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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Famous quotes containing the word religion:
“But is it not the fact that religion emanates from the nature, from the moral state of the individual? Is it not therefore true that unless the nature be completely exercised, the moral state harmonised, the religion cannot be healthy?”
—Harriet Martineau (1802–1876)