The word “pariah” was first recorded in English in 1613. The Encyclopedia Britannica definition reads: “formerly known as untouchables but renamed by the Indian social reformer Mahatma Gandhi as ‚Harijans' (children of the God Hari/Visnu, or, simply, children of God). The word pariah — originally derived from Tamil language word paraiyar, ‚drummer' — once referred to the Paraiyan, a Tamil Nadu caste group” (www.britannica.com).
When the word “pariah” is used in the international news media, it attributes the meaning of an outcast. This word has appeared at least 4 times in this sense in CMAJ since 2000. In English, it apparently conveys an undignified meaning that is undermining to an indigenous caste group. Its use should be avoided.