Why We Should Stop Using The Word 'Pariah'

A listener calls in to discuss the history of the word 'pariah'. We use this word to describe an outcast from society. But the origins of the word have cultural significance that you may not be aware of.

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Caller: I meant to be about it a couple of times last year. but the whole prayer thing kind of brought it up again. It's kind of small, it's kind of a small thing like responsible language. And I was wondering if you guys were familiar with the etymology of the word pariah?

Sam: No.

Caller: So basically the word pariah actually comes from a south Indian like so-called untouchable caste called the pariah caste. And I've actually heard a lot of like-minded folks in I am Indian and I've heard a lot of folks in the Indian leftist community talk about how commonplace it is to like to use the term. It's just something I wanted to like kind of bring up and also use as a pivot to like wonder if you guys were interested in having someone on to talk about caste issues in India what like the dullet movement and like you know the obviously the movement for Muslim liberation was about as well.

Sam: That would be interesting actually if you've got some suggestions will you send us an email at majorityreporters@gmail.com?

Caller: Oh yeah for sure.

Sam: All right so in terms of that term pariah like what is what do we use i mean are you saying that it's like it's inappropriate to use that word? and if so what is the synonym that we could use for that.

Caller: Well I've I we usually I've usually used the term outcast. And I only recently learned about the term pariah like the origins of the temporary. but it's actually from yeah it's a south Indian like basically a south Indian like caste community and it kind of perpetuates these stereotypes about you know certain kinds of people certain kinds of communities. it's kind of like you know the what's it the archaic term like we don't use that anymore because it kind of paints a certain community of bad light. Yeah so like outcast gen tends to be like you know though outcasts might also refer to the same kind of dynamic without necessarily throwing a specific community on the bus rather than talk about the dynamic itself right?

Sam: Yeah yeah I mean I'm definitely open and sympathetic to that term being problematic. I wonder if there's not a better synonym. but the outcast doesn't quit and because it implies that you've actually been cast out as opposed to I guess using caste.

Caller: Yeah it's tough it's like on the tip of my tongue I feel like there is a different term but like I've never had the need for it personally. So I'm not exactly sure.

Emma: the awareness about it is the awareness of it is helpful in and of itself.

Caller: Oh for sure and I think cast issues are generally a really interesting and important topic. Indian left movements are very fascinating and actually. oh this is the timing on this call was really poignant because apparently there are reports coming out right now that like communist leaders in south India who are also like anti-caste are like apparently there's been like a very big murder in south India of like a communist party leader in one of the states. and yeah it's the Indian leftist movement is a very poignant thing to study. There's a specific movement that I think is based in Europe called equality labs. and they're very much dedicated to the fight against generally Hindu supremacy. and the whole notion of internationalism. You know and as somebody myself who's from an extremely privileged part of the Hindu community, I kind of feel a responsibility to talk about that.