1. A member of a social group in India historically considered outside the caste system and subject to discrimination; an untouchable.
Usage: historical; The term was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi as a respectful alternative to 'untouchable,' though it is now considered outdated. Modern usage prefers 'Dalit.'

Examples

• Gandhi used the term harijan to refer to those he believed deserved dignity and equal treatment.
• The harijan communities faced severe social restrictions under the traditional caste system.
• Modern Indian scholars prefer the term Dalit over the older designation harijan.
• Harijan rights became a central focus of social reform movements in twentieth-century India.