In Maharashtra, according to historian and women's studies academic Shailaja Paik, Dalit is a term mostly used by members of the Mahar caste, into which Ambedkar was born. Most other communities prefer to use their own caste name.
Vora adds that the Maratha caste is the largest caste of India and dominate the power structure in Maharashtra because of their numerical strength, especially in the rural society.
Mahar (also known as Maha and Mara) is an Indian community found largely in the state of Maharashtra and neighbouring areas. Most of the Mahar community followed B. R. Ambedkar in converting to Buddhism in the middle of the 20th century.
Under the constitutional order, 1950 as amended in 1990, SCs can be only from Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists while STs can be from any of the religions. The question on religion of each individual was canvassed through question no. 7.
The number has grown close to 60 per cent, from 32.51 lakh in 2001, in the state. The Maharashtra government announced on Thursday that Neo-Buddhists would henceforth be eligible for all minority schemes in the state. Hundreds of thousands of dalits — mostly Mahars — had converted to Buddhism along with Ambedkar.
These lands were called watan or inam land. In Maharashtra, land gifts were given to those of the priestly caste, Marathas, Chaugules, among others. However, the Act recognised Mahar, Ramoshi and Matang (a small population in Maharashtra) communities' need for this land for sustenance.
This is a list of
Scheduled castes in India.
List of Scheduled Castes.
| Official name as SC | Dates | States where have SC status |
|---|
| Mahar | 1950 designated | Maharashtra (1950) |
| Mang | 1950 designated | Maharashtra (1950) |
| Ager | 1950 designated | Maharashtra (1950) |
| Anamuk | 1950 designated | Maharashtra (1950) |
Chamar is a dalit community classified as a Scheduled Caste under modern India's system of positive discrimination. Historically subject to untouchability, they were traditionally outside the Hindu ritual ranking system of castes known as varna. The term chamar is used as a pejorative word for dalits in general.
Tyagi is a surname which historically belonged to the Brahmin caste. As of a 1990 report by the Backward Classes Commission, Government of Haryana, they were mostly engaged in farming. Community members who converted to Islam are known as Muslim Tyagis, Mulla Brahmin, Musalman Taga, Mahesra and Moolay Taga.
Mayawati was born on 15 January 1956 at Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi into a Dalit family of Chamar caste. In 1983, Mayawati was awarded her LL.B from University of Delhi. Kanshi Ram included her as a member of his team when he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984.
Chamar, widespread caste in northern India whose hereditary occupation is tanning leather; the name is derived from the Sanskrit word charmakara (“skin worker”). The Chamars are divided into more than 150 subcastes, all of which are characterized by well-organized panchayats (governing councils).
In Bihar, the term refers to a group of around 20 communities whose traditional occupations centred on rivers, such as the Mallah. In Uttar Pradesh, the term "Nishad" represents 17 OBC communities that have been proposed for Scheduled Caste status by the Samajwadi Party-controlled Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Ahir or Aheer is a community in India, most members of which identify as being of the Indian Yadav community because they consider the two terms to be synonymous. The traditional occupations of Ahirs are cattle-herding and agriculture.
The Pasi (also spelled Passi) is a Dalit (untouchable) community of India. Pasi refers to tapping toddy, a traditional occupation of the Pasi community. The Pasi are divided into Gujjar, Kaithwas, and Boria. They are classified as an Other Backward Class in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The Kayasthas today mostly inhabit central, eastern, northern India, and particularly Bengal. They are considered a Forward Caste, as they do not qualify for any of the reservation benefits allotted to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes that are administered by the Government of India.
One of the first Dalit writers was Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived during the reign of the Western Chalukyas and who is also regarded by some scholars as the "father of Vachana poetry". Another poet who finds mention is Dohara Kakkaiah, a Dalit by birth, whose six confessional poems survive.
The Dalit Buddhist movement (also known as the Neo-Buddhist movement) is a religious as well as a socio-political movement among Dalits in India which was started by B. R. Ambedkar. It radically re-interpreted Buddhism and created a new school of Buddhism called Navayana.
The Bhima Koregaon case dates back to January 1, 2018, the day of the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle. The celebration was marred by violence leading to death of one person and injuries to several others.
