Dictionary for Dalit
Bahujan & Adivasi
Dedicated space serves as a comprehensive resource for the Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities, providing Definitions, Terminology, and Phrases important to the community
Let’s start by understanding the Caste System
Also Known as Varna, Chaturvarnya, etc
A
- Adi Dravida
- A term used to describe the indigenous peoples of South India who are considered to be the original inhabitants of the region.
- Adivasi
- Refers to the indigenous communities in India, particularly those who are considered to be the first settlers of the land.
- Ajlaf
- Hindu Shudra who converts to Islam.
- Arzal
- Hindu Dalit and Ati Shudra who converts to Islam.
- Ashraf
- Refers to the upper caste muslim communities in India, who claim Arab or Persian descent. Also hindu upper caste who converts to islam.
- Ati Shudra
- Ati Shudras AKA Dalit, were the people who we classified as untouchables. They lie outside the chaturvarnya (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra) and thus the most socially isolated and disadvantaged group
- Avarna
- Caste groups that do not lie in either of the four described varnas are called the Avarnas. Avarnas are seen as the outcasts of the society and thus untouchable. The Dalits and tribal who do not belong to any varna also called avarna.
B
- Bahujan
- It refers to the combined population of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Muslims, and minorities
- Brahmin
- Brahmins are the priestly class who occupy the upper ladder of the varna system.
D
- Dalit
- A self-designation for the people known as “Untouchables” and Ati Shudra, who are considered to be outside of the Hindu caste system.
- Dravidians
- Refers to the indigenous peoples of South India, particularly those who are considered to be of Dravidian descent.
- Dvija
- Meaning “twice-born” in Sanskrit refers to the spiritual rebirth of an individual upon completing a set of vedic rituals. The Shudras were considered ineligible for Dvija-ceremony.
H
- Harijan
- Harijan meaning Children of God, was a term used by Mohandas Gandhi to refer to the community of Dalits.
I
- Indigenous
- Indigenous refers to people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants. Eg: Adivasi, Dravidian and Bahujan
K
- Kshatriyas
- They are considered to be the second-highest caste after Brahmins, traditionally made up of warrior or military caste.
M
- Mazhabi
- Refers to the Dalit Sikh community in India.
N
- Neo Bhuddist (Navayana)
- Navayana or Neo Bhuddist is considered a new branch of Buddhism, revising parts of the original Buddha teaching to be more concerned with claste struggle and social equality taking into account modern problems.
O
- Other Backward Class (OBC)
- Other Backward Class (OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are socially and educationally disadvantaged. Mostly its Shudra population and in some states Vaishya also.
P
- Pasmanda
- ‘Pasmanda’, a Persian term meaning “those who have fallen behind” refers to Muslims belonging to the shudra (backward) and ati-shudra (Dalit) castes.
S
- Savarna
- Refers to the upper-caste Hindu communities in India, particularly Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Scheduled Castes (SC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify Dalit and Ati Shudra.
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify Indigenous people of india
- Shudra
- The fourth and lowest varna in Hinduism, made up of the working class.
U
- Unreserved (UR)
- Refers to the communities in India who do not come under the reserved categories of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
- Upper Caste (UC)
- Refers to the higher castes in India, particularly Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
V
- Vaishya
- They are considered to be the third-highest caste after Brahmins and Kshatriyas, traditionally made up of merchants and business people.