dharna
1
9.9
A peaceful sit-in protest to ask for action or help, often seen in South Asia
- noun
- /ˈdɑːrnə/
- Indian
:
dharna
- The students organized a dharna in front of the university to demand better facilities.
Examples
-
So our colleagues held a "dharna" outside the ministry to protest the mental health bill, and they are getting decent media coverage.
Blog text (2) -
After the incident, parents and residents held a mass dharna before the school.
Blog text (10) -
During the dharna, the protesters remained peaceful while advocating for their rights.
-
Local activists staged a dharna to draw attention to the urgent need for environmental policies.
Synonyms
sit-in
vsdharna
25
4.9
A protest where people sit in a place and refuse to leave
is specific to South Asian culture and politics rather than universally used
peaceful protest
vsdharna
15
2.8
A public meeting where people gather to show support or opposition without violence
is a specific occupying tactic used to demand action rather than general gatherings
Antonyms
How Peaceful
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word dharna comes from Hindi and Urdu and is based on an old root dhṛ meaning 'to hold' or 'to stay'. A dharna is a peaceful sit-in where people 'hold' their place in public until officials act.