are due to allurements like education and jobs rather than faith. Critics{{Who|date=October 2009}} argue that laws banning conversion and limiting social relief for converts mean that conversion impedes economic success. However, [[Bangaru Laxman]], a Dalit politician, was a prominent member of the Hindutva movement.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Another political issue is Dalit affirmative-action quotas in government jobs and university admissions. About 8 per cent of the seats in the National and State Parliaments are reserved for Scheduled Caste and Tribe candidates.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

[[Jagjivan Ram]] (1908–1986) was the first scheduled caste leader to emerge at the national level from [[Bihar]].<ref>Verma, R.K., 1991. Caste and Bihar Politics. Economic and Political Weekly, pp.1142–1144.</ref> He was member of the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent assembly]] that drafted India's constitution.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Kohli |editor1-first=Atul |title=The success of India's democracy |date=2001 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge [u.a.] |isbn=978-0521805308 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Io0NsnlRT6sC&q=jagjivan+ram&pg=PA23 |access-date=12 September 2017 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Ram also served in the interim national government of 1946<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Jagdish Chandra |title=Indian prime ministership: a comprehensive study |date=2002 |publisher=Concept |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788170229247 |page=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QkxBhRU2-AC&q=%22jagjivan+ram%22+&pg=PR7 |access-date=12 September 2017 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> He served in the cabinets of [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] Prime ministers [[Jawaharlal Nehru]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Haqqi |first1=Anwarul Haque, Indian Political Science Association |title=Indian Democracy at the Crossroads I |date=1986 |publisher=Mittal Publications |location=New Delhi |page=122 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk7c6O2XlGwC&q=jagjivan&pg=PA114 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] and [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brass |first1=Paul R. |title=The Politics of India since Independence (The new Cambridge history of India.) |date=1994 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0521453622 |page=249 |edition=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dtKe6XV8z7wC&q=%22jagjivan+ram%22+&pg=PR10 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> His last position in government was as [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]] in the [[Premiership of Morarji Desai|Janata Party government]] of 1977–1979,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Jagdish Chandra |title=Indian prime ministership: a comprehensive study |date=2002 |publisher=Concept |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788170229247 |pages=39–40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QkxBhRU2-AC&q=desai+jagjivan+ram&pg=PR7 |ref=Deputy Prime minister |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mirchandani |first1=G.G. |title=320 Million Judges |date=2003 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170170617 |pages=95–96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5xj0g8euumQC&q=Jagjivan+Ram+janata&pg=PA178 |access-date=11 September 2017 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/niece-vs-aunt-in-battle-for-jagjivan-ram-legacy/ |title=Niece vs aunt in battle for Jagjivan Ram legacy |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=20 March 2014}}</ref>

In modern times several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were Dalits, including [[Dinanath Bhaskar]], [[Ramchandra Veerappa]] and [[Suraj Bhan]].{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, Dalits have had a major political impact.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pai |first1=Sudha |year=1994 |title=Caste and Communal Mobilisation in the Electoral Politics of Uttar Pradesh |journal=Indian Journal of Political Science |volume=LV, No3 |issue= July September 1994 |pages=307–20 |publisher=Indian Political Science Association}}</ref> The Dalit-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had previously run the government and that party's leader, [[Mayawati]], served several times as chief minister.<ref>{{cite news |last=Raina |first=J. N. |date=30 May 2007 |title=Can Maya recreate another 'rainbow' in Delhi? |work=Asian Tribune |publisher=World Institute For Asian Studies |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/5946 |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref> Regarding her election in 2007, some reports claimed her victory was due to her ability to win support from both 17 per cent of [[Islam in India|Muslims]] and nearly 17 per cent Brahmins<ref name="Stancati Agarwal 2012">{{cite web |last1=Stancati |first1=Margherita |last2=Agarwal |first2=Vibhuti |title=17% of BSP votes came from Brahmins, according to a survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies |website=The [[Wall Street Journal]] |date=16 February 2012 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/02/16/u-p-campaign-diaries-in-pursuit-of-the-brahmin-vote/ |access-date=18 September 2015}}</ref> alongside 80 per cent of Dalits.<ref name="Vij 2009">{{cite web |last=Vij |first=Shivam |title=UP's Dalits Remind Mayawati: Democracy is a Beautiful |website=Kafila |date=21 May 2009 |url=http://kafila.org/2009/05/21/ups-dalits-remind-mayawati-democracy-is-a-beautiful-thing/ |access-date=18 September 2015}}</ref> However, surveys of voters on the eve of elections, indicated that caste loyalties were not the voters' principal concern. Instead, inflation and other issues of social and economic development dictated the outcome.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/14/stories/2007031416590100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315223620/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/14/stories/2007031416590100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2007 |title=Mayawati bets on Brahmin-Dalit card for U.P. polls |location=India |date=14 March 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Somini |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/12/world/asia/12india.html |title=Brahmin Vote Helps Party of Low Caste Win in India |location=India |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.co.in/news/2007/may/11flip.htm |title=The victory of caste arithmetic |publisher=Rediff.co.in |date=11 May 2007 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/28chandra.htm |title=Why Mayawati is wooing the Brahmins |publisher=Rediff News |date=28 March 2007 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> Mayawati's success in reaching across castes has led to speculation about her as a potential future [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Beckett |first=Paul |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121840401494128065?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Mayawati Plans to Seek India's Premier Post |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=11 August 2008 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref>

