• Sagar Simlandy

The Indian society is segmentally divided on the basis of caste. The status of person is dependent on the caste in which he is born. In traditional caste system, the lowest castes were at the bottom of the social ladder. They were subjected to various caste disabilities. The Dalits were also not allowed to change their caste occupation. In Indian context, ‘dalits’ constitute one such group. The dalits, which is a social group peculiar to India, lagged behind the rest of the society in several respects since ages. They have been discriminated in several respects and were meted out, in several cases, even inhuman treatment, by the rest of the society particularly the socially advanced groups. They have been poor, deprived of basic human rights and treated as social inferiors in the society. My paper examines the trend of continuity and change in caste system in India. The paper highlights the centripetal and centrifugal forces, which have been playing a significant role to operate this traditional concept of social hierarchy. Main focus of this paper’s is the points of meaning of the term ‘Dalit’ and its historic past. It also includes the factors which have been playing a significant and vital role for its continuity and change in different contemporary societies in India and also focus various movements for Dalit in Ancient India.

Dalit, Cast system, Society, Movements, Ancient India

"Historical Perspective Of Caste System in Ancient India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 4, page no.554-557, April-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904C91.pdf

"Historical Perspective Of Caste System in Ancient India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 4, page no. pp554-557, April-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904C91.pdf