Harijan

(“child of God”) Name used by
Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) to designate those social groups formerly
known as untouchables. The name
reflected Gandhi’s conviction that these
people were human beings like any others, and thus children of God.
Unfortunately, the word harijan
can also carry a pejorative sense in
modern India. It is used for any child
whose father is unknown—with the
child’s paternity ascribed to God—and
is thus a euphemism for “bastard.” In
modern times, the people whom
Gandhi called Harijans prefer to used
the name dalit (“oppressed”), since
they feel that this more accurately
describes their social status.