Dalit Freedom Network: Abolish Caste, Now and Forever!

Chaityabhoomi   

The place in Mumbai where Dr. Ambedkar’s last rites were performed. Now a place of pilgrimage for Dalits.

Chaturvana   

Vedic apartheid laws, the fourfold division of caste

Christianity   

Christianity is a religion that has a spiritual democratic tradition and culture. Jesus is the source of its faith, culture and traditions.

Chura   

Chura is a caste in India whose traditional occupation is sweeping. See bhangi

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination   

See CERD

Congress Party   

or Indian National Congress. The current President is Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.  Broadly based political party of India, founded in 1885, it ruled from 1947 to 1996 and then again returned to rule in 2004. Read more by clicking here.

Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950   

Or the Presidential Order of 1950. The Indian constitution on the basis of its article 341(1) empowered the President of India to specifiy the castes, tribes and groups which can be considered as the Scheduled Castes to become the beneficiaries of the compensatory discrimination (affirmative action). Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the First President promulgated an order known as the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. See this link.

Constitution of India   

See Wikpedia, Constitution of India. Important in the Dalit issue as reservation rights have been granted to SC-ST and OBC’s, though limited.

Crore   

A unit in the Indian numbering system, still widely used in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It was also used in Iran for many centuries until some decades ago. An Indian crore is equal to 100 lakh or 10 million

Dalit   

The Dalits, also called the “untouchables,” “outcastes,” and most recently “slumdogs,” comprise nearly one quarter of India’s society, with population estimates of 250 million people. The term “Dalit” is a Sanskrit word that means “those who have been broken and ground down deliberately by those above them in the social hierarchy.” Dalits live at risk of discrimination, dehumanization, violence, and enslavement through human trafficking every day. By all global research and reports, the Dalits constitute the largest number of people categorized as victims of modern-day slavery.

Dalit Education Center, or DEC   

A Dalit Education Center, or DEC, is another name for a school. The Dalit leaders of India have asked DFN to help educate their children with a quality English-medium education. At the invitation of the village leaders, DFNs partners raise funds and build a K through 8 school. Certified teachers and staff are provided. The DEC also will have a healthcare clinic, often the first of its kind in the village. Adults also come to the DEC for vocational training. The average cost to build a DEC is $50,000 to $80,000 depending on land costs. The operating costs of the DEC is raised through the DFN Child Sponsorship program. Currently DFN operates over 50 DECs throughout India and hopes to double this amount in the next year. For more information, see http://www.dalitchild.com

Dalit-Bahujan   

The word “dalit” means ‘broken"” or “crushed” and the word “Bahujan” indicates membership in the majority people or the larger population. The Dalit-Bahujans make up what are known in India as the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Castes. Together these groups are classically known as the Sudras or the slave / “vassal" castes. ("Scheduled" means they are listed in a special “index"” appended to the Constitution. “Backwards Castes” are those whose rank and occupational status are above that of Dalits, but who still remain socially and economically depressed.)

Desi   

A term referring to something or someone who is from the Indian subcontinent. The Indian subcontinent is comprised of the following major countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
Plural form: desis. This term comes from the word Desh/Des from Sanskrit meaning “one from our country”; a national opposed to a foreign.. The term “desi” originally has historical roots from the Sanskrit word “Deshah,” which also means country or homeland.  Yo that guy must be desi, he’s brown and he’s speaking Punjabi! or Desi-American. See related: ABCD, NRI

Desi-American   

See Desi

Devadasi   

Devadasi (in Sanskrit “servant of god") is a religious practice still found in some Hindu communities, especially in southern India, whereby at young girls are “married” to a deity or a temple. Devadasi proper should not be confused with rajadasis and other types of dancers. The institution of devadasi-like professions are also known by various other local terms. Usually dalit women are forced by forward caste people to prostitute by name of god. See Wikipedia link

Dhammadiksha   

The day on which Dr. B.R. Ambedkar freely chose a new religion (Buddhism) on October 14, 1956 in Nagpur, Maharashtra

Dharma   

Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. Dharma forms the basis for philosophies, beliefs and practices originating in India. The oldest of these, widely known as Hinduism, is Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Dharma. Ayyavazhi, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism also retain the centrality of Dharma. In these traditions, beings that live in harmony with Dharma proceed more quickly towards Moksha, Dharma Yukam, Nirvana, or personal liberation. Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of the various founders of the traditions, such as Gautama Buddha in Buddhism and Mahavira in Jainism. As the religious and moral doctrine of the rights and duties of each individual, Dharma can refer generally to religious duty, and also mean social order, right conduct, or simply virtue.

Dharna   

A sit-in, fast, protest.

Dhoti   

The traditional Indian dress for the lower part of the body:a long loincloth with a tunic buttoned over it. Worn in various ways in different parts of the country, alike by men and women

Diwali   

The Hindu “Festival of Lights”. The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps. Fireworks are associated with the festival in some regions of the country. Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days in the Hindu month of Ashwayuja. It usually occurs in October/November, and is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals of India. Hindus, Jains and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. For Jains it is one of the most important festivals, and is the beginning of the Jain year. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh faith.