Aside from Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh, [[Damodaram Sanjivayya]] was chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 11 January 1960 to 12 March 1962, and [[Jitan Ram Manjhi]] was chief minister of Bihar for just under a year.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} In 1997, [[K. R. Narayanan]], who was a Dalit, was elected as President of India.<ref name="scs1" /> In [[2017 Indian presidential election|2017]], [[Ramnath Kovind]] was elected as the President of India, becoming the second dalit president of the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilani |first1=Iftikhar |title=KR Narayanan to RN Kovind — A tale of two Dalit Presidents |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kr-narayanan-to-rn-kovind-a-tale-of-two-dalit-presidents-2477657 |access-date=10 July 2021 |work=DNA India |date=20 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Votebank ===
{{Main|Caste politics}}
[[Votebank]] politics are common in India, usually based on religion or caste. Indeed, the term itself was coined by the Indian sociologist [[M. N. Srinivas]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Globalization and the Politics of Identity in India |editor1-first=Bhupinder |editor1-last=Brar |editor2-first=Ashutosh |editor2-last=Kumar |editor3-first=Ronki |editor3-last=Ram |first=Rajen |last=Harshe |chapter=Thinking about Democracy, Identity Politics and Development in India |publisher=[[Pearson Education]] India |year=2008 |isbn=978-8-13178-525-6 |pages=205, 279 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4egjNvzUO8C&pg=PT279 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Dalits are often used as a votebank.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deciphering the 'Dalit vote bank' |first=Mayank |last=Mishra |date=23 April 2014 |work=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/deciphering-the-dalit-vote-bank-114042301330_1.html |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=All players eye Dalit vote bank|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/politics/all-players-eye-dalit-vote-bank/19374.html |date=17 December 2014 |work=The Tribune |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/PiaAeSjobU85dHwKHgZujO/The-BJPs-Dalit-game-plan.html |title=The BJP's Dalit game plan |first=Sanjay |last=Kumar |date=20 March 2014 |website=Mint}}</ref> There have been instances where it has been alleged that an election-winning party reneged on promises made to the Dalits made during the election campaign<ref>{{cite news |title=KCR has betrayed Dalits: TDP |date=4 January 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/kcr-has-betrayed-dalits-tdp/article6753363.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> or have excluded them from party affairs.<ref>{{cite news |title=CPI(M) accused of sidelining Dalits |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=19 January 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cpim-accused-of-sidelining-dalits/article6774337.ece |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref>

=== Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan ===
The [[SC, ST Sub-Plan (Andhra Pradesh)|SC, ST Sub-Plan]], or ''Indiramma Kalalu'', is a budget allocation by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the welfare of Dalits. The law was enacted in May 2013. SCs and STs have separate panels for spending. The plan was meant to prevent the government from diverting funds meant for SCs and STs to other programs, which was historically the case. {{as of|2013}}, no equivalent national plan existed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Central-legislation-of-SCST-sub-plan-may-be-a-reality-soon/2013/08/29/article1757071.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901043606/http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Central-legislation-of-SCST-sub-plan-may-be-a-reality-soon/2013/08/29/article1757071.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 September 2013 |title=Central legislation of SC/ST sub-plan may be a reality soon |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref> Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan funds are often diverted by state governments to other purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/denial-and-diversion-of-plan-fund-the-great-adivasi-dalit-rip-off/#.VJVvRF4AB |title=Why They Remain on the Margins. Adivasis and Dalits have been deprived of a staggering Rs 5 lakh crore over three decades by successive governments. |access-date=7 April 2019 |archive-date=31 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331212151/http://www.tehelka.com/denial-and-diversion-of-plan-fund-the-great-adivasi-dalit-rip-off/#.VJVvRF4AB |url-status=dead }}</ref>

While the Indian Constitution has provisions for the social and economic uplift of Dalits to support their upward social mobility, these concessions are limited to Hindus. Dalits who have converted to other religions have asked that benefits be extended to them.<ref name="dalitmuslims">{{cite web
|url=http://www.indianet.nl/dalmusl.html|title=The 'Dalit Muslims' and the All-India Backward Muslim Morcha |publisher=indianet.nl |access-date=20 June 2008 |last=Sikand |first=Yoginder}}</ref>

== Beyond the Indian subcontinent ==
=== United Kingdom ===
After [[World War II]], immigration from the former [[British Empire]] was largely driven by labour shortages.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2002/race/short_history_of_immigration.stm |title=A Short history of immigration |year=2002 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref> Like the rest of the [[Indian subcontinent]] diaspora, Dalits immigrated and established their own communities.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

