What does the word Dalit mean and where does it come from?
Dalit derives from the Sanskrit dalita, meaning "divided, split, broken, scattered." The modern Marathi form was used in the late 1880s by Pune-based social reformer Jyotirao Phule to describe outcaste and oppressed communities in Hindu society. B. R. Ambedkar later broadened its use to encompass all people excluded from the fourfold Varna system, and the term was energised again in the 1970s when the Dalit Panthers activist group adopted it.
How many Dalits are there in India and what share of the population do they represent?
India is home to over 200 million Dalits. According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Caste communities comprised 16.6 per cent of the country's population. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu together accounted for nearly half of the total Scheduled Caste population.
What was the Poona Pact and why does it matter for Dalit history?
The Poona Pact of 1932 was an agreement between Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in which Ambedkar gave up his demand for a separate Dalit electorate in exchange for reserved seats in legislatures. It led directly to the Government of India Act 1935, which introduced the official term Scheduled Castes and legally reserved legislative seats for them.
Who was B. R. Ambedkar and what did he do for Dalit rights?
B. R. Ambedkar, who lived from 1891 to 1956, was an economist, jurist, and reformer who was himself a Dalit. He helped draft India's constitution, which banned untouchability and established the reservation system. In 1956, he launched the Dalit Buddhist movement and led about half a million Dalits in mass conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism.
What is the Prevention of Atrocities Act and how does it protect Dalits?
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act came into force in 1989. It classified specific crimes against Scheduled Castes and Tribes as "atrocities" subject to dedicated prosecution and punishment, including forced labour, denial of access to water, and sexual abuse. A 2015 amendment extended the list of atrocities and required states to establish exclusive Special Courts, though implementation has been slow.
What share of Indian marriages cross caste boundaries according to surveys?
A 2014 survey of 42,000 households by the National Council of Applied Economic Research and the University of Maryland estimated that only 5 per cent of Indian marriages cross caste boundaries.