Dravidians   

Dravidians are the original inhabitants of India, mainly dark in complexion. They lived in the northern part of India and were pushed southward by the Aryan invaders.

Durga   

A Hindu Goddess known as the mother of the universe and believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world. Since time immemorial she has been worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being and has been mentioned in many scriptures - Yajur Veda, Vajasaneyi Samhita and Taittareya Brahman. She is commonly represented with 8 to 10 arms (to protect you) and 3 eyes (Triyambake).

Dwijas   

Twice-born or upper caste

English-Medium Schools   

All course work is taught in English. The alternative would be, for example, a Hindi-Medium School, where all classes are taught in Hindi and they may offer English as a foreign language. In India, where there are so many languages and dilaects, English is the common bond and the key to success. All DFN-supported DEC’s are English-Medium Schools.

FIR   

See First Information Report

First Backward Classes commission   

Set up by a presidential order on January 29, 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar. The commission submitted its report on March 30, 1955. It had prepared a list of 2,399 backward castes or communities for the entire country and of which 837 had been classified as the “most backward”. To read more, click here.

First Information Report, or FIR   

A written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offense. It is a report of information that reaches the police first in point of time and that is why it is called the First Information Report. It is generally a complaint lodged with the police by the victim of a cognizable offence orby someone on his/her behalf. See full document by clicking here

Forward Caste   

Upper caste, or non-reserved caste. Brahmin, Vaishya, or Kshatriya

Freedom of Religion Act, Orissa 1967   

See link.

Gandhi, Mrs. Sonia   

Current President of the India National Congress. Born December 9, 1946 in Italy. Married Rajiv Gandhi and into India’s political first family in 1968. Her husband, the son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and grandson of India’s first premier Jawaharlal Nehru, was assassinated in 1991 by Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels.
Became president of 119-year-old Congress Party in 1998. See Sonia Gandhi website. 

Gandhi, see Mahatma Gandhi   

See Mahatma Gandhi

Ganges, or Ganga   

The major river of northern India and Bangladesh. The river has a long history of reverence in India and is often called the ‘holy Ganga’. Its length is about 2,510 km (1,557 mi). In Hinduism, the river Ganga is personified as a goddess, who holds an important place in the Hindu pantheon. Folk belief holds that bathing in the river on certain occasions causes the remission of sins and facilitates the attainment of salvation. Many people believe that this effect obtains from bathing in Ganga at any time. People travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed to be meritorious. Several places sacred to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar and Kashi.

Garijans   

The name coined by Mathatma Gandhi for the tribal outcastes, now called Adivasis or Scheduled Tribes.

Gherao   

A type of protest in India, specifically to gather around or encircle someone or some place to make a demonstration

Gomutra   

Cow’s urine, used by upper caste to perform a puja and to purify Dalits and drive away evil spirits. It is thought to be especially effective in warding off negative energies. THis degrading act is performed by sprinkling the urine on the Dalit and areas thought to be contaminated by Dalit presence.

Gujjar   

Gujjar or Gurjar is a group or caste of the Indian subcontinent. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar, Goojar etc. Traditionally, the Gurjars belong to the Kshatriya varna in Hinduism, though a few Gurjar communities are classified under the Brahmin varna.

Guru   

Guru is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. In contemporary India and Indonesia, Guru is widely used within the general meaning of “teacher”. In Western usage, the original meaning of guru has been extended to cover anyone who acquires followers, though not necessarily in an established school of philosophy or religion

Harijans   

Harijan means people of God, a name bestowed on the Untouchables by Mahatma Gandhi. Some contend that this label invokes pity rather than respect.

Hartal   

A type of protest in India; a strike

Hindu Gods   

Deities worshipped by the Hindus

Hinduism   

The world’s oldest organized religion, existing for 4500 years. Based on the ancient Vedic literature, it is a belief system in constant transition. Populated by an almost infinite number of gods, the faith is open to adopting any or all of the gods created by younger religions. Reincarnation, and being held accountable for one"s deeds (karma), are fundamental components of Hinduism. It is the third largest category of religions.

Hindutva   

The philosophy of right-wing fundamentalist Hinduism. It believes that India is for Hindus and should be ruled only by Hindus. The Hindutva forces belief in inseparability of politics and religion. Minorities should abide by and live at the mercy or goodwill of the majority. The Hindutva regime would like to establish one race (Hindu), one culture (Hindu) and one religion (Hinduism) in the Indian sub-continent. All other religious groups are considered a minority. Hindutva ideology is dominated by Brahminism.

Holi   

A joyous spring Hindu festival that is dedicated to Krishna in some parts of India; in other parts of India, it is dedicated to Kama, the God of Pleasure. People throw colored water or colored powder in celebration.

Indian National Congress   

See Congress Party

Indus Valley   

The Indus (known as Sindhu to Indians and in Sanskrit, as Sinthos in Greek, and Sindus in Latin) is the principal river of Pakistan. Before the partition of India into the modern states of India and Pakistan in 1947, The Indus was second only to the Ganges in terms of cultural and commercial importance for the region, and also gave its name to the country of India.