A 2009 report alleged that caste discrimination is "rife" in the United Kingdom.<ref name="guardianjones">{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Jones |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/11/caste-discrimination-uk-report |title=Asian caste discrimination rife in UK, says report |work=[[The Guardian]] |date= 11 November 2009 |access-date=20 January 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The report alleged that casteism persists in the workplace and within the [[National Health Service]]<ref name="guardiancohen">{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Cohen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jun/26/nick-cohen-trevor-phillips-caste-discrimination |title=The secret scandal of Britain's caste system |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=24 August 2009 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> and at doctor's offices.<ref name="guardianjones"/><ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |first=Dean |last=Nelson |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7541598/India-clashes-with-Britain-over-Equality-Bill-racism-law.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7541598/India-clashes-with-Britain-over-Equality-Bill-racism-law.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=India clashes with Britain over Equality Bill racism law |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=31 March 2010 |access-date=20 January 2013 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Some claim that caste discrimination is non-existent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7856969.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Does the caste system still linger in the UK? |date=12 March 2009 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> Some have rejected the government's right to interfere in the community. The Hindu Forum of Britain conducted their own research, concluding that caste discrimination was "not endemic in British society", reports to the contrary aimed to increase discrimination by legislating expression and behaviour and that barriers should instead be removed through education.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Hasan_Suroor/caste-discrimination-uk-dalits-win-the-argument-nearly/article611931.ece |first=Hasan |last=Suroor |title=Caste discrimination – U.K. Dalits win the argument, nearly |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 September 2010 |access-date=20 January 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

A 2010 study found that caste discrimination occurs in Britain at work and in service provision. While not ruling out the possibility of discrimination in education, no such incidents were uncovered. The report found favourable results from educational activities. However, non-legislative approaches were claimed to be less effective in the workplace and would not help when the authorities were discriminating. One criticism of discrimination law was the difficulty in obtaining proof of violations. Perceived benefits of legislation were that it provides redress, leads to greater understanding and reduces the social acceptance of such discrimination.<ref name="homeoffice.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/research/caste-discrimination/caste-discrimination?view=Binary|title=Caste Discrimination and Harassment in Great Britain|publisher=Home Office, UK Government |author=Government Equalities Office |date=1 December 2010 |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref>

More recent studies in Britain were inconclusive and found that discrimination was "not religion specific and is subscribed to by members of any or no religion".<ref name="inconclusive">{{cite news |title= Caste Discrimination Reforms in Britain |first=Pratik |last=Datani |url= http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/pratik-dattani/caste-discrimination-reform_b_3745885.html |work= [[HuffPost]] |date= 13 August 2013 |access-date=17 August 2013}}</ref> Equalities Minister [[Helen Grant (politician)|Helen Grant]] found insufficient evidence to justify specific legislation, while [[Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities|Shadow Equalities minister]] [[Kate Green]] said that the impact is on a relatively small number of people.<ref name="inconclusive" /> Religious studies professor [[Gavin Flood]] of the [[Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies]] concluded that the Hindu community in Britain is particularly well integrated, loosening caste ties.<ref>{{Cite report |first=Gavin |last=Flood |author-link=Gavin Flood |title= Briefing on Caste Legislation |url= http://mycasteishindu.org/images/OCHS-report-on-caste-legislation-Final-June-2013.pdf}}</ref> Casteist beliefs were prevalent mainly among first-generation immigrants, with such prejudices declining with each successive generation due to greater [[Cultural assimilation|assimilation]].<ref name="inconclusive" />

From September 2013 to February 2014, Indian philosopher [[Meena Dhanda]] led a project on 'Caste in Britain' for the UK [[Equality and Human Rights Commission]] (EHRC), which focused on the proposed inclusion of a provision in the [[Equality Act 2010]] to protect British citizens against caste discrimination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wlv.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools-and-institutes/faculty-of-arts/school-of-humanities/staff/dr-meena-dhanda/|title=Dr Meena Dhanda – University of Wolverhampton|website=wlv.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021003653/http://www.wlv.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools-and-institutes/faculty-of-arts/school-of-humanities/staff/dr-meena-dhanda/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018 the UK government decided not to include caste as a "protected characteristic" within the terms of the Act, and to rely instead on [[case law]] to identify tests for caste-based discrimination.<ref>Pimenta, T., [https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/global-uk-caste-discrimination.aspx UK: Government Decides Against Writing Caste into the Equality Act 2010], ''Boyes Turner'', accessed 29 September 2022</ref>

Supporters of anti-caste legislation include [[Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury|Lord Avebury]] and [[Glenys Thornton, Baroness Thornton|Lady Thornton]].<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite news|first=Sam |last=Jones |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/nov/30/campaigners-government-caste-discrimination-uk |title=Campaigners urge government to tackle caste discrimination in UK |work=The Guardian |date= 30 November 2012|access-date=20 January 2013 |location=London}}</ref>

==== Sikh diaspora in Britain ====
[[File:Smethwick Gurdwara - geograph.org.uk - 234468.jpg|thumb|A Sikh gurdwara in Smethwick. The majority of gurdwaras in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] are caste-based <ref name="Harold G. Coward 2000 p133">{{cite book |first1=Harold G. |last1=Coward |author1-link=Harold Coward |first2=John R. |last2=Hinnells |first3=Raymond Brady |last3=Williams |title=The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=mXrdXMaaYCkC |page=133}} |date=1 February 2012 |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |isbn=978-0-7914-9302-1 |page=133}}</ref> and one can indirectly inquire about a person's [[caste]] based upon which [[gurdwara]] the person attends.]]

