Dalit and Human Rights in Modern India

Dalit, also called outcaste, is a self-designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as of untouchables and unsuitable for making personal relationships. Dalits are a mixed population of numerous caste groups all over India, and speak various languages. The large majority of the Dalits in India are Hindus, although some in Maharashtra and other states have converted to Buddhism, often called Neo-Buddhism. Dalits in Sri Lanka can be Buddhist. Dalits have been oppressed, culturally subjugated, and politically marginalized. The principals of untouchability and purity and pollution dictate what Dalits are and are not allowed to do; where they are and are not allowed to live, go or sit.