Dalit
- proper noun
- /ˈdɑːlɪt/
- In May, the Asian Human Rights Commission issued an urgent appeal when a human rights defender was booked on murder charges for raising the cases of Dalit, and stories of police torture and fake charges are not uncommon.
- Dalit-bahujan
Examples
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But from a Dalit's standpoint, what is the difference in these fine distinctions of "pure/impure crap," and why should he care?
Blog text (18) -
I would never attempt to speak on a Dalit's behalf; I am surprised that you are trying.
Blog text (16) -
- He's a Dalit and a professor.
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As a Dalit, he will have more insight into the lives of other Dalits.
Blog text (16) -
"So fierce was the rhetoric, and so powerful the images, it is no wonder that the word 'Dalit,' and with it an entirely new political understanding of caste, came into vogue following the Mandal agitations."
Academic text (2005) -
The festival celebrated the achievements and culture of the Dalit community, highlighting their resilience.
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As a Dalit, she faced many challenges but has worked to uplift her community through education.
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Caste discrimination against Dalits has been a significant issue in Indian society, prompting various reform efforts.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Dalit comes from the Sanskrit dalita, meaning 'broken' or 'crushed'. People use Dalit as the name of the group who were pushed to the bottom of the caste system and once called 'untouchable', so the word now means a person from that community and carries their history and pride.