[[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikhs in the United Kingdom]] are affected by caste. Gurdwaras such as those of the Ramgarhia Sikhs are organised along caste lines and most are controlled by a single caste.<ref name="Harold G. Coward 2000 p133"/> In most British towns and cities with a significant Sikh population, rival gurdwaras can be found with caste-specific management committees.{{sfn|Ballard|1994|p=110}} The caste system and caste identity is entrenched and reinforced.<ref name="Harold G. Coward 2000 p133" />{{sfn|Ballard|1994|pp=110–11}}

The few gurdwaras that accept inter-caste marriages do so reluctantly. Gurdwaras may insist on the presence of ''Singh'' and ''Kaur'' in the names of the bridegroom and bride, or deny them access to gurdwara-based religious services and community centres.<ref name="newageislam.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.newageislam.com/islam-and-pluralism/multiculturalism--the-rise-of-mixed-marriage-britain/d/6336 |title= Multiculturalism: The Rise of Mixed-marriage Britain, Islam and Pluralism |first=Ramindar |last=Singh |publisher=Newageislam.com |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref>

=== In the Caribbean ===
It is estimated that in 1883, about one-third of the immigrants who arrived in the Caribbean were Dalits. The shared experience of being exploited in a foreign land gradually broke down caste barriers in the Caribbean Hindu communities.<ref name="Naidu"/>

=== In Continental Europe ===
The [[Romani people]], originating in northern India, are said to be of Dalit ancestry.<ref name="DaviesDubinsky2018">{{cite book|last1=Davies |first1=William D. |last2=Dubinsky |first2=Stanley |title=Language Conflict and Language Rights: Ethnolinguistic Perspectives on Human Conflict |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=257 |language=en |date=9 August 2018|quote=The largest cohort of Roma is hypothesized to have entered the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan between 1001 and 1026 to fight on behalf of Hindu rulers against incursions of the Islamic Ghaznavid dynasty. Their motivation for doing so may have been a promise of promotion in caste (having at that time been associated with the Dalit caste, i.e. "untouchables").}}</ref><ref name="Nelson2012">{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Dean |title=European Roma descended from Indian 'untouchables', genetic study shows |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/9719058/European-Roma-descended-from-Indian-untouchables-genetic-study-shows.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/9719058/European-Roma-descended-from-Indian-untouchables-genetic-study-shows.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=en |date=3 December 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Between 1001 and 1026, the Romani fought under their Hindu rulers to fight the [[Ghaznavids]].<ref name="DaviesDubinsky2018"/>

=== In the United States ===
Many Dalits first came to the United States to flee caste-based oppression in South Asia. After the [[Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882]], the demand for labourers brought in many caste-diverse South Asian immigrants, many of whom were Dalit.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} After the [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965|1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act]], immigrants from India were primarily professionals and students, largely from upper caste or dominant caste families. However, from the 1990s onwards, many more of the skilled professionals arriving from India have been Dalit, due to multiple generations of affirmative action policies in India, as well as ongoing efforts of organised resistance against caste discrimination.<ref name="equality labs"/><ref>{{cite journal | last=Lerche | first=Jens | title=Transnational Advocacy Networks and Affirmative Action for Dalits in India | journal=Development and Change | volume=39 | issue=2 | date=2008 | issn=0012-155X | doi=10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00478.x | pages=239–261}}</ref>

In 2018, Equality Labs released a report on "Caste in the United States". This report found that one in two Dalit Americans live in fear of their caste being "outed". In addition, 60% have experienced caste-based discriminatory jokes, and 25% have suffered verbal or physical assault because of their caste.<ref name="equality labs">{{cite report |last1=Zwick-Maitreyi |first1=M. |last2=Soundararajan |first2=T. |last3=Dar |first3=N.|last4=Bheel|first4=R.F. |last5=Balakrishnan |first5=P. |year=2018 |title=Caste in the United States. A Survey of Caste among South Asian Americans |publisher=Equality Labs, USA. |url=https://archive.org/details/caste-in-the-united-states-report-2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The US isn't safe from the trauma of caste bias | website=The World from PRX | date=2019-03-04 | url=https://theworld.org/stories/2019/03/04/no-escape-caste-these-shores-untouchables-india-say |access-date=2023-06-21}}</ref>

