Harijan (Hindustani: हरिजन (Devanagari), ہریجن (Nastaleeq); translation: "child of God") was a term used by Gandhi for Dalits. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable', and called them Harijans, which means children of God. It is still in wide use especially in Gandhi's home state of Gujarat.
The term can also be attributed to Dalits of Pakistan called the haris, who are a group of mud-hut builders.
Although Gandhi popularized the term, he was not the first person to use it. The female Bhakti writer Gangasati used the term to refer to herself during the Bhakti movement, a period in India that gave greater status and voice to women while challenging the legitimacy of caste. This period started in the 4th century BC but is a living force in India today, flourishing particularly during India's middle ages. Gangasati lived around the 12th-14th century and wrote in the Gujurati language. [1]
Harijans were also several weekly newspapers published by Mahatma Gandhi. He created three publications, Harijan in English (from 1933 to 1948), Harijan Bandu in Gujarati, and Harijan Sevak in Hindi. These newspapers found the Mahatma concentrating on social and economic problems.[2]