Islam   

The religious faith of Muslims, literally, “submission” (to God)

Jagannath, Lord   

Hindu deity, form of Krishna, referred to as the God of the Downtrodden. Various temples (Puri and Orissa) are dedicated to him.

Jai   

Jai meaning “Victory” as in Jai Hind

Jainism   

A religion founded by Nataputta, who was a royal clan of the Nata tribe in ancient India at the time of Shakyamuni. Its basic doctrine is non-materialistic atheism.

Jat   

Traditional landowners, upper caste in India. The Jat regions in India are among the most prosperous on a per-capita basis (Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat are among the wealthiest of Indian states).

Jati   

The subcastes in the Hindu caste system, of which there are thousands of jatis. Caste in India is divided into two systems: Varnas and Jati. Jati, the thousands of occupational guilds whose members follow a single profession. Jati members usually marry within their own jati and follow traditions associated with their jati. In urban areas they often enter other occupations, but still usually arrange marriages within the jati.

Kamadeva   

Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love. The word, kama or pleasure, is derived. Also Kama Sutra, the standard Sanskrit text on love.

Karma   

Karma is a Sanskrit word from the root kr, “to do”, meaning deed) meaning action, effect, destiny) is a term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. The effects of all deeds actively create present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one’s own life, and the pain in others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one’s present life and all past and future lives as well. Karma is central in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, & Jainism; all four religions founded in India.

Karnataka   

One of the southern states of India. Previously known as the state of Mysore, Karnataka got its present name in 1973. The present boundaries of the Karnataka state were decided in 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest

To read more, click here

Konakuppakatil Gopinathan Balakrishnan   

known as K. G. Balakrishnan, is the thirty-seventh Chief Justice of India. He is the only Dalit to become the Chief Justice of India

Krishna   

Krishna is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. A popular figure whose core features include a divine incarnation, a pastoral childhood and youth and life as a heroic warrior and teacher.

Kshatriya   

This is the second most powerful caste in India. It is the ruling caste. Their welfare depends upon their respect for the priestly caste (Brahmins).

Kumbh Mela   

A traditional Hindu pilgrimage/festival that takes place four times every twelve years and rotates across four set venues  Prayag (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Nasik (Maharashtra). (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbh_Mela)

Lakh   

A unit in the Indian numbering system, widely used both in official and other contexts in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan. One lakh is equal to a hundred thousand. A hundred lakhs make a crore or ten million.

Lok Sabha   

Hindi meaning House of the People is the lower house in the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are direct representatives of the people of India, having been directly elected by the electorate consisting of all eligible adult citizens of India. Its maximum size as outlined in the Constitution of India is 552 members, made up of up to 530 members representing people from the states of India, up to 20 members representing people from the Union Territories, and two members to represent the Anglo-Indian community if it does not have adequate representation in the house according to the President. Some seats are reserved for scheduled caste and tribes. Each Lok Sabha is formed for a five year term, after which it is automatically dissolved, unless extended by a Proclamation of Emergency which may extend the term in one year increments. The Fourteenth Lok Sabha was formed in May 2004.

Mahâtmâ Gandhi   

The Father of the Indian Nation. Gandhi himself led one of the early and most brazen campaigns to eliminate Untouchability, though many educated Dalits scholars feel that the concrete results of his actions were few. He never actually renounced the Hindu caste system, thus maintaining its orthodoxy. His greatest perceived sin was in undermining B.R. Ambedkar by his fast unto death

Mahâtmâ Phule   

Phule, like Gandhi, was given the title of “Mahatma” by his compatriots in recognition of his compassion for the oppressed masses of Indians. But in almost all other ways he contrasts with the more well-known Mahatma. One was a man of religious faith, a representative of the elite who sought to bring the masses into the movement for independence with a religious coloring; the other an iconoclast and an intellectual from the masses, who opposed the same elite which Gandhi represented and sought to build a society free from caste oppression.

Mandal Commission   

The decision to set up a second backward classes commission was made official by the president on January 1, 1979. The commission popularly known as the Mandal Commisssion, its chairman being B. P. Mandal. It submitted the report in December 1980. The recommendations of the commission were: The population of OBCs which includes both Hindus and non-Hindus is around 52 per cent of the total population. However only 27 per cent of reservation was recommended owing to the legal constraint that the total quantum of reservation should not exceed 50 percent. States which have already introduced reservation for OBC exceeding 27 per cent will not be affected by this recommendation. More information

Manipur   

’Manipur’ is the ancestral territory of the ‘Manipuri’ people. It is situated in the northeast corner of India and is bounded in the east by Myanmar (Burma). The present territorial area is 22,327 sq. km. A fertile alluvial valley extends north-south in the middle and it is surrounded on all sides by hill ranges forming a part of the eastern Himalayas. After the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891, Manipur then a kingdom, lost its sovereign independence to the British Empire. It regained independence when British rule in South Asia ended in 1947. Manipur became a constitutional monarchy when a State Assembly was democratically elected and a popular government was installed in 1948. Hinduism was forced upon the Manipuri people during the Puya Meithaba.

Manmohan Singh   

The 17th and current Prime Minister of India. Singh is a member of the Indian National Congress party and became the first Sikh to become Prime Minister of India on May 22, 2004. He is the most educated Indian Prime Minister in history. He is considered one of the most qualified and influential figures in India’s recent history, because of the economic liberalisation he started in 1991 when he was Finance Minister under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.