In late June 2020, the [[California Department of Fair Employment and Housing]] filed a lawsuit against [[Cisco Systems]], alleging that a Dalit engineer at the company faced discrimination from two of his upper-caste supervisors for his Dalit background.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Case to Watch: Cisco lawsuit tests anti-bias laws' application to Indian caste system |url=https://today.westlaw.com/Document/Ia28d9d10d25e11ea85dce8228c52478f/View/FullText.html?transitionType=SearchItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=today.westlaw.com}}</ref> The lawsuit claims that "higher caste supervisors and co-workers imported the discriminatory system's practices into their team and Cisco's workplace".<ref>{{Cite web |title=California sues Cisco for bias based on Indian caste system |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-lawsuits-us-news-ca-state-wire-technology-594de601e8eb1a69eea5a625a08d8ecc |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=AP NEWS |date=July 2020 |language=en}}
</ref> In 2023, the California Civil Rights Department voluntarily dismissed its case alleging caste discrimination against two Cisco engineers, while still keeping alive its litigation against Cisco Systems.<ref name=":0" /> The CRD was later symbolically fined $2000 for their case against the two engineers and CISCO.<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 June 2024 |title="U.S. court penalises California State department in caste discrimination lawsuit" |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-court-penalises-california-state-department-in-caste-discrimination-lawsuit/article68310663.ece |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== Literature ==
{{Main|Dalit literature}}
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2021}}
Dalit literature encompasses writings by Dalits about their lived experiences, and it has emerged as a significant literary movement and forms a distinct part of [[Indian literature]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Meena Kandasamy: Brief Introduction to Dalit Literature |url=http://www.museindia.com/showconnew.asp?id%3D386 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107223124/http://www.museindia.com/showconnew.asp?id=386 |archive-date=7 January 2009 |access-date=17 September 2008 |website=Muse India}}</ref> It has formed an identity across various Indian languages, including [[Dalit literature|Marathi]], [[Bengali language|Bangla]], [[Hindi]], [[Kannada]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and others. The earliest identifiably Dalit writers were [[Madara Chennaiah]], an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived in the reign of [[Western Chalukyas]] and who is regarded by some scholars as the "father of [[Vachana]] poetry" and Dohara Kakkaiah, a Dalit by birth, six of whose confessional poems survive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dohaara Kakkayya (ಡೋಹಾರ ಕಕ್ಕಯ್ಯ) |url=https://lingayatreligion.com/Sharanaru/Dohaara_Kakkayya |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Lingayat Religion |language=en}}</ref> The origins of modern Dalit writing can be traced back to the works of Marathi Dalit [[Bhakti movement|Bhakti]] poets and Tamil [[Siddhar|Siddhas]], suggesting a long-standing tradition of marginalized voices.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Satchidanandan|first1=K|title=Mainstreaming the subaltern|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl3001/stories/20130125300107700.htm|work=Frontline|volume=30|issue=1|date=25 Jan 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gundappa |first=Dr. |date=2019 |title=Emergence of Dalit Literature in India |url=https://anubooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/New-Horizons-of-Dalit-Culture-and-Literature-cOMPLETE.pdf |journal=Shodhmanthan |volume=X |issue=3 |pages=27–28 |issn=0976-5255}}</ref> This literary movement gained momentum in the mid-20th century, challenging the prevailing portrayals of life in mainstream literature. The publication of [[Jyotirao Phule]]'s Gulamgiri in 1873 marked a seminal moment in Dalit literature, shedding light on the plight of the Untouchables.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=M.S. |first=Thimmanaik |date=2019 |title=Dalit Literature and Culture in Marginalized Society |url=https://anubooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/New-Horizons-of-Dalit-Culture-and-Literature-cOMPLETE.pdf |journal=Shodhmanthan |volume=X |issue=3 |pages=104–105 |issn=0976-5255}}</ref>

