Dalit

Dalit, meaning "oppressed" in South Asia, is the self-chosen political name of castes in the SAARC region which the varna system considers "untouchable". Though the name Dalit has been in existence since the nineteenth century, the economist and reformer B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956) popularised the term. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold Varna system and formed the unmentioned fifth varna; they were also called Panchama. While "scheduled castes" (SC) is the legal name for those who were formerly considered "untouchable," the term Dalit also encompasses scheduled tribes (ST) and other historically disadvantaged communities who were traditionally excluded from society.

Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of groups across South Asia. They speak a variety of languages and practice various religions. With the Scheduled Castes at 16.6% and Scheduled Tribes at 8.6%, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes together make up 25% of India's population according to the 2011 census.

To prevent harassment, assault, discrimination and other criminal acts on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Indian government enacted the Prevention of Atrocity (POA) act on March 31, 1995.

Dalit (poem)

The dalit is a type of short Filipino poem, consisting of four lines with eight syllables each.

There is a controversy regarding its origin. One school of thought states that the dalit is Spanish in origin, particularly because its syllabification is even or pares. Hence, it is said that the Spanish popularized the dalit in the Philippines. Another view holds that the dalit is indigenous, but the friars used its popularity to promote Catholicism, in the form of meditative verses.

See also