Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Harijan

Harijan (son of God) was a term coined by Gandhi for Dalits, which is now considered patronizing. The term can also be attributed to Dalits of Pakistan called the haris, who are a group of mud-hut builders. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable'. He gave them a new name, 'Harijans', which means children of God.

Neo-Buddhist Dalits try to make 'Harijan' appear as a disgrace to all Dalits as it comes from a Hindu name. This term had already been used, in a different form, by the medieval philosopher Ramanuja who uplifted many backward caste people: as Thirukulattar, or People of Holy Clan. The term Harijan is considered bad and weak word by many of the 'lower' caste people of India, as the name implies that the section is weak and should be taken care of. They prefer the word 'Dalit' (meaning Oppressed) instead of harijan.

Recently there was a Dalit conference in Kerala which demanded the use of 'harijan' to be banned in media and political circles.

2 comments:

be4real said...

I think the name is beautiful... translating to "Child (or Children)of God"...

I understand the kindness of heart in which Ghandi meant it though, and truly appreciate that gesture; yet I see how they may prefer to be called Dalit, meaning "Oppressed", so as to draw attention to their present earthly plight.

But if I were of that people, I would much rather be called a Child of God...

...because after this earthly plight there is God...

...and to be called "His Child", by all men, is beautiful...

Unknown said...

The word Harijan,which means The child of God coined by Mr Gandhi is to be certainly Banned.It is dividing people vertically All human-beings are undoubtedly The Children of God.Isn't it? Brahma vadam reveals this concept.We are all one.Rabindranath Tagur says-Where the world has not been broken up into fragments/By narrow domestic walls....father,let my country awake Babasaheb DR BR Ambedkar says-we are Indians first and last.Our Constitution has designed EQUALITY to all.Articals-14,15,16and 19 give us all rights to to live with dignity.No discriminations.Fraternity makes us feel all this.Let us all honor our constitution and use the words-Scheduled Castes and scheduled Tribes alone until SC/ST safeguards are fufiled in toto . Otherwise let all Indians be called as HARIJANS by all means.

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