Untouchables are not included in the system of four varnas. They are considered capable of defiling members of higher castes, especially Brahmins.

The untouchables are divided according to the traditional activities of their representatives, as well as according to the area of ​​their residence. The most common categories of untouchables are chamars (tanners), dhobi (washerwomen).

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According to one version, a group of untouchable castes arose in ancient times from local tribes that were not included in the society of the Aryans who conquered India. Untouchables were assigned to such activities as garbage collection, work with leather or clay. Members of such castes lived in separate quarters or settlements on the sidelines of the settlements of "pure" castes, did not have their own land, and for the most part were dependent workers in other people's farms.

The untouchables were formally considered Hindus, but they were forbidden to enter Hindu temples, participate in Hindu rituals, and therefore they had their own gods, their own priests and rituals. The untouchables practiced Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the Shaivite tradition of Nath.

In the 20th century, the struggle of the untouchables for equality began. The fight against untouchability was actively led by Gandhi. He began to call them Harijans (people of God). The struggle for the rights of the untouchables in the 1930s and 40s was led by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He called the untouchables Dalits(oppressed). He succeeded in enshrining in the laws of colonial India, and then in the constitution of independent India of 1950, a system according to which quotas of vacancies in the civil service, seats in legislative bodies and in higher educational institutions. The practice of untouchability is constitutionally prohibited, and discrimination based on caste is considered a criminal offence.

However, in rural areas Dalits are often victims of harassment, violence and cruelty. According to the Madras-based NGO Human Rights Education Movement, on average, every hour, two Dalits are attacked, three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are killed and two Dalit houses are burned down. For example, in June 2008, a mob of armed rioters attacked people from the lower castes in the city of Miapur (Bihar state) and shot dead 35 people, eight of whom were Dalits. The smallest claims of Dalit rights—a Dalit registered as a candidate for a local council, a Dalit boy courting a high-caste girl, a Dalit using water from a high-caste well—can provoke violence.

Millions of Dalits converted to Islam, Christianity, or Buddhism in order to break out of the caste-based Hindu society. But traces of the caste hierarchy persist in both Christian and Muslim communities.

Dalits are fighting for equality. They enter tea rooms and break "separate dishes" (the caste system forces Dalits to drink from "their" cups). They infiltrate temples, violating an ancient Hindu prohibition against Dalits entering sacred places. According to Hindu tradition, the groom comes to the wedding on a horse, but when Dalits try to do the same, they are subjected to severe persecution. In June 2008, in the state of Rajasthan, a Dalit groom rode his horse for the first time, guarded by 400 police officers, ambulances and medical teams.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dalit political parties emerged across India. The 1998 elections showed that the consolidation of Dalits with other minorities led to the creation of an influential electoral bloc in many Indian cities. Dalit woman Mayawati became the prime minister of Uttar Pradesh. In 2008, the first Dalit became a judge of the Supreme Court of India.

The most striking example of the emancipation of Dalits is

The session involves 2 operators (O1 and O2).

Q: There are so-called untouchables. They have nothing to do with the untouchable caste in India. Does your EJ know what the untouchables are on Earth?
A1: Which cannot be annihilated and removed, nothing can be done with them. So? Yes, there is. More inviolable, right?
Q: This is called the untouchables, as I received this information earlier. Maybe inviolable, it doesn’t matter, they can’t be touched. I know people who, for example, gypsies approached and tried to "deceive, let's tell fortunes," and then a more experienced gypsy approached and apologized that, they say, she (the first) did not know who you were, that you were untouchable. That is, it is already readable at the level of gypsies. If even gypsies can count it, then specialists can count it, and anyone. Accordingly, until you know about this status, you are just lucky in life, as if straws are being laid everywhere, but if you know about it, you can certainly use it in some way, right? “I have my will, I set such and such an intention, to remove such and such blocks from me.” To what extent is this even possible?

A1: It's possible. Untouchable people are those who are beneficial to everyone. Neither side will dare to remove them, it is impossible, it is, as it were, such a key incarnation that you are important to everyone. Without you, Khan to everyone. Therefore, they can intimidate until you know who you are. They scare you to waste energy. But if you realize it, then it is impossible to influence in any way. Of course, you can also set an intention, but there are such powers!

