a project dalits

8/8/2019 A Project Dalits

1/11

A Project On

Dalit Movement in India

Submitted To:

DR.AVINASH SAMAL

(Faculty of Political Science)

Submitted By:

Parth Chandra

[B.A LL.B (Hons.), Semester- I, Roll No: 84]

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

RAIPUR (C.G)


2/11

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Gratitude is the noble response of ones soul and kindness or

help generously rendered by another and acknowledgment is a duty

and joyance. So it is that I express briefly my debt to those who

have made the creation of this project possible.

I would like to thanks my parents without their moral support

the completion of my project would not be possible.

My special thanks to Prof. Dr. Avinash Samal for giving me the

opportunity to work on this topic. He has given me all the

encouragement I needed to complete this project.

As this is a very sensitive topic so the matter collected to write

on this protect has been taken from authentic sources and are

purely that of author and the same are not intended against any

one personally, any suggestions, corrections would be treated with

extreme obligations.

Parth Chandra

B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)

Roll No: 84


3/11

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

It is a doctrinal thesis the researcher had mainly dependent on reading and net basedworks. The Thoughts reflected are in analyzing the same. The Methodology Implied is

more of Empirical Nature.


4/11

Objectives:

1.The unit deals with the study of time when Dalit movement

started in India. Jyotiba Phule was one of the prominent social

reformers who led the movement against the caste restrictions

in India.

2.To understand from where this word DalitCome from??

3.Which sects of people are called Dalits?

4.Understand the work & culture of Dalits.


5/11

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 2

Research Methodology 3

Objectives 4

Introduction 6

Jyotiba Phule as a social reformer 7

Social Status of Dalits 8

Dalits and Religion 9

Dalit Movements in various states ofIndia 10

Conclusions 11

Bibliograph y


6/11

Introduction

Dalit is a self-designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as of lower class and

unsuitable for making personal relations. The word Dalit comes from the Marathi Language,

and means grounded,crushed,broken to pieces. Mahatma Gandhi used the term Harijan

instead of using the word Dalit. Harijan means Children of God. The Govt. of India in its 2008

National Commission for Schedule Caste observed that the term Dalit is unconstitutional and

hence forth ordered an immediate stop on its usage. Jyotibha Phule was a pioneer in this

movement. Dalit Movement was supported by many Great leaders. Prominent leaders like Dr.

B.R Ambedkar dedicated his life fighting against caste-oppression and fought to raise standards

of Dalits.Dr B.R Ambedkar renounced his Hindu religion and converted to Buddhism which is

know as worlds largest conversion till date.


7/11

Jyotiba Phule as a Social Reformer

Birth-11Th

April, 1827

Jyotiba Phule was one of the prominent social reformers of the nineteenth century India. He led

the movement against the prevailing caste restrictions in India. He revolted against the

domination of Brahmins and for the rights of peasants and other low-caste fellow. In 1851, He

opened a school exclusively for these low caste segment. He also attacked the orthodox

Brahmins and other upper castes and termed them as Hypocrites. He campaigned against the

authoritarianism of the upper caste people. He urged dalits to defy restrictions imposed on them.

Death

Jyotiba Phule devoted his entire life for liberalization of untouchables from the exploitation of

Brahmins. He revolted against the tyranny of upper castes. On November 28, 1890, this great

reformer passed away.


8/11

Social Status of Dalits

Dalit status has often been historically associated with occupations regarded as ritually impure,

such as any involving leather work, butchering, or removal of rubbish, animal carcasses and

waste. Dalits worked as manual labourers cleaning streets, latrines, and sewages. As these kind

of work were considered to be of polluted category so dalits were often ostracized from rest of

the society. Most of the dalits managed to move to the urban area where this caste differentiation

was less important. Dalits in villages did not have access to schools and sanitation places which

were common to all. They were even excluded from places of worship. E.g. Temples.

Dalits & Religion

Sachar Committee reports have revealed that Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes in India are

not only limited to religion of Hinduism but also others religions.

Religion Schedule Caste Schedule Tribe

Buddhism 89.50% 7.40%

Christianity 9.00% 32.80%

Sikhism 30.70% 0.90%

Hinduism 22.20% 9.10%

Islam 0.80% 0.50%

Jainism 2.60%

The large majority of Dalits in India are Hindus, although some in Maharashtra and other states

have converted in Buddhism.


9/11

Dalits Movement in Various States of India

The dalit movements was fast catching in various parts of India after great leaders like Dr. BR.

Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule etc. supported it.

Dalit Movement in Maharashtra

The dalit movement got great encouragement in Maharashtra. Dr. B.R Ambedkar was

responsible too give necessary support and encouragement to spark a dalit movement in

Maharashtra. In his memory Diksha Bhoomi in Nagpur is built which is a pilgrimage of many

Buddhist worshippers.

Dalit Movement in Kerala

Dalit movement in Kerala started with a land struggle. Land struggle in Chengara, Pathnamitta

district, kerala by landless dalits started on 4th August 2007.

Dalit Movement in Uttar Pradesh

The rise of dalit movement in U.P could be seen when Mayawati became the chief minister who

is said to be representative of dalits.


10/11

Conclusions:

Though Dalit Movement was supported by great leaders but it did not attend that mark where

untouchability could be eradicated from its roots. Political parties in the name of dalits

representative are exploiting their votes and are not doing enough to raise their standards.

According to recent Economic survey conducted by India more than 50% of Dalits live below

poverty line. In many parts of Indian villages still the practice of untouchability exists. Centuries

of such oppression has resulted in severe poverty and its associated problems among dalits. The

statistics are illuminating an illiterate person is far more likely to be dalit than a non-dalit (the

literacy gap between dalit and non-dalit is 14.8% and growing). Today majority of dalits work as

farm labourers, sewage cleaners and their struggle to get out the cycle of poverty continues, in

spite of reservations in jobs and educational institutes. There are several safeguards in the Indian

Constitution and laws enacted in the parliament including the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities

Act. But these legal safeguards have not proved very effective in eradicating the oppression of

dalits within the caste system. The laws against the injustice are necessary but are not sufficient.

For the real redress the existing power structure must be dismantled.


11/11

Bibliography

Websites

www.indiatogether.com/dalits

Caste in Indian Politics

www.wikipedia.com

www.ambedkar.org

Self reading in Deekha Bhoomi

Outlook-Special edition on Caste

a project dalits

Documents