SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENT AMONG THE HARIZEN (CHAMAR) OF UNITED PROVINCE

India as a country houses several religions and spiritual systems. Notable religions are Hinduism, Muslims, Sikh, Christian, Jains, Parsi and several others. The Hinduism happens to be the followed by majority of Indians technically if not practically. The Hindu population constitutes 72% of total population of India. Hinduism is more or less represented in every part of India. It is followed by a large number of peoples in Uttar Pradesh. Before 1950 Uttar Pradesh had known as United Provinces. Hinduism divided into four following Varna‟s: Brahman, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. It is form of caste system and caste is decided upon birth. Caste is also divided into subcastes. The Harizen Caste is a scheduled caste and traditionally treated as untouchable caste. This caste has had a significant contribution in the social structure but it was placed at the lowest level in the Brahminical Hindu order. This paper focuses upon the attempt being made by Dalits in general and the Harizen in particular to reform their social and cultural conditions by the way of undertaking reform process. This paper is mainly focused on understanding social and religious condition of the Harizen caste in United Provinces and also examines the nature of social and religious movements by its ethnic organizations.