dharna

[ dahr-nuh, duhr- ]

noun

1. (in India) the practice of exacting justice or compliance with a just demand by sitting and fasting at the doorstep of an offender until death or until the demand is granted.

dharna

/ ˈdɑː-; ˈdʌnə /

noun

1. (in India) a method of obtaining justice, as the payment of a debt, by sitting, fasting, at the door of the person from whom reparation is sought

Word History and Origins

Origin of dharna¹

1785–95; < Hindi: placing

Word History and Origins

Origin of dharna¹

C18: from Hindi, literally: a placing

Example Sentences

Dharna Noor knows all about the heat.

From Slate

Dharna Noor: There’s a few big shifts that we’ve seen.

From Slate

Guest: Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at The Guardian.

From Slate

“Men are using the designated women’s toilet, which has meant that it is unusable for us now. There are so many policemen here, I can’t understand why one of them couldn’t make sure that men don’t use our bathroom. This type of police inaction is exactly why I have come here to do dharna.”

From New York Times

These were his first responders – those who came to this roundabout near Parliament in central Delhi immediately after Mr. Kejriwal’s call for a “dharna,” or sit-in.

From New York Times