See Dr. Manmohan Singh‘s website.

Mantra   

In Hinduism, a sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities. A religious poem or syllable, typically from Sanskrit, are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words or vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee.  The literal translation is “instrument of thought”.  Chanting is the process of repeating the mantra.

Manu Smriti   

Manusmriti is translated “Laws of Manu” or “Institutions of Manu”. It is regarded as a foundational work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society. Smriti means “what is remembered”. Manusmriti was quoted, especially by the British Colonial rulers in India as “the law book” of the Hindus. Some people over the ages have quoted or interpreted the Manusmriti to justify Brahmin supremacy, the sanctity of the caste system and the lower status given to the Dalits.

Manual Scavenging   

also known as “carrying the night soil”, the practice of removing human and animal excreta using hands, brooms, small tin plates, and baskets from dry latrines and carrying it - on the head - to disposal grounds some distance away from the latrines

Mayawati   

The first Dalit woman to be elected Chief Minister of any India’s states, she was elected in a landslide in May, 2007. One of the many colorful characters in Indian politics, Mayawati is leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party and a prominent politician in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh. Born in 1956 to Prabhu Das and his wife Ram Rathi, Mayawati has been in active politics for well over two decades. Well educated, Mayawati holds multiple degrees including a law degree. Mayawati belongs to the Dalit community, the lowest caste in the Hindu social hierarchy. She is a Jatav (Chamar), a sub-caste within Dalits. A pugnacious personality, Mayawati owes her political career to her mentor Kanshi Ram, the founder of the BSP.

Meenas   

Meenas, Meena or Mina is a cast/community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. Originally they were a ruling cast, and were ruler of Matsya, i.e., Rajasthan, but their slow downfall began with the rise of the Rajputs and was completed when the British government declared them a “Criminal Tribe”. This very action was taken to support their alliance with Rajput kingdom in Rajasthan, and Meenas were still in war with Rajputs, doing gorilla attacks to retain their lost kingdoms. In the book “Culture and Integration of India Tribes” by R.S.Mann it is clearly mentioned that Meenas are considered as a Kshatriya cast equally as Rajpu

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment   

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is entrusted with the welfare, social justice & empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised section of the society viz, Scheduled Caste, Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities, Aged Persons, and victims of Drug Abuse etc.

Basic objective of the policies, programmes, law and institution of the Indian welfare system is to bring the target groups into the main stream of development by making them self-reliant

Go to their website by clicking here

Misra Commission   

A five-member commission under the chairmanship of Justice Ranganath Misra, was set up in March 2005 as the National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities. Its mandate was to examine the criteria for defining backwardness among people of Scheduled Caste origin who had converted to other religions besides Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. See http://www.ncrlm.com

Moksha or Mukti   

Refers, in general, to liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, i.e. heaven. In higher Hindu philosophy, it is seen as a transcendence of phenomenal being, of any sense of consciousness of time, space, and causation (karma).

Narayanan, Dr. K. R.   

Dr. Kocheril Raman Narayanan. 4 February 1921 - 9 November 2005, a Dalit and 10th President of India. He is the only Dalit and the only Malayali to have held the Presidency. In India, where the office of the President is largely ceremonial without executive powers, Narayanan was regarded as an independent and assertive President who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of the highest constitutional office. When the Australian missionary and social worker Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burned alive (22 January 1999), President Narayanan condemned it as a barbarous crime belonging to the world’s inventory of black deeds. He felt that Ambedkar’s exhortation to “educate, organise, agitate” continued to be relevant; with the Dalits forming a quarter of the population in a democracy with universal adult franchise, he felt that the ultimate destiny of the backward sections lay in the hands of the backward sections themselves, organised socially and politically

National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights   

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) is part of a wider struggle to abolish “untouchability“ and to “cast out caste“. “Untouchability” and caste discrimination continue to be a brutal reality for more than 160 million Dalits living in India today, despite the fact that more than half a century has passed since India was born as a “democratic” and independent state.

National Commission for Minorities   

or NCM. An Organisation to Safeguard the constitutional/legal rights of Minorities. The setting up of Minorities Commission was envisaged in the Ministry of Home Affairs Resolution dated 12.01.1978 which specifically mentioned that, “despite the safeguards provided in the Constitution and the laws in force, there persists among the Minorities a feeling of inequality and discrimination. See their website.

National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities   

See Misra Commission

National Commission on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes   

See their website. See also Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989

National Human Rights Commission   

or NHRC, The National Human Rights Commission was set up in the year 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Catering to the preservation of human rights of various strata of society.

National Integration Council   

or NIC will function as a forum for effective initiative and interaction on issues of national concern, review issues relating to national integration and make recommendations, See link.

