Dalit Movement: The Struggle of the Minority Community

Do you know what the word “Dalit” means? The term Dalit refers to those who have been oppressed, broken, or crushed to the point of losing their original identity. Mahatma Jatirao Phule, coined the phrase to characterize the downtrodden state of the "untouchables."

In India, there are roughly 166.6 million Dalits. Although India gained independence, the Dalits were denied the right to a dignified and equitable life. This concept of equality is what prompted the Dalit Movement in India, which began as a response to long-standing injustices committed against them.

Root Cause of the Dalit Movement

If we go back in time, the root cause is the establishment of the 'Caste System,' which resulted in the exploitation of India's other disadvantaged groups. It was with the Aryans who arrived from the Middle East and settled in the rich area of the Ganges after a battle with the civilization's indigenous people.

The Dalit Movement is the consequence of centuries of animosity in the Dalits' hearts because of the upper castes' cruel deeds in India. Dalits were denied greater mental training and social, economic, and political position since they were assigned the duty of servicing the other three Varnas, i.e., all non-Dalits.

Brahmanism is considered the root cause of Dalit Movement. The Brahmins should occupy the top of the pyramid, while the Dalits should occupy the bottom. The Brahmins believed that even if the Dalits died because of the situation, they should not be elevated.

Exploitation

Deprivation of resources in all aspects of social, economic, and political life resulted in massive oppression and degradation. The Dalits' degraded status is primarily due to the caste system, which leads to untouchability.

Half of the Dalit community, compared to less than one-third of the rest of the population, lives in poverty. They are now almost entirely reliant on the dominant castes for their subsistence as agricultural or urban labourers.

The Dalits lost their livelihood because of the Aryans control of land, and they were reduced to the position of animals. They believed all the superstitious and irrational beliefs created by the crafty Brahmins because of their untouchability and lack of knowledge. They were denied of society's three most basic needs: food, shelter, and clothing.

The Dalit Movement, a social revolution aimed at replacing India's age-old hierarchical society with a democratic society founded on the democratic principles of liberty, equality, and social justice, began much earlier, got more intense in the 1970s, and is now widely recognized.      

In the hands of the Brahmins, the Dalits who gained power became toys. Many of them follow in the footsteps of the Brahmins, change their surnames and hence their identities. They are embarrassed to be referred to as Dalits, which causes them to discriminate against their own ancestors.

It is important to stress that the Dalit Movement is opposed to Brahmanism, not Brahmins. Brahminism is a mental state in which one man is considered superior to another.

Castes higher on the caste system's ladder receive greater respect and profit, while castes lower on the ladder lose resources and regard.Even though India gained independence, the Dalits continue to be humiliated. Untouchability has been abolished, but not all forms of injustice have been abolished.

Today's political and social systems, in the guise of reform and social uplift, push one group against another, creating hostility and perpetuating a sense of rejection from the past. As a result, the social change movement will only succeed if all Dalits band together to fight for equality.

They should, however, realise that caste, which is profoundly ingrained in people's minds, cannot be eradicated. So, in this case, social transformation would imply the elimination of discriminatory practices and the acquisition of rights, both of which are important for the upliftment of society's most marginalized people, the Dalits.

Written By - Tanya C