Harijan

[ har-i-jan ]

noun

, plural Har·i·jans, (especially collectively) Har·i·jan.

1. Disparaging and Offensive. (in India) a member of a group formerly known as the untouchables: Harijan is a term used by Mohandas K. Gandhi but now considered condescending.

Harijan

/ ˈhʌrɪdʒən /

noun

1. See scheduled castes
   a member of certain classes in India, formerly considered inferior and untouchable See scheduled castes

Word History and Origins

Origin of Harijan¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from Neo-Sanskrit harijana “person of Hari” (a name for Vishnu), hence, in Gandhi's conception, a child of God

Word History and Origins

Origin of Harijan¹

Hindi, literally: man of God (so called by Mahatma Gandhi), from Hari god + jan man