Nehru, Jawarhalal   

Jawaharial Nehru, Indian statesman and leader with Gandhi in the struggle for home rule; was the first prime minister of the Republic of India from 1947 to 1964 (1889-1964)

NHRC   

See National Human Rights Commission

NRI   

1. Non-resident Indian. 2. Non-reliable Indian. Used by residents of India to describe Indians who have immigrated abroad and thus cannot be expected to behave as permanent residents of India. See related: Desi, ABCD

OBC or Other Backward Castes   

The Other Backward Classes (or OBCs) in India are a group of castes officially recognized as having been traditionally subject to exclusion. The Constitution of India recognizes the need to extend positive discrimination to this section. For example, the OBCs are entitled to 27% reservations in public sector employment and higher education. In the constitution, OBCs are described as “socially and educationally backward classes”, and government is enjoined to ensure their social and educational development.

Padyatra   

A foot march

Panchayat   

A council of elders representing a village or caste

Pantheon   

A grouping of Deities associated with a particular time or culture

Parsis   

members of the close-knit Zoroastrian community based primarily in India. Most Parsis outside of India identify India as their home country. Parsis are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to the Indian subcontinent over 1,000 years ago

Periyar, E. V. Ramasamy   

Born as Erode Venkata Ramasami Naicker in Erode, Tamil Nadu on September 17, 1879. Died on December 24, 1973), He later came to be known as “Periyar” (equivalent to “Mahatma” in Sanskrit) meaning ‘respected one’ or an ‘elder’ in Tamil. He was also known as Ramaswami, EVR, or Thanthai Periyar (noble father in Tamil language)> He was a Dravidian social reformer and politician from India, who founded the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He He is considered an icon of rationalism. He was a staunch believer in the Dravidian languages (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam & Kannada), was anti-Brahminic, involved in the Quit-Hinduism movement, led the Self-Respect and felt Dravidians should leave Hinduism and become Muslims. See www.periyar.org

Phule, Mahatma   

See Mahatma Phule

Pradhan   

A high, generally ministerial title of Sanskrit origin in cultures of Hindu tradition, mainly in and around the Indian subcontinent. Pradhan literally means “Greatest leader of all”

Prasad   

In the Hindu Religion, a sacred offering, usually a food offering, to the deity returned to the devotee after the worship as part of the deity’s grace

Pratibha Patil   

Twelfth and current President of India. She is the first woman and the first Maharashtrian to hold this post. She was sworn into the nation’s top office on July 25, 2007 by the Chief Justice of India K.G.Balakrishnan. Patil, a member of the Indian National Congress, was nominated by the ruling United Progressive Alliance and Indian Left. She won the presidential election held on July 19, 2007 defeating her nearest rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat by over 300,000 votes.

Presidential Order of 1950   

See Constitution Order of 1950

Prevention Of Atrocities Act, 1989   

The Protection Of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes ( Prevention Of Atrocities ) Act, 1989. See FAQ’s by clcking here

Protection Of Civil Rights Act, 1955,   

The Protection Of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes ( Prevention Of Atrocities ) Act, 1989. See links to FAQ’s by clicking here

Protest   

There is no democracy in the world where political protest so extensively permeates the polity as India. No day passes without significant street protests over some type of issue in many parts of the country. No session of parliament passes without major disruption caused by protesting MPs. Protests take a very wide range of forms from bandh, hartal, gherao, yatra, roko, and satyagraha.

Puja   

A Hindu ceremony. During puja, the officiant (pujari) recites various chants praising the God and beseeching His blessings, while making numerous offerings in accordance with established traditions. These include water, sandalpaste, holy ash, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, light (the flame of oil, ghee or camphor lamps) and special food preparations.

Puranas   

A body of Indian sacred writings (18 in number) which followed the Vedas, containing legendary account of the creation, destruction and re-creation of the universe, the genealogy, the gods, besides a mass of encyclopaedic information mostly in the form of parables. Of these, the Bhagvat and the Vishnu Purana are the most venerated

Puya Meithaba   

The Hindunisation event in the early 1700’s in Manipur which involved the burning of the indigenous Meitei scripts or Holy Books. This superimposition of the foreign Hindu religion and culture resulted in a cultural dichotomy and created different social structures and institutions predominated by the Hindu caste system with its ‘untouchables’ concept - which is totally alien to Manipuri culture.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy   

(1772-1833) Founder of an organization called Brahmo Samaj. Roy was a Brahmin from Bengal, a British civil servant who adored the British system and their rule, and an admirer of Christianity and other religions that believed in the existence of a one Almighty God. He and his organization tried to create a new Hindu religion philosophy incorporating the existence of one God and removing some of the Hindu traditions such as child marriages, caste, and sati. He was instrumental in getting the British to outlaw Sati in 1829.

Rajya Sabha   

The Rajya Sabha (House of States) is the upper house of the federal parliament of India. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the president for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature, science, and social services. The remainder of the body is elected by India’s respective state and territorial legislatures

Rama, or Ramachandra   

Rama, or Ramachandra, was a king of ancient India and is the Seventh Avatara of Vishnu, and one of the most important manifestations of God in Hinduism. He is one of the most popular heroes of Hindu mythology and folktales in South and Southeast Asia. Rama is revered across SE Asia for his unending compassion, courage and devotion to religious values and duty.

