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Use of word `Harijan' objected

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR SEPT. 27. A Dalit activist organisation, Centre for Dalit Human Rights (CDHR), has complained to the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission on the frequent use of the word "Harijan'' to refer to Dalits by the officials and newspapers in the State. The Centre has sought directives from the Commission to the Government of Rajasthan and the media through the Press Council of India asking them not to use the "derogatory word''. The immediate provocation for CDHR to take up the issue was the news item published by a local Hindi daily yesterday on the activities of the Social Welfare Department of the State Government in connection with the Gandhi Jayanti week.

"You will appreciate that `Harijan' word has already been considered derogatory, insulting and against the dignity of millions of Dalits and oppressed people in India...'' P.L.Mimroth, convener of CDHR wrote in a memorandum to Justice Sayed Sagir Ahmed, Chairperson of RSHRC.

"...about two decades back the then Union Home Minister had issued a circular to all the Government Departments banning the use of `Harijan' word in all official papers and functions,'' the memorandum noted.

Mr. Mimroth, who was pained to come across the use of the word in the press and the media, pointed out that the Press Council of India in its various decisions had prohibited the use of the word in the newspapers and journals. It was a matter of regret that despite the ban the top officials of the Rajasthan Government as well as the newspapers were frequently using the word "hurting the dignity and feelings of millions of Dalits in the country,'' he said.

In another letter addressed to Lalit Mehra, Secretary of the State Social Welfare Department, Mr.Mimroth wrote, "You will appreciate that literal word of `Harijan' is synonymous to illegitimate child of Devdasis in olden days...'' This `insulting definition' given by Mahatma Gandhi in the earlier days had been totally rejected and discarded by the followers of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, he pointed out. "Now we are ceaselessly fighting for securing dignity and self respect in this feudal state and hope you will also cooperate in this struggle,'' the letter said.

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