Social Movement: A social movement is a sustained collective effort that focuses on some aspect of social change. M.S.A. Rao says that a social movement essentially involves sustained collective mobilisation through either informal or formal organisation and is generally oriented towards bringing about change in the existing system of relationships.

1. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (M. K. Gandhi),

2. Jyotiba Phule,

3. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar,

4. E.V. Ramaswami Periyar.

1. Anit-caste movements.

2. Non-Brahman movements.

3. Social movements against untouchability.

4. The Ad-Dharam movements launched in Punjab.

5. The Satnami movements in Uttar Pradesh.

6. Narayana Guru's movement in Kerala.

7. Adi-Dravidas movements in Tamil Nadu.

8. The Scheduled Caste Federation.

9. The Republic Party.

10. The Dalit Panther Movement.

Dalits: Broadly speaking, ‘the untouchables' of the Hindu Caste system are officially known as the Scheduled Castes. The same category of castes is also called Harijan, the children of God a term coined by M. K. Gandhi in 1933. However, the word Harijan has now acquired a synonymous meaning. The members of these castes prefer to be called dalit, the oppressed.