A2: For such people, it feels differently, they have always been like that and don't know how to do it differently, even in those incarnations that were for recreation. Another issue is that it was very difficult to rebuild at first, because you know that you are very big, you can do anything. And it was very difficult at first to be in this body, in principle, in human bodies. Because you are completely disproportionate. And what to do with it is also unclear. And you need to find the settings in the body so that they are somehow combined with the top, adjust the body

A1: Personal development should go on anyway. One intention here will not work so hard. That is, they (the untouchables) cannot pump much the right now, because for this it is necessary to develop. Come into your own rights and really work on the body. Lots of technicians. The human body, even backward and degradant, is still infinite in some of its foundations. Even it can be shaken to very strong limits. Maybe not like before, giant bodies, or some other. The bodies were completely different. And the human body can also be brought up - by the way, one of the tasks is to improve your bodies so that there is an example for people, as much as possible.

Because the bodies use somewhere around 3% of the possibilities of what was originally laid in them. And from the fact that people do not remember that there is such power in their bodies - they use only the simplest types of energy and simply use them for work. Even biorobots. But let's say we take ordinary people - with a developed Spirit, the body can be brought to completely different levels. Up to the point that you can change your appearance - but these are still flowers. You can split, then gather back, and thus move, overcome matter completely. For this you need to work. This needs to be developed. This is where discipline is needed. And we have been given such an undisciplined consciousness, specially built in. Everything is for development, of course, but you need to overcome this undisciplined essence. That's just in the body - if there is more order in itself, then the body will have more strength, and the intention, accordingly, will be much stronger.

To some extent, the untouchables are those who are called magicians, shamans, priests, and even gods. In different cultures of the world, they left their imprints and continue to do so to this day. It doesn't matter at all whether you are untouchable or not. Like any conscious being in this universe, you have the right if you think they are being violated.

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into separate groups - castes. In fact, there is a division in every country, but only in India it is too obvious. From a higher caste, a person can easily descend to a lower one - almost never. There are four castes in total: brahmins or priests, kshatriyas or warriors, vaishyas - artisans and merchants, shudras - attendants, but one last fifth caste, which is not part of the four varnas, is untouchable.

The Brahmin caste is the elite of Indian society, the untouchables are the lowest and most disrespectful. People of a lower caste do not have the right to drink water from the same source from higher castes. They cannot use public transport services, hospitals and clinics, go to shops, government offices and temples.

Touching people from the lowest caste is strictly forbidden, because. it is believed that in this way a person can defile himself. Previously, it was believed that you can go to the untouchable caste with one touch to them. This is where their name comes from.

The untouchables themselves are divided into several separate groups, mainly according to the type of activity, although there are some exceptions. The Chamars are a group that includes tanners, leather dressers, and shoemakers. Another group of untouchable dhobis, they include laundresses - people who do laundry. Mata or barbers (barbers) are engaged in cutting or shaving the beard. There are also garbage collectors and janitors. All these groups of people are more or less respectful, although they are untouchables. After all, without these people the existence of society would be impossible.

The criminal component of the "untouchable" society is Sansi, thieves. They are treated not only without respect, but with contempt and even hatred. The most strange and little-studied group of Indian outcasts are the Hijra. In fact, they include homosexual men and transvestites. True hijra. They engage in begging, prostitution, extortion, and sometimes stealing.

The last group of untouchables are Dalits, they are also called pariahs. In general, they do not belong to any of the castes; pariahs are born from "mixed" marriages. Those. These are people whose parents belonged to different castes.

As early as the beginning of the 20th century, the untouchable caste began the struggle for equality. According to the constitution, caste division is unlawful; at present, persecution on the basis of caste is considered a criminal offense. But this is only on paper, but in reality everything is different. Untouchables in cafes and restaurants, and if they are allowed, then "separate dishes" are reserved for them. As before, they are not allowed to enter hospitals for ordinary people, they are not allowed to. And although the untouchables are constantly fighting for their rights, Indian society will not soon move away from the "caste" relic of the past.

At the end of July, a 14-year-old untouchable died in a hospital ward in New Delhi, who had been held in sexual slavery by a neighbor for a month. The dying woman told the police that the kidnapper threatened her with a knife, forced her to drink juice mixed with acid, did not feed her, and, together with friends, raped her several times a day.

As law enforcement officers found out, this was already the second kidnapping - the previous one was committed by the same person in December last year, but he was released on bail.

According to local media, this condescension the court showed in relation to the criminal, since his victim was from Dalits(untouchables), which means her life and freedom were worth nothing.

Although discrimination based on caste is prohibited in India, Dalits are still the poorest, most disadvantaged and most uneducated part of society.
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How did the untouchables appear?

According to the most common version, these are the descendants of representatives of the tribes who lived in India before the Aryan invasion. In the traditional Aryan system of society, consisting of four varnas - Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants and artisans) and Shudras (hired workers) - Dalits were at the very bottom, below the Shudras, who were also descendants of the pre-Aryan inhabitants of India . At the same time, in India itself, a version that arose back in the 19th century is widespread, according to which the untouchables are the descendants of children expelled into the forests, born from the relationship of a Sudra man and a Brahmin woman.

