India’s 250 million Dalits are often described as the largest oppressed group in the world.

They were formerly known as ‘untouchables’, being regarded in the Hindu tradition as being outside the caste system. They have taken the name Dalit for themselves, as it means ‘crushed’ or ‘broken’ and it reflects their position as a dispossessed community who face continuous economic exploitation and social and cultural oppression.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently acknowledged the parallel between the practice of untouchability and the crime of apartheid. He described untouchability as a “blot on humanity” adding that “even after 60 years of constitutional and legal protection and state support, there is still social discrimination against Dalits.”

Amos raises awareness of the continued oppression of the Dalits, supports the development of Dalit theologies of liberation and through the Tamarind Project promotes sustainable community based responses.

"It is vital for the future of the Dalit liberation struggle that we remain ever mindful that ours is a shared struggle, that we are each other’s fate."
Jacob Devadason Tamarind Project

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