Origin and Development of Dalit Community

Hindu religious and cultural values have sanctioned the principle and practice of untouchability, a system, perhaps unknown in any other part of the world. The so-called untouchables’ touch, shadow and sometimes even their voice were deemed by the caste Hindus to be polluting. They were forbidden to keep certain domestic animals to use certain metals for ornaments; were obliged to wear a particular type of dress, to eat a particular type of food, to use a particular type of footwear. They were forced to occupy the dirty, dingy, in sanitary and miserable shanties or cottages in the outskirts of villages and towns. Though these untouchables worshipped the gods of the Hindus and observed the same festivals, the Hindu temples were closed to them and the service of Brahmin priests was denied to them. Barbers and washer men refused to render them service. They did not have access to public road, schools and wells. The untouchables were treated by the caste Hindus as sub-humans, less than men and often treated them worse than beasts. Their miseries did not end at this. They had to follow the hereditary occupations, which were considered inferior, menial and polluting. Such occupations not only added to their degraded status, but also their miserable poverty. Thus these people were deprived of social economic, religious and civic rights.