The oldest Indian literary monument, the Rigveda (compiled in 1700-1100 BC), says that the Brahmins came from the mouth of the ancestral man Purusha, the Kshatriyas from the hands, the Vaishyas from the thighs, and the Shudras from the feet. There is no place for the untouchables in this picture of the world. The varna system finally took shape in the interval between the 7th century BC. and II century AD.

It is believed that the untouchable can defile people from the highest varnas, so their houses and villages were built on the outskirts. The system of ritual restrictions among the untouchables is no less strict than that of the Brahmins, although the restrictions themselves are completely different. The untouchables were forbidden to enter restaurants and temples, wear umbrellas and shoes, walk in shirts and sunglasses, but they were allowed to eat meat - which strict vegetarian Brahmins could not afford.

Is that what they call in India - "untouchables"?

Now this word is almost out of use, it is considered offensive. The most common name for the untouchables is dalits, "oppressed" or "oppressed." Previously, there was also the word "harijans" - "children of God", which Mahatma Gandhi tried to introduce into everyday life. But it did not take root: the Dalits considered it to be just as offensive as the "untouchables".

How many Dalits are there in India and how many castes do they have?

Approximately 170 million people - 16.6 percent of the total population. The question of the number of castes is very complicated, since the Indians themselves almost never use the word “castes”, preferring the more vague concept of “jati”, which includes not only castes in the usual sense, but also clans and communities, which are often difficult to classify as one or the other. another varna. In addition, the line between caste and podcast is often very vague. We can only say with certainty that we are talking about hundreds of jati.

Dalits still live in poverty? How is social status related to economic status?

In general, the lower castes are indeed much poorer. The bulk of the Indian poor are Dalits. The average literacy rate in the country is 75 percent, among Dalits - just over 30. Almost half of the children of Dalits, according to statistics, drop out of school because of the humiliation they are subjected to there. It is the Dalits who make up the bulk of the unemployed; and those who are employed tend to be paid less than those of the higher castes.

Dhavari is a slum in Mumbai where Dalits have lived since the late 19th century.

Although there are exceptions: in India, there are approximately 30 millionaire Dalits. Of course, against the backdrop of 170 million poor and beggars, this is a drop in the ocean, but they prove with their lives that one can succeed even as a Dalit. As a rule, these are really outstanding people: Ashok Khade from the Chamar (tanner) caste, the son of an illiterate poor shoemaker, worked as a dock worker during the day and read textbooks at night to get an engineering degree, and at the same time slept under the stairs on the street, since he did not enough money to rent a room. His company is now pursuing deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This is a typical Dalit success story, a kind of blue dream for millions of the underprivileged.

Have the untouchables ever tried to start a riot?

As far as we know, no. Before the colonization of India, this thought could hardly have occurred at all: at that time, expulsion from the caste was equated with physical death. After colonization, social boundaries began to gradually blur, and after India gained independence, the rebellion for Dalits lost its meaning - they were given all the conditions to achieve their goals through political means.

The extent to which submissiveness has become ingrained in the minds of Dalits can be illustrated by an example given by Russian researchers Felix and Evgenia Yurlov. The Bahujan Samaj Party, representing the interests of the lower castes, organized special training camps for Dalits, in which they learned to "overcome centuries of fear and fear in the face of high-caste Hindus." Among the exercises was, for example, the following: a stuffed high-caste Hindu with a mustache and a tilak (dot) on his forehead was installed. Dalit had to overcome his timidity and go up to the effigy, cut off his mustache with scissors and wipe off the tilak.

Is it possible to escape from the untouchables?

It is possible, although not easy. The easiest way is to change religion. A person who converts to Buddhism, Islam or Christianity technically falls out of the caste system. Dalits first began converting to Buddhism in significant numbers at the end of the 19th century. Mass conversions are associated with the name of the famous fighter for the rights of Dalits, Dr. Ambedkar, who converted to Buddhism along with half a million untouchables. The last such mass ceremony was held in Mumbai in 2007 - then at the same time 50 thousand people became Buddhists at once.

Many Dalits live in slums on the outskirts of metropolitan areas.

Dalits prefer to turn to Buddhism. Firstly, Indian nationalists treat this religion better than Islam and Christianity, since it is one of the traditional Indian religions. Secondly, among Muslims and Christians, over time, their own caste division was formed, albeit not as pronounced as among the Hindus.

