The literal meaning of Bahujan is “the majority of people” or a “large population”. Who are these people who form the majority? This huge Bahujan society is born out of the caste system of Hindu society. Hindu society is the aggregation of castes, in which all castes do not enjoy equal social and economic status. The Hindu religious system has deprived a huge population of independence and opportunities for progress. These include the Shudras, who are at the bottom of the ladder, and outside the caste system are Chandals and others, who are called the Untouchables. It is the Shudras and Untouchables who comprise Bahujan society. Bahujan society is on the margins even to this day, and it depends on the upper castes for its socio-economic redemption.
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