dalits.in

For 3,000 years India has had a caste system that has created four separate classes of people. These classes are called Varna:

Brahmins are at the top of the food chain, and get to say what is right and wrong in relation to all matters of society and religion. Traditionally they were priests and the like.

Next come the Kshatriyas, who were traditionally made up of soldiers and administrators.

The third class citizens of the Varna are known as Vaisyas, and are the artisans and commercial class.

Fourth come the Sudras who are made up of the farmers and peasants.

Then there is a fifth group, a group not even considered part of the Varna. These “Scheduled Castes” are the untouchables – the Dalit

The caste system was developed by the Brahmin caste to ensure that they remained at the top of the pile. When they introduced their grand scheme they created the myth that Brahmin come from Brahma’s mouth, Kshatriyas from Brahma’s arms, Vaisyas from his thighs, and Sudras from the feet.

Dalits were said not to come from Brahma at all because they are less than human. Dalits cause pollution by being in the presence of people of a higher caste. Touching a Dalit, or even touching a Dalit’s shadow, means that a member of a higher caste must cleanse themselves right away.

Of India’s billion plus population around 250 million Indians of them are Dalit. Other South Asian countries also have untouchables, including Nepal and Bangladesh.