Dalits and Religion
The Sachar Committee report of 2006 revealed that scheduled castes and tribes of India are not limited to the religion of Hinduism. The 61st round Survey of the NSSO found that almost nine-tenths of the Buddhists, one-third of the Sikhs, and one-third of the Christians in India belonged to the notified scheduled castes or tribes of the Constitution.
| Religion | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddhism | 89.50% | 7.40% | 96.90% |
| Christianity | 9.00% | 32.80% | 41.80% |
| Sikhism | 30.70% | 0.90% | 31.60% |
| Hinduism | 22.20% | 9.10% | 31.30% |
| Zoroastrianism | – | 15.90% | 15.90%(+?) |
| Jainism | – | 2.60% | 2.60%(+?) |
Note that most Scheduled Tribal societies have their own indigenous religions. Mundas have a Munda religion, for example. These indigenous or native religions are infused with elements of the local dominant religions, so that Munda religion contains many Hindu elements, some Christian elements, Jain or other elements.
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“Not thou nor thy religion dost controule,
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Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now,
Thou lov’st not, till from loving more, thou free
My soule: Who ever gives, takes libertie:
O, if thou car’st not whom I love
Alas, thou lov’st not mee.”
—John Donne (1572–1631)