दलित (dalit)

noun/adjective Primarily a modern sociopolitical noun/adjective referring to communities historically labeled 'untouchable' under the caste system; it also carries a literal, less common adjective sense of 'crushed, oppressed.'

Sense 1 : member of a formerly 'untouchable' caste community

noun, masculine/feminine

Synonyms: अनुसूचित जाति (anusoochit jaati, official/administrative term), हरिजन (harijan, dated, avoid -- see note)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: दलित (dalit) literally means 'broken/crushed' and was reclaimed in the 20th century, especially through the Dalit movement associated with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, as a term of assertion rather than shame. You will see it constantly in Indian news, politics, and reservation/affirmative-action discussions (आरक्षण, aarakshan), so it is essential vocabulary for reading a newspaper, even though it is a sensitive and weighty word rather than everyday chit-chat.

Common Mistakes: 1) हरिजन (harijan) was Gandhi's term but is now widely seen as patronizing and is avoided in respectful usage; दलित (dalit) is the term communities themselves use and prefer. 2) This is a self-chosen political/social identity term, not a neutral descriptive word -- use it the way you would a specific, respected group name, not as a casual synonym for 'poor' or 'low-caste.'

Sample Sentences:

डॉ. अंबेडकर को दलित आंदोलन का प्रमुख नेता माना जाता है। Dr. Ambedkar is considered the principal leader of the Dalit movement.

(do. ambedkar ko dalit aandolan kaa pramukh netaa maanaa jaataa hai।)

इस गाँव में ज़्यादातर दलित परिवार खेतिहर मज़दूरी करते हैं। In this village, most Dalit families work as agricultural laborers.

(is gaanv men zyaadaatar dalit parivaar khetihar mazdoorii karte hain।)

सरकार ने दलित छात्रों के लिए छात्रवृत्ति की नई योजना शुरू की। The government started a new scholarship scheme for Dalit students.

(sarkaar ne dalit chhaatron ke lie chhaatrvritti kii naii yojnaa shuroo kii।)

क्या तुम्हें पता है कि उसका परिवार दलित समुदाय से है? Do you know that her family is from the Dalit community?

(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki uskaa parivaar dalit samudaay se hai?)

दलित लेखकों की आत्मकथाएँ भारतीय साहित्य में एक नई धारा लेकर आईं। The autobiographies of Dalit writers brought a new current into Indian literature.

(dalit lekhkon kii aatmakthaaen bhaartiiy saahity men ek naii dhaaraa lekar aaiin।)

अगर उस दलित नेता को टिकट मिलता, तो पार्टी को ज़्यादा वोट मिलते। If that Dalit leader had been given a ticket, the party would have gotten more votes.

(agar us dalit netaa ko tikat miltaa, to paartii ko zyaadaa vot milte।)

जब तक दलित समाज को बराबरी का हक़ नहीं मिलेगा, संघर्ष जारी रहेगा। Until Dalit society gets equal rights, the struggle will continue.

(jab tak dalit samaaj ko baraabrii kaa haq nahiin milegaa, sangharsh jaarii rahegaa।)

आरक्षण की नीति दलित और पिछड़े वर्गों को आगे लाने के लिए बनाई गई थी। The reservation policy was made to bring Dalit and backward classes forward.

(aarakshan kii niiti dalit aur pichhde vargon ko aage laane ke lie banaaii gaii thii।)

उस दलित युवक ने अपनी मेहनत से आईएएस की परीक्षा पास कर ली। That Dalit young man passed the IAS exam through his own hard work.

(us dalit yuvak ne apnii mehnat se aaiiees kii pariikshaa paas kar lii।)

पत्रकार ने पूछा कि क्या दलित समुदाय को अब भी भेदभाव का सामना करना पड़ता है। The journalist asked whether the Dalit community still faces discrimination.

(patrkaar ne poochhaa ki kyaa dalit samudaay ko ab bhii bhedbhaav kaa saamnaa karnaa padtaa hai।)

Sense 2 : crushed, oppressed, downtrodden (literal/general sense)

adjective

Synonyms: पीड़ित (piidit), शोषित (shoshit), कुचला (kuchlaa)

Frequency: low

Cultural Note: This is the root literal meaning -- 'crushed underfoot' -- from which the social-identity noun sense grew; in formal or literary writing you may still see दलित वर्ग (dalit varg, 'the oppressed/downtrodden class') used more generally, but in everyday speech the noun sense (a Dalit person) dominates.

Sample Sentences:

सदियों से दलित वर्ग को समाज में बराबरी का हक नहीं मिला। For centuries, the oppressed class did not get equal rights in society.

(sadiyon se dalit varg ko samaaj men baraabrii kaa hak nahiin milaa।)

युद्ध ने पूरे राज्य को दलित कर दिया। The war crushed the entire kingdom into ruin.

(yuddh ne poore raajy ko dalit kar diyaa।)

कवि ने अपनी रचना में दलित मानवता की पीड़ा को शब्द दिए। In his composition, the poet gave voice to the suffering of crushed humanity.

(kavi ne apnii rachnaa men dalit maanavtaa kii piidaa ko shabd die।)

शासक की क्रूरता से प्रजा सदा दलित रहती थी। The subjects always remained crushed under the ruler's cruelty.

(shaasak kii kroortaa se prajaa sadaa dalit rahtii thii।)

यह ग्रंथ दलित और शोषित वर्ग की आवाज़ बुलंद करता है। This text raises the voice of the oppressed and exploited class.

(yah granth dalit aur shoshit varg kii aavaaz buland kartaa hai।)

अगर तानाशाही जारी रहती तो पूरा देश दलित हो जाता। If the dictatorship had continued, the whole country would have been crushed.

(agar taanaashaahii jaarii rahtii to pooraa desh dalit ho jaataa।)

काश कोई इस दलित वर्ग की सुध ले। If only someone would pay heed to this downtrodden class.

(kaash koii is dalit varg kii sudh le।)

सरकार से अनुरोध है कि दलित वर्ग के उत्थान के लिए ठोस कदम उठाए जाएं। It is requested that the government take concrete steps for the upliftment of the oppressed class.

(sarkaar se anurodh hai ki dalit varg ke utthaan ke lie thos kadam uthaae jaaen।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m/f.direct): दलित (dalit)

(sg.m/f.oblique): दलित (dalit)

(pl.m/f.direct): दलितें (daliten)

(pl.m/f.oblique): दलितों (daliton)

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: दलित (dalit)