Dalits in India
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Prevalence Of Caste Discrimination And Untouchability
In ancient times, the abuse of the Dalits was far worse than at present. Caste and
Untouchability was practiced to such an extreme that, for instance, even the
shadow of a Dalit casting itself on a Brahmin would attract severe punishment,
while, if a Dalit spoke harshly against the upper-castes, he would have a long nail
driven into his mouth as punishment.
The biggest offence a Dalit could commit under classical Untouchability was to
‘pollute’ the upper castes through intentional physical contact (which is why, in a
humorous manner, modern-day Dalits in urban and semi-urban areas take great
pleasure in deliberately touching traditional temple priests – the man is compelled
to take a bath).
Although the Constitution of India abolished Untouchability, which meant that
Dalits could not legally be excluded from mainstream life or forced to perform
“polluting” jobs traditionally related to their ‘Untouchable’ status, the practice
continues, though, at lower levels than ancient times, varying in extent and
intensity from state to state and between urban and rural areas.
According to the National Campaign For Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), driven
by the tenet of Untouchability, Dalits face almost 140 forms of work & descent
based discrimination at the hands of the dominant castes. Such discrimination
broadly occurs in three contexts – social, economic and religious.
Social Exclusion
“Let him not stay together with outcasts, nor with
Kandalas, nor with Pukkasas, nor with fools, nor with
overbearing men, nor with low-caste men, nor with
Antyavasayins.”
Social exclusion of the Dalits occurs throughout.....more.... Read the rest in the book...DOWNLOAD NOW FROM HOMEPAGE
More In This Chapter
4. Dalit Experience Of Pain
-Covert Slavery
-Modern Day Atrocities
-Increased Level Of Atrocities
-Role of State
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