I had the misfortune of being born with the stigma of [being] an Untouchable. However, it is not my fault; but I will not die a Hindu, for this is in my power. (B.R. Ambedkar [see Zelliot, 1992, 206])
Debates on Nomenclature
“Dalit” (meaning downtrodden, broken, torn into pieces) was first used in the context of caste by Jotirao Govindrao Phule (1827-1890), the leader …