Is it possible to change caste while remaining a Hindu?

There are two options here: the first is all sorts of semi-legal or illegal methods. For example, many surnames that indicate belonging to a particular caste differ by one or two letters. It is enough to slightly corrupt or charm a clerk in a government office - and, voila, you are already a member of another caste, and sometimes a varna. It is better, of course, to do such tricks either in the city, or in combination with moving to another area where there are not thousands of fellow villagers around who knew your grandfather.

The second option is the “ghar vapasi” procedure, literally “welcome home”. This program is implemented by radical Hindu organizations and aims to convert Indians of other religions to Hinduism. In this case, a person becomes, for example, a Christian, then sprinkles ashes on his head, announcing his desire to perform "ghar vapasi" - and that's all, he is again a Hindu. If this trick is done outside of your native village, then you can always claim that you belong to a different caste.

Another question is why do all this. A caste certificate will not be asked when applying for a job or when entering a restaurant. In India, over the past century, the caste system has been breaking down under the influence of the processes of modernization and globalization. Attitude towards a stranger is built on the basis of his behavior. The only thing that can fail is the surname, which is most often associated with the caste (Gandhis - merchants, Deshpande - Brahmins, Acharis - carpenters, Guptas - Vaishyas, Singhs - Kshatriyas). But now, when anyone can change their last name, everything has become much easier.

And change the varna without changing the caste?

There is a chance that your caste will undergo a Sanskritization process. In Russian, this is called “vertical mobility of castes”: if one or another caste adopts the traditions and customs of another, higher caste, there is a chance that sooner or later it will be recognized as a member of a higher varna. For example, the lower caste begins to practice vegetarianism, characteristic of the Brahmins, dress like Brahmins, wear a sacred thread on the wrist and generally position themselves as Brahmins, it is possible that sooner or later they will begin to be treated as Brahmins.

Untouchable woman, 1968

However, vertical mobility is characteristic mainly of castes of higher varnas. None of the Dalit castes has yet managed to cross the invisible line that separates them from the four varnas and even become Shudras. But times are changing.

In general, as a Hindu, you are not required to declare belonging to any caste. You can be a casteless Hindu - your right.

Why change caste at all?

It all depends on which way to change - up or down. An increase in caste status means that other people for whom the caste is significant will treat you with more respect. Downgrading your status, especially to the Dalit caste level, will give you a number of real advantages, so many higher castes try to enroll as Dalits.

The fact is that in modern India, the authorities are waging a merciless fight against caste discrimination. According to the constitution, any discrimination based on caste is prohibited, and you will even have to pay a fine for asking about caste when applying for a job.

But the country has a mechanism of positive discrimination. A number of castes and tribes are listed as "Scheduled Tribes and Castes" (SC/ST). Representatives of these castes have certain privileges, which are confirmed by caste certificates. For Dalits, places are reserved in the civil service and in parliament, their children are admitted free of charge (or for half the fee) to schools, places have been allocated for them in institutes. In short, there is a quota system for Dalits.

It's hard to say if this is good or bad. The author of these lines met Dalits who were able to give odds to any Brahmin in terms of intelligence and general development - quotas helped them rise from the bottom and get an education. On the other hand, one had to see Dalits going with the flow (first by quotas for the institute, then by the same quotas for the civil service), not interested in anything and not wanting to work. They cannot be fired, so their future is secured until old age and a good pension. Many in India criticize the quota system, many defend it.

So Dalits can be politicians?

How else can they. For example, Kocheril Raman Narayanan, who was President of India from 1997 to 2002, was a Dalit. Another example is Mayawati Prabhu Das, also known as the Mayawati Iron Lady, who served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for a total of eight years.

Kocheril Raman Narayanan with his wife

Is the number of Dalits the same in all states of India?

No, it varies, and quite significantly. Most Dalits live in the state of Uttar Pradesh (20.5 percent of all Dalits in India), followed by West Bengal (10.7 percent). At the same time, as a percentage of the total population, Punjab holds the lead with 31.9 percent, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 25.2 percent.

How can Dalits work?

Theoretically, anyone - from the president to the toilet cleaner. Many Dalits act in films and work as fashion models. In cities where caste lines are blurred, there are no restrictions at all; in villages where ancient traditions are strong, Dalits are still engaged in "impure" work: skinning dead animals, digging graves, prostitution, and so on.

How will the social status of a person who marries / will marry an untouchable change?

If this person himself is from the untouchables, then no way. If he belongs to the highest caste, then this means a violation of custom. Further, it all depends on how his family adheres to unwritten traditions. Things can go as far as expulsion from home, a break with relatives, and even “honor killings”. If family and friends look at things more progressively, then the social status will remain the same.