Dalit literature in India has flourished in various regional languages, reflecting the diverse experiences and struggles of Dalit communities across the country. In [[Maharashtra]], [[Baburao Bagul]]'s collection of stories, "Jevha Mi Jat Chorali" (When I had Concealed My Caste), published in 1963, marked a significant turning point, portraying the harsh realities of Dalit lives and garnering critical acclaim.<ref name="han">[https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&dq=Baburao+Bagul&pg=PA368 Issues of Language and Representation:Babu Rao Bagul] ''Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India'', Editors: Nalini Natarajan, Emmanuel Sampath Nelson. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. {{ISBN|0-313-28778-3}}.  ''Page 368''.</ref><ref name="sa">[https://books.google.com/books?id=kLn11KD4ea0C&dq=%22Baburao+Bagul%22+Awards&pg=PA409 Mother 1970] ''Indian short stories, 1900–2000'', by [[E. V. Ramakrishnan]]. [[Sahitya Akademi]]. ''Page 217'', ''Page 409'' (Biography).</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Baburao+Bagul&pg=PA1823 Jevha Mi Jat Chorali Hoti (1963)] ''Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 2''. Editors	Amaresh Datta. [[Sahitya Akademi]], 1988. {{ISBN|81-260-1194-7}}. ''Page 1823''.</ref> Writers like [[Namdeo Dhasal]] and [[Dagdu Maruti Pawar|Daya Pawar]] further strengthened the Dalit movement in Maharashtra introducing the seminal "[[Dalit Panthers|Dalit Panther]]" as part of the [[little magazine movement]].<ref>{{cite news |date=23 Jan 2003 |title=Of art, identity, and politics |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/01/23/stories/2003012300470200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030702073745/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/01/23/stories/2003012300470200.htm |archive-date=2 July 2003}}</ref> [[Baburao Bagul]], Bandhu Madhav<ref>[http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/clippings.nsf/(docid)/D851E94A922C228E6525694200313C9C Dalit literature is not down and out any more]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} ''[[Times of India]]'', 7 July 1989</ref> and [[Shankar Rao Kharat]], worked in the 1960s. Later the [[little magazine movement]] became popular.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mishra |first=Jugal Kishore |title=A Critical study of Dalit Literature in India |url=http://www.sasnet.lu.se/EASASpapers/4JugalKishore.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031145352/http://www.sasnet.lu.se/EASASpapers/4JugalKishore.pdf |archive-date=31 October 2008}}</ref> In Bengal, the Dalit literary movement began in 1992 after the suicide of [[Chuni Kotal]], leading to the formation of the Bangla Dalit Sahitya Sanstha and the launch of the magazine "Chaturtha Duniya".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taneja |first=Nidhima |date=2022-04-30 |title=Meet Chuni Kotal, the Dalit Advasi woman from Bengal who battled stigma in Indian education |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/meet-chuni-kotal-the-dalit-advasi-woman-from-bengal-who-battled-stigma-in-indian-education/937188/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=A Brief Introductory Overview of Bengali Dalit Literature – Y – The ILF Samanvay Blog |date=9 August 2016 |url=https://blog.ilfsamanvay.org/2016/03/22/a-brief-introductory-overview-of-bengali-dalit-literature/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> Prominent Dalit authors in [[Bengal]] include [[Manoranjan Byapari]], [[Jatin Bala]], and Kalyani Charal. Tamil Nadu has a long history of Dalit literature, starting from the efforts of [[Paraiyar|Parayars]] in the late 19th century.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Buck |first1=David C. |title=Introduction |date=2020-10-09 |url=http://books.openedition.org/ifp/7176 |work=Tamil dalit literature : My own experience |pages=vii–xxxviii |editor-last=Kannan |editor-first=M. |access-date=2023-05-06 |series=Mondes Indiens/South Asia |place=Pondichéry |publisher=Institut Français de Pondichéry |language=en |isbn=979-10-365-4987-8 |last2=M |first2=Kannan}}</ref> The Tamil Dalit literary movement gained momentum in the 1990s, influenced by the [[Mandal Commission]] report and Ambedkar centenary celebrations.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mangalam |first=B. |date=2007-01-01 |title=Tamil Dalit literature: an overview |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=02539071&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA165971997&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |journal=Language Forum |language=English |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=73–85}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Geetha |first=Krishnamurthy Alamelu |date=2011-08-01 |title=From Panchamars to Dalit |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/01440357.2011.632220 |journal=Prose Studies |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=117–131 |doi=10.1080/01440357.2011.632220 |s2cid=162139858 |issn=0144-0357|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Writers like [[Bama (writer)|Bama]], [[Joseph Macwan]], and [[Gogu Shyamala]] have made significant contributions to Tamil Dalit literature. In [[Telugu language|Telugu]] literature, Dalit voices gained prominence through the activism of leaders like [[Katti Padma Rao|Kathi Padma Rao]] and [[Bojja Tharakam|Bojja Tarakam]], addressing issues of caste discrimination and social injustice.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bharathi |first=Thummapudi |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/276229077 |title=A history of Telugu Dalit literature |date=2008 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |isbn=978-81-7835-688-4 |location=Delhi |oclc=276229077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Purushotham |first=K |date=2010 |title=Evolution of Telugu Dalit Literature |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27807079 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=45 |issue=22 |pages=55–63 |jstor=27807079 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref> [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] Dalit literature emerged in the 1970s with magazines like Puma and Panther, inspired by the Dalit Panthers movement in Maharashtra. Writers such as Rameshchandra Parmar and Sahil Parmar played vital roles in its development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dalit Theatre in Gujarati: Trends, Patterns, Differences |url=https://www.sahapedia.org/dalit-theatre-gujarati-trends-patterns-differences |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Sahapedia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=rti_admin |date=2012-01-31 |title=Gujarati Dalit Literature: An Overview |url=https://www.roundtableindia.co.in/gujarati-dalit-literature-an-overview/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Round Table India |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-02-25 |title=Tale of Dalit Sahitya in Gujarati literature |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/tale-of-dalit-sahitya-in-gujarati-literature/articleshow/63065532.cms |access-date=2023-05-06 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> [[Odia language|Odia]] Dalit literature has a rich history dating back to the fifteenth century, with significant contributions from Sudramuni Sarala Dasa and [[Bhima Bhoi]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Malik |first=Suratha Kumar |date=2021 |title=Genesis, Historicity and Persistence of Dalit Protest Literature and Movements in Odisha |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2455328X20987370 |journal=Contemporary Voice of Dalit |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=81–94 |doi=10.1177/2455328X20987370 |s2cid=233926734 |issn=2455-328X|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=KUMAR |first=RAJ |chapter=Caste and the literary imagination in the context of Odia literature: a reading of Akhila Nayak's Bheda |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315684314-16/caste-literary-imagination-context-odia-literature-reading-akhila-nayak-bheda-raj-kumar |title=Dalit Literatures in India |date=21 September 2023 |access-date=2023-05-06 |doi=10.4324/9781315684314 |isbn=9781315684314 }}</ref> Writers like Basudeb Sunani and [[Pitambar Tarai]] have furthered the Dalit literary movement in [[Odisha]]. Additionally, Dalit literature encompasses various forms such as poetry, autobiographies, and oral history narratives, with notable works including "Karukku" by Bama and "The Weave of My Life" by [[Urmila Pawar]]. The Indian author Rajesh Talwar has written a play titled 'Gandhi, Ambedkar, and the Four-Legged Scorpion' in which the personal experiences of Ambedkar and the sufferings of the community have been highlighted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=283155 |title=Amazon.com: Books |website=Amazon}}</ref>

In [[Sri Lanka]], writers such as K. Daniel<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilvu.org/courses/degree/p101/p1014/html/p10144e.htm |title=Lesson – 4 : P10144 – The Novels of K. Daniel}}</ref> and [[Dominic Jeeva]] gained mainstream popularity.

