ABSTRACT
‘Dalit’ is a widely used category in social science as well as in popular discourse. There were in particular a spate of writings and speeches on the Dalits during the past one year on account of the UN Conference on Race. Most castes in Gujarat, whether Dalit or non-Dalit, follow the same principle of internal division. Frequently, caste, whether Dalit or non-Dalit, is described as based on descent—and therefore it is considered abominable. There are various degrees of discrimination and oppression by upper castes against the Dalit castes, and there is discrimination and oppression among castes within the Dalit category. Vague general statements not only violate against reality and provide a false picture, but also harm the welfare of the most deprived and marginalized among the Dalits, such as the Bhangis. The chapter describes some length elsewhere the hierarchy among the Dalits in Gujarat on the basis of available data.