Reincarnation   

The belief that one has lived before in another lifetime, and that one will live again after physical death

Reservation   

Reservation, in context to the Dalit issue, are compensatory discrimination (affirmative action) rights granted by Article 340 of the Constitution of India in 1950 to the disadvantaged castes or OBC’s of India

Rig Veda   

Oldest of the four Veda Samhitas (collections): Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. Organized into ten mandalas (group patterns) of salutary and prayerful hymns, the Rig portrays a monistic Supreme Being-as-Cause-and-Lord-of-all cosmology, describes a pattern of dharma towards righteous and prosperous living in tune with the Gods. This scripture also details yogic disciplines leading to realization of the Absolute

Roko   

A type of protest in India that involves stopping trains, etc. for demonstration.

RSS   

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteer Corps or Union). This is a Hindu extremist organization with a wide Hindu network. They have appointed themselves the guardians of India and the Hindu religion. They vehemently oppose Christianity and other minority religions in India. They are responsible for the false propaganda and hate campaign against minorities in India. They believe in violence as a divine necessity. Therefore, they distribute weapons openly and freely. In 1925, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor influenced by recent Hindu-Muslim riots in his town, formed the Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh with a vow to transform India into a Hindu nation and so that Hindus could, in effect, protect themselves by organizing together. Also known as the Sangh

Sachar Committee   

The Committee was setup by the UPA government on March 9th, 2005 to study the Socio-Economic and Educational status of the Muslims in India. It was headed by Justice Rajender Sachar and had six other members: Shri Sayyid Hamid, Dr T.K. Ooman, Shri M.A. Basith, Dr Akhtar Majeed, Dr Abu Saleh Shariff and Dr Rakesh Basant. The full text of the committee’s report can be downloaded here.

Sadhu   

In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (pleasure), artha (wealth and power) and even dharma (duty). The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God. The most famous non-Hindu sadhu was the Christian Sadhu Sadhu Sundar Singh and there are Sadhus in Sikhism as well.

Sadhu Sundar Singh   

Sadhu Sundar Singh (September 3, 1889 Patiala State, India) is believed to have disappeared in the foothills of the Himalayas in 1929. As a Christian witness he had been rejected as well as welcomed, persecuted, and even left for dead. By many missionaries and even Indian Christian leaders he had been regarded as a highly eccentric convert, totally out of step with contemporary Christianity as he wandered the roads in his yellow robe and turban. Some of his biographers estimate that, even though he never heard the later vogue-word “indigenisation,” he had done more than any man in the first half of the twentieth century to establish that “Jesus belongs to India.” He made it clear that Christianity is not an imported, alien, foreign religion but is indigenous to Indian needs, aspirations, and faith. He remains one of the permanently significant figures of Indian Christianity. See Sadhu

Saffronisation   

A political neologism describing the idea that Hinduism is the only religion for Indians. Comes from the deep saffron color ascribed as the political color of the Hindutva.

Samaj   

association, as in Ambedkar Samaj Party

Samajwadi Party   

SP or Socialist Party, is a political party in India. It describes itself as a democratic socialist and anti-English language party. SP is led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of UP. It is primarily based in Uttar Pradesh, where it bases its support largely on OBCs (Other Backward Castes) and Muslims, particularly Mulayam Singh Yadav’s own Yadav caste. The S.P. has been also known to be friendly with the BJP, mostly because their primary enemy is common: Sister Mayawati, a Dalit and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who has emerged as a major political force in the state and was elected on 11 May 2007 as the new Chief Minister of UP

Sanatam Dharma   

Hinduism is often referred to as Sanatam or Sanatan Dharma by its practitioners, a Sanskrit phrase meaning the eternal law or Hindu Way of Life.

Sangh Parivar   

The umbrella body dedicated to the advancement of Hindutva. The Sangh Parivar is a loose “family” of organizations, including political parties, which promote the ideology of Hindutva.

Sanskrit   

Sanskrit is the historical language of the Hindu religion. It is the language of the elite and high caste Brahmins. Most of the Hindu scriptures were written in Sanskrit. The language is generally learned only by the priestly caste. According to Manu, the law giver, Dalits should not even hear the reading of the scripture in Sanskrit. If this happens, boiled lead should be poured into the offending Dalit’s ears.

Sarpanch   

Chairman of a village council or panchayat, usually elected.

Sarsanghchalak   

The paramount leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS. Five individuals have held this post. The current chief is K. S. Sudarshan

Sati   

described as a Hindu custom in India in which the widow was burnt to ashes on her dead husband’s pyre. Basically the custom of Sati was believed to be a voluntary Hindu act in which the woman voluntary decides to end her life with her husband after his death. But there were many incidences in which the women were forced to commit Sati, sometimes even dragged against her wish to the lighted pyre. A few rulers of India tried to ban this custom. The Mughals tried to ban it. The British, due to the efforts of Hindu reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy outlawed this custom in 1829.

Satkar Bhawan   

Ambedkar guest house, part of Chief Minister Mayawati’s dream project Ambedkar Memorial in Gomti Nagar

Satyagraha   

A type of protest in India, specifically non-violent like a silent procession, popularized by Mahâtmâ Gandhi

SC-ST Federations   

The All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations (www.scstconfederation.org), formed in 1997, exists to champion the intent and spirit of the Constitution of India towards scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It actively pursues social justice and the benefits conferred on members by the Constitution.  The current national President is Udit Raj.