== In the film industry ==
{{Main|Dalit music|Dalit Film and Cultural Festival}}
Until the 1980s, Dalits had little involvement in [[Bollywood]] or other film industries of India<ref>{{cite news |first=Avijit |last=Ghosh |title=Dalits strive to make it in Hindi, Bhojpuri films |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 April 2008 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dalits-strive-to-make-it-in-Hindi-Bhojpuri-films/articleshow/2929497.cms |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> and the community were rarely depicted at the heart of storylines.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dalit Representation in Bollywood |work=Mainstream Weekly |date=4 May 2013 |url=http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article4161.html |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> [[Chirag Paswan]] (son of Dalit leader [[Ram Vilas Paswan]]) launched his career in Bollywood with his debut film ''[[Miley Naa Miley Hum]]'' in 2011. Despite political connections and the financial ability to struggle against ingrained prejudices, Chirag was not able to "bag" any other movie project in the following years. Chirag, in his early days, described Bollywood as his "childhood dream", but eventually entered politics instead. When the media tried to talk to him about "Caste in Bollywood", he refused to talk about the matter.<ref name="Merinews 2011">{{cite web |title=Dalits in Bollywood: A skewed equation nobody is willing to talk about |website=Merinews |date=21 September 2011 |url=http://www.merinews.com/article/dalits-in-bollywood-a-skewed-equation-nobody-is-willing-to-talk-about/15888904.shtml |access-date=19 September 2015 |archive-date=1 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001112506/http://www.merinews.com/article/dalits-in-bollywood-a-skewed-equation-nobody-is-willing-to-talk-about/15888904.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> A recent Hindi film to portray a Dalit character in the leading role, although it was not acted by a Dalit, was ''[[Eklavya: The Royal Guard]]'' (2007).<ref>{{cite news |last=Dhaliwal |first=Nirpal |title=How Bollywood is starting to deal with India's caste system |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=16 December 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/dec/16/bollywood-india-caste-system |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> The continued use of caste based references to Dalit sub-castes in South Indian films (typecast and pigeonholed in their main socio-economic sub-group) angers many Dalit fans.<ref name="Naig 2015">{{cite news |last=Naig |first=Udhav |title=Caste references polarise Tamil film fans |website=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 July 2015 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/baahubali-in-caste-issues/article7467345.ece |access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref>

A Brazilian telenovela ''[[Caminho das Índias|India: A Love Story]]'' was broadcast in 2009 where the main female character Maya, who is of upper class, falls in love with a Dalit person.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grudgings |first=Stuart |date=18 August 2009 |title=India is cool in Brazil thanks to hot 'novela' |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-41805320090818 |access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rai |first1=Swapnil |last2=Straubhaar |first2=Joseph |date=28 June 2016 |title=Road to India—A Brazilian Love Story: BRICS, Migration, and Cultural Flows in Brazil's Caminho das Indias |url=https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/3812 |journal=International Journal of Communication |language=en |volume=10 |pages=17 |issn=1932-8036}}</ref>

== Internal conflicts ==
{{main|Dalit feminism}}
Several Dalit groups are rivals and sometimes communal tensions are evident. A study found more than 900 Dalit sub-castes throughout India, with internal divisions.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite book |page=54 |title=Dalits and Human Rights: Dalits: security and rights implications |first=Prem K. |last=Shinde}}</ref> Emphasising any one caste threatens what is claimed to be an emerging Dalit identity and fostering rivalry among SCs.{{sfn|Gorringe|2005|p=10}}

A DLM (Dalit Liberation Movement) party leader said in the early 2000s that it is easier to organise Dalits on a caste basis than to fight caste prejudice itself.{{sfn|Gorringe|2005|p = 10}}

[[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 university 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>

== Notable people ==
{{Main|List of Dalits}}

== See also ==
{{cmn|
*[[Dalit League]]
*[[Dalit studies]]
*[[Caste discrimination in the United States]]
*[[2006 Dalit protests in Maharashtra]]
*[[Bhim Army]]
*[[Chaitya Bhoomi]]
*[[Dalit Buddhism]]
*[[Dalit History Month]]
*[[Dalit nationalism]]
*[[Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam]]
*[[Ayyathan Gopalan]]
*[[Bhopal Conference]]
*[[Deekshabhoomi]]
*[[Health care access among Dalits in India]]
*[[Lord Buddha TV]]
*[[Mahadalit]]
*[[Marichjhapi massacre]]
*[[Nepaldalitinfo]]
*[[Namantar Andolan]]
}}

