untouchables

Untouchables, also called Dalit, is the former name for any member of a wide range of low-caste Hindu groups and any person outside the cast system. The Assembly of India in 1949 made it illegal to call anyone an untouchable, but many people are still called this and are stuck in this today.

Mahatma Gandi called untouchables Harijans (“Children of God”) and long worked for their freedom to move up in society. However, this name is now considered to be offensive. Kocheril Raman Narayanan, who served as president of India from 1997 to 2002, was the first untouchable to hold a powerful position in India.


 * Where do they live?**

They live in the lowest and dirtiest areas.

Most untouchables are not educated because the are so poor. They usually end up working for the family at a young age.
 * Education**

__**Some Rules For The Untouchables**__

You can only marry someone who is also an untouchable.

Traditionally these are jobs you could take (1) Killing animals to sell (very bad for Indian culture) (2) Washmen - Cleaning other people and their homes (3) Street Sweepers and city cleaners (4) Mortician - Burying the dead (5) Garbage Collector (6) Cleaning up after animals

In many cities there are separate places for untouchables to live. They are kept away from everyone else in small dirty homes.

They were forbidden entry to many temples, to most schools, and to wells from which higher castes drew water.

Their touch was seen as seriously polluting to people of higher caste, involving much remedial ritual.

In some cities untouchables were only allowed to go outside at night.