SC/ST or Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes   

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are communities that are accorded special status by the Constitution of India. These communities were considered ‘outcastes’ and were excluded from the Chaturvarna system that was the social superstructure of Hindu society in the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years. These castes and tribes have traditionally been relegated to the most menial labour with no possibility of upward mobility, and are subject to extensive social disadvantage and discrimination, in comparison to the wider community. The Scheduled Caste people are also known as Dalits; Scheduled Tribe people are also referred to as Adivasis. SC/ST make up upwards of 25% of India’s population, over 250 million people. Full List of Scheduled Tribes

Secondary School Leaving Certificate   

Or SSLC. The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) follows pattern of 10+2+3. It means ten years of school education ( primary and secondary ), two years of intermediate or pre-university education and three years of university education. Ten years of schooling is basis for selection of higher education in India. Ten years of schooling means ten standards or ten class or ten levels in schooling. At standard ten (Class tenth), a public examination is conducted by secondary education board to asses the students of whole state. The marks obtained in this examination forms basis for entry into higher examination. Hence it is first important examination of student. The Karnataka state secondary education board conducts public examination at the end of class ten or standard ten. Students studying in schools affiliated with this board are required to pass this examination to get SSLC certificate. This certificate indicates marks obtained by the student in each subject studied, his date of birth and school in which he or she studied. SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) is an important document in one’s life. Later the students go to Higher Secondary or Pre-University. Cited from Wikipedia

Shakha   

(Sanskrit, literally “branch” or “limb"), is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. Can also mean “meeting”.

Sheddu   

Derogatory slang for Scheduled Caste student. Dalit students, who are rightfully given spots in institutes of higher education in Indian according to the affirmative action (see Reservation) provided by the Indian government, are often ridiculed and abused by upper caste fellow students. See article at http://www.ibnlive.com/news/sheddu-the-sideeffect-of-quota/22564-3.html

Shika, sanghatit vha, aani sangharsha kara   

"Get educated, unite and struggle” , Dr. Ambedkar’s inspiring message to the Dalits.

Shiva, or Siva   

Siva is the third form of God as one of the Trimurti (popularly called the “Hindu trinity"). In the Trimurti, Siva is the destroyer, while Brahma and Vishnu are creator and preserver, respectively.

Shudra or Sudra   

Shudra or Sudra is the fourth varna in the Hindu caste system. Their role is that of artisan, servants, and labourers. Manu Smriti declares that Shudra must serve the other “twice-born” castes.

Sikhism   

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of ten Gurus who lived in northern India during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is one of the world’s major organised religions with over 23 million followers. The Guru Granth Sahib is the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, is held in the highest regard by the Sikhs and is treated as the Eternal Guru, as instructed by Guru Gobind Singh. It is perhaps the only scripture of its kind, in that it was written by the founders of the religion directly, whereas most other religious texts have been written after the time of the original founder of the religion.

Sikhs   

A follower of Sikhism.

SP   

Samajwadi Party

SSLC   

See Secondary School Leaving Certificate.

States and Union Territories of India   

28 States and 7 Union Territories make up the Republic of India. See List.

Swami   

primarily a Hindu honorific title, for either males or females. It is derived from Sanskrit and means “He who knows and is master of himself”, “owner of oneself”, or “free from the senses”. It is a title added to one’s name to emphasize learning and mastery of Yoga, devotion to the gods, and devotion to the swami’s spiritual master (a guru or another swami).

Swayam Sevaks   

Volunteer in the RSS. Interesting quote from a Sangh Parivar blogsite:

Rise oh Swayam Sevaks,

Rise as your motherland is under attack, Rise and realise that the soil that you were born is asking for your blood. Rise oh Swayam Sevaks, Rise not to kill but to save your country, Rise to clean the nation and be your nation’s eyes.

Rise oh Swayam Sevak and risen others who sleep, who are ignorant.

Rise oh sleeping mothers sons...................She needs you today.

Thakur   

translated as “lord,” the relatively lower-ranking Hindi title (below Raja) for the hereditary ruler of a (usually minor) princely state, usually born of rajput clan bloodlines, particularly in Western India

Trimurti   

In Hinduism, Trimurti are three aspects of God, or “Parabrahman,” in God’s personae as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Trimurti itself is conceived of as a deity and artistically represented as a three-faced human figure

Twice born   

of or forming one of the three upper Hindu caste groups in which boys undergo an initiation symbolizing spiritual birth

UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination   

See CERD

Union Government of India   

The Government of India (Hindi:Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India

United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights   

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Click here for the full text

United Progressive Alliance   

UPA, is the name of the present ruling coalition of political parties of the Government of India. The UPA was formed soon after the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. An informal alliance, although had existed prior to the elections as several of the current constituent parties had developed seat-sharing agreements in many states. Initially, the proposed name for the alliance was ‘Secular Progressive Alliance’. The UPA’s ideology is defined through a common minimum programme and is generally perceived as center-left reflecting that of the Indian National Congress whose president Sonia Gandhi is its chairperson. Read more by clicking here.