Suva Lal, Dalit shoemaker in New Delhi

If a child is born as a result of an inter-caste marriage, to which caste will he be assigned?

Traditionally in India, the child was recorded in the lowest caste. Now it is considered that the child inherits the caste of the father, with the exception of the state of Kerala, where, according to local law, the caste of the mother is inherited. This is theoretically possible in other states, but in each individual case it is decided through the courts.

A typical story that happened in 2012: then a Kshatriya man married a woman from the Nayak tribe. The boy was registered as a kshatriya, but then his mother, through the courts, ensured that the child was rewritten as a nayak so that he could take advantage of the bonuses provided to disadvantaged tribes.

If I, as a tourist in India, touch a Dalit, can I then shake hands with a Brahmin?

Foreigners in Hinduism are already considered unclean, because they are outside the caste system, therefore they can touch anyone and for whatever reason, without defiling themselves in any way. If a practicing brahmin decides to communicate with you, then he will still have to perform purification rituals, so whether you shook the Dalit’s hand before or not is essentially indifferent.

The Untouchables: 10 Facts About India's Lowest Caste

In reality, things don't work out that way at all. The most ancient cultures still cultivate the traditions inherited from their ancestors, dividing people by no means according to their qualities - but only by birthright. This is the case, for example, in India, where the untouchable caste makes up as much as 20% of the entire society and has almost no rights.

Faktrum tells about the history and life of the untouchables.

1. Varna system

India still has a caste system. The whole society is divided into four varnas: brahmin scholars, kshatriya warriors, vaishya farmers and sudras, servants. Apparently, this division was born as a result of the contact of an already existing tribal structure with the cultural customs of assimilated communities, whose members were distinguished by a different skin color. Representatives of these four varnas can interact with each other - only contacts with shudras are considered undesirable.

Photos: www.dnpmag.com

2. Sudras

Closest to the untouchables is the Shudra caste. These people from time immemorial were forced to do hard and dirty work. Actually, the Shudras can be called some kind of peasants of India, who own large plots of land. People from this caste work in socially acceptable positions. Such a person can be a blacksmith, a carpenter, a distiller, a bricklayer, and even a musician.

3. Untouchables

The untouchable caste is outside the social division of India. They work in the dirtiest places, clean up dead animals, clean toilets and tan leather. The doors of temples are closed for the untouchables. People can do nothing with their position, which is determined only by birthright. Untouchables are strictly forbidden to enter the courtyards of the houses of any member of the higher castes, and anyone who dares to desecrate a public well with his bucket will face a quick and cruel reprisal right on the street.

4. Desecration

The untouchables are despised and, at the same time, feared by all other castes. The fact is that a person from the lower stratum of society can defile anyone else with his presence. Brahmins are especially strict about their surroundings: as soon as an untouchable touches at least the edge of a Brahmin's clothes, the latter will have to spend many years trying to cleanse the stained karma.

5. Where did the untouchables come from

The existence of a whole class of pariahs was determined by history itself. In ancient times, India was conquered by civilized Aryans, who did not integrate representatives of the conquered tribes into their society. The Aryans preferred to use the indigenous population as attendants. They immediately began to build separate settlements located outside the walls of the main settlements. This practice gradually widened the gap between the conquerors and the oppressed, not giving the latter even a single chance to be integrated into society.

6. Occupation

Worst of all, the untouchables themselves completely accepted the existing tradition of the Aryans for caste division. These people themselves were divided into several sub-castes, according to the type of activity. At the moment, the representatives of Chamar-tanners, dhobi-washerwomen and pariahs, who are engaged in very dirty work - taking out garbage and cleaning toilets, are most common. The society of modern India is 20% untouchable, although the struggle for integration into ordinary society has been going on for more than a dozen years.

7. Fight for equality

The first sprouts of resistance appeared already in the 20th century. The main activist was Gandhi, who tried to destroy the stereotype cultivated in society by renaming the caste into Harijans, the people of God. The case of Gandhi was continued by the representative of the Brahmin caste, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. The untouchables in his interpretation became Dalits, the oppressed. Ambedkar ensured that the Dalits were given certain quotas in each area of ​​activity. That is, representatives of the untouchables now have, theoretically, the opportunity to merge into Indian society.

But the practical solution of the problem is still very far away. Only in 2008, one of the Dalit caste decided to marry a Kshatriya girl. The arrogant groom was guarded by a detachment of 500 carabinieri - and yet, the new family was simply expelled from the city.