Official British terminology for Untouchables shifted from Depressed Classes to Scheduled Castes in 1935

Evidence

The British government, from 1916 onwards, deployed the bureaucratic term Depressed Classes (used first in the volumes of the Bombay Gazetteer in 1877), which was replaced by Scheduled Castes in 1935 by the Government of India Act—a term that continues to be used in official parlance till date. ‘Harijan’ has been steadfastly rejected by the Ambedkarite and Dalit movements. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 800

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• DEFINE: Tracks the official terminology shifts for Untouchables.

Broader Connections

• British rule deliberately fanned caste and communal divisions in India #expands (0.40) — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 155