Unseeables   

Unseeables are those that cannot even be seen by a caste person. They come out and work only at night

Untouchables   

(Dalits) Untouchables are considered so unworthy by the upper caste echelon that they are not part of the caste system. Untouchables are forbidden from physically touching any member of any caste. Doing so would render the latter unclean by Hindu scriptural law. Thus, Dalits are commonly known as untouchables. Other varieties of untouchability include unseeables (those who cannot be seen by a caste person) and unapproachables (those who cannot come near to a caste person).

UPA   

United Progressive Alliance

Upanayana   

Hindu initiation ritual, restricted to the three upper varnas. It marks a male’s entrance into the life of a student and his acceptance as a full member of the religious community. After a ritual bath, the boy, aged 5 to 24, is dressed as an ascetic and brought before his guru, who invests him with various symbolic articles. The initiate receives a sacred thread, worn throughout his life, that identifies him as twice-born, the second birth being effected by receipt of a mantra. Observance of upanayana is decreasing and is now largely confined to the Brahmin class.

Upanishads   

The inspired teachings, visions, and mystical experiences of the ancient sages of India; the concluding portion of the Vedas and the basis for Vedantic philosophy. With immense variety of form and style, all of these scriptures (exceeding one hundred texts) give the same essential teaching: that the individual soul and God are one

Urdu   

An Indic language that is the official literary language of Pakistan, essentially identical to Hindi in its spoken form but in its literary form heavily influenced by Persian and Arabic and written in an Arabic alphabet.

Vaishya, also called Aryas   

Vaishyas, or vaisyas, are third in the order of the upper caste hierarchy. They are responsible for business within Hindu society. Mahatma Gandhi belonged to this caste.

Vanvasis   

(literally: forest dwellers) the Sangh’s hinduised name for Adivasis whom the Sangh does not recognise as indigenous.

Varanasi   

A city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, picturesquely situated on the crescent shaped left bank of the holy Ganga. A great religious center for Hindus and one of their most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of people every year. Also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras. 

Varnas   

Varna is a Sanskrit word meaning “to choose” from a group. The varna system is one form of functional hierarchy system.  See caste system. The caste system is based on the four varnas; Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras. Membership in the varna group based on birth by default. 

Vedas   

The vedas collectively refers to a corpus of ancient Indo-Aryan religious literature that are associated with the Vedic civilization and are considered by adherents of Hinduism to be revealed knowledge. Many Hindus believe that the Vedas were not written by anyone (including God), but are eternally existing.  They estimate them to have been written down between 1500 BCE and 500 BCE.

Vedic   

Vedic, among other uses, may refer to Hindu Scripture and Hindu Culture. See Vedic Civilization

VHP   

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council). This is one of the many Hindu extremist organizations within India and around the world. They are registered in the USA as a 501 (c) 3 organization. In India they are notorious for their hate campaigns against Christians, and for inciting communal violence. Money that is raised in the West is sent out to further their agenda in India. They have led the attacks on minorities such as Christians and Muslims in India. They are largely responsible for the false propaganda and hate campaign against the minorities in India. They are the ones who conducted mass murders in Gujarat and subsequently tried to justify their actions.

Vishnu   

Vishnu is the second aspect of God (the others being Brahma and Shiva). Known as the Preserver, He is most famously identified with his avatars, or incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama.

VKP   

Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, an offshoot of the RSS comprising hinduised tribals.

Wilberforce, William   

(24 August 1759 to 29 July 1833) was a Christian, British politician, philanthropist, and abolitionist who was the leader of the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. Due to his efforts, and after 18 years of introducing bills to the British Parliment, the slave trade was abolished in the British Empire in 1807. Shortly before his death in 1833, the act to free all slaves in the British Empire was passed in the House of Commons.

Women News Network (WNN)   

Women News Network is dedicated to bringing you in depth international women’s news not found in our current public media stream. Starting from a writing assignment to cover the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2006, director Lys Anzia saw the vital need for media women to report the many times hard and suffering international stories of women. WNN stories have appeared on UN affiliate and agency publications through WUNRN - Women’s UN Report Network and UN-INSTRAW, the United Nations Institute of Training and Research for the Advancement of Women. Visit their website.

Yatra   

A type of protest in India, specifically to journey to some place to protest or make a demonstration

Yellama   

Goddess of the Fallen, in the hindu pantheon. Yellama, or Renuka, is a patron goddess of many down-trodden people such as Harijans, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes people, eunuchs, gays, lesbians, transsexuals and even upper-caste Brahmins. For many thousands of years, people of all castes and creeds have revered her as the “Mother of the Universe” or Jagadamba

To read more, click here

Zoroastrianism   

One of the oldest monotheistic world religions founded by Zarathustra or Zarthost in 1000-1500 BC. Zoroastrianism was the dominant world religion during the Persian empires (559 BC to 651 AC). Members are dedicated to a three-fold path, as shown in their motto: “Good Thoughts,Good Words, Good Deeds” The symbol of Faravahar, also known as Farohar, signifies the final goal of a true Zarthosti to live in a manner befitting the progress of the soul towards Ahura Mazda, or the “Wise Lord” Currently, it is thought there are 140,000 members.