=== Similarly discriminated groups ===
{{cmn|
* {{lang|ko-latn|[[Baekjeong]]}}, [[Untouchability|untouchable]] [[caste]] in Korea.
* {{lang|vi|[[Bụi đời]]}}, outcast community of Vietnam after the [[Fall of Saigon]].
* {{lang|ja-latn|[[Burakumin]]}}, in Japan.
* [[Cagot]], in France and Spain.
* [[Caquins of Brittany]], in France
* {{lang|fr|[[Cascarots]]}}, an ethnic group in the Spanish Basque country and the French Basque coast sometimes linked to the Cagots.
* [[Limpieza de sangre|Cleanliness of blood]], ethnic discrimination in the Spanish Old Regime.
* {{ill|Maragato|es}}, in Spain.
* [[Melungeons]], of America's central [[Appalachia]].
* In China, [[Tanka people|Tanka]] in Guangdong ([[Cantonese]]: 疍家, "boat people"), [[Fuzhou Tanka]] in Fujian ([[Fuzhounese language|Fuzhounese]]: 曲蹄, {{ipa|cdo|kʰuo˥ lɛ˥˧|}}), ''si-min'' (small people) and ''mianhu'' in [[Jiangsu]], Gaibu (丐戶) and [[Duomin]] ([[Wu Chinese]]: 惰民, {{ipa|wuu|tu min|}}, "idle/lazy/fallen/indolent people") in, ''[[jiuxing yumin]]'' ({{zh|labels=yes|t=九姓魚民|l="nine name fishermen"}}) in the [[Yangtze]] River region, [[Yueji]] in [[Shaanxi]] ([[Jin Chinese]]: 乐籍, {{IPA|cjy|jəʔ˧ tsjəʔ˧|}}, the social class who entertains [the imperial court]")
* {{lang|es|[[Vaqueiros de alzada]]}}, in Northern Spain.
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book |last=Ballard |first=Roger |title=Desh Pardesh: The South Asian Presence in Britain |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=-VH3ngEACAAJ |page=110}} |page=110 |year=1994 |publisher=Hurst |isbn=978-1-85065-091-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Gorringe |first=Hugo |title=Untouchable Citizens: Dalit Movements and Democratization in Tamil Nadu |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=IFTySnKR2VEC}} |date=2005 |publisher=Sage Publications |isbn=978-0-7619-3323-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Jain |first=L. C. |title=Decentralisation and Local Governance: Essays for George Mathew |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=fLMhoSjuLbkC}} |year=2005 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-250-2707-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |title=Jaina Community: A Social Survey |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=FWdWrRGV_t8C}} |year=1980 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-0-317-12346-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Takhar |first=Opinderjit Kaur |title=Sikh Identity: An Exploration of Groups Among Sikhs |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=amluAAAAMAAJ}} |year=2005 |publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-7546-5202-1}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last1=Franco |first1=Fernando |title=Journeys to Freedom: Dalit Narratives |first2=Jyotsna |last2=Macwan |first3=Suguna |last3=Ramanathan |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2004 |isbn=978-81-85604-65-7}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=Partha S. |title=Positive Discrimination in India: A Political Analysis |journal=Ethnic Studies Report |volume=XV |issue=2 |date=July 1997 |url=http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-Ghosh.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040312141948/http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-Ghosh.PDF|archive-date=12 March 2004}}
* {{cite book |last=Joshi |first=Barbara R. |title=Untouchable!: Voices of the Dalit Liberation Movement |publisher=[[Zed Books]] |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-86232-460-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Limbale |first=Sharankumar |title=Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature |year=2004 |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=81-250-2656-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Mani |first=Braj Ranjan |title=Debrahmanising History: Dominance and Resistance in Indian Society |year=2005 |isbn=81-7304-640-9 |publisher=Manohar Publishers and Distributors}}
* {{cite book |last=Michael |first=S. M. |title=Dalits in Modern India – Vision and Values |year=2007 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |isbn=978-0-7619-3571-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Omvedt |first=Gail |title=Dalits and the Democratic Revolution – Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit Movement in Colonial India |author-link=Gail Omvedt |year=1994 |publisher=Sage Publications|isbn=81-7036-368-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Omvedt |first=Gail |title=Dalit Visions: The Anti-caste Movement and the Construction of an Indian Identity |author-link=Gail Omvedt |publisher=Orient Longman |year=2006 |isbn=978-81-250-2895-6}}
* {{cite journal |last=Paik |first=Shailaja |url=https://www.academia.edu/37515978 |title=The rise of new Dalit women in Indian historiography |journal=History Compass |volume=16 |number=10 |date=2018 |pages=e12491|doi=10.1111/hic3.12491 |s2cid=150339099 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Prasad |first1=Amar Nath |title=Dalit Literature: A Critical Exploration |first2=M. B. |last2=Gaijan |year=2007 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-817-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Rajshekhar |first=V. T. |title=Dalit – The Black Untouchables of India |year=2003 |edition=2nd |publisher=Clarity Press |isbn=0-932863-05-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Rege |first=Sharmila |title=Writing Caste Writing Gender:Narrating Dalit Women's Testimonios |year=2006 |isbn=978-8189013011 |publisher=Zubaan}}
* {{cite book |last1=Samaddara |first1=Ranabira |title=Dalit Identity and Politics |first2=Ghanshyam |last2=Shah |publisher=Sage Publications |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7619-9508-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Sharma |first=Pradeep K. |title=Dalit Politics and Literature |publisher=Shipra Publications |year=2006|isbn=978-81-7541-271-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Zelliot |first=Eleanor |title=From Untouchable to Dalit – Essays on the Ambedkar Movement |author-link=Eleanor Zelliot |year=2005 |publisher=Manohar |isbn=81-7304-143-1}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Dalit}}
* [http://idsn.org International Dalit Solidarity Network]
* [https://www.getbengal.com/home/story_detail/is-there-dalit-literature-in-bangla Is there ‘Dalit’ literature in Bangla?]

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