The Untouchables: The Story of the lowest caste in India

The history of the XX and XXI centuries is full equality to the brim. Modern society has successfully fought for the rights of women, children and even pets. We are proud to accept the achievements of civilization, considering that it has reached the most extreme limits of the earth.

In reality, however, things are quite different. Ancient culture is still cultivated inherited them from their ancestors traditions, dividing people not by their quality - but only by right of birth. So, for example, is the case in India, where the caste of untouchables is as much as 20% of the whole society and has almost no rights.

Varna System

In India, there is still a caste system. All society is divided into four castes: Brahman scholars Kshatriyas-warriors, farmers, and Sudras vaisyas servants. Apparently, this division was born as a result of contact of the existing tribal structure with cultural practices assimilated communities, whose members differ in skin color. Representatives of these four castes can interact with each other - that's only contact with the Sudras are considered undesirable.

Sudras

Closest to the untouchable caste of Sudras worth. These people for centuries were forced to do hard and dirty work. Actually, the Sudras can be called by some Indian farmers who own large areas of land. People from this caste work at socially acceptable positions. Such a person can be a blacksmith, carpenter, Vinokurov, bricklayer and even musician.

The Untouchables

Untouchables are outside the social division of India. They are working on the most dirty areas, remove dead animals, clean toilets and engaged in leather tanning. Untouchables closed doors of the temple. People can not do anything with his position, is determined only by right of birth. Entrance to the courtyard houses of any of the members of the upper castes untouchables is strictly prohibited, and the one who dares to desecrate the public well his bucket, waiting for a quick and brutal violence on the street.

to

Desecration of

Untouchable contempt and, at the same time, they fear all the other castes. The fact that people from the lower social strata can defile his presence of any other. Especially strictly monitor their surroundings Brahmins: untouchable should touch at least until the garment Brahmana and the latter will have to spend many years in an attempt to clean the stained karma.

Where did the untouchables

The existence of a whole class of pariahs identified history itself. In ancient times India was conquered civilized Aryans who did not integrate representatives of the conquered tribes in their society. Aria prefer to use indigenous people as staff. They immediately began to build separate villages, is located behind the main settlements of the walls. This practice gradually increased the gap between the conquerors and the oppressed, not allowing the latter and the chance to be integrated into society.

Occupation

Worst of all, they themselves took quite untouchable Aryan tradition existing in the caste division. These people are themselves divided into several sub-castes, by occupation. Currently, the most common representatives of Chamar-tanners, washerwomen and Dhobi-pariah engaged absolutely dirty work - garbage removal and cleaning toilets. Society for Contemporary India at 20% consists of untouchables, although the struggle for integration into normal society is more than a dozen years.

The fight for equality

First resistance shoots have appeared in the twentieth century. The main activist became Gandhi, who tried to destroy cultivated in society stereotype renaming caste in the Harijans, people of God. Gandhi's work was continued by the representative of the Brahmin caste, B. R. Ambedkar. Untouchables in his interpretation became Dalits, oppressed. Ambedkar has ensured that Dalits have allocated certain quotas in every sphere of activity. That is, the representatives of the untouchables are now, in theory, the ability to integrate into Indian society. But to the practical solution of the problem is still very far away. In 2008 alone, a Dalit decided to marry the girl-Kshatriyas. Arrogant fiance guard detachment of 500 Carabinieri - and yet, a new family of city just kicked.