Why are people in India still divided into “pure” and “untouchable” (5 photos)

It would seem like a wild relic of the past, which is long overdue to be abandoned. However, castes and “second-class people” still exist in the country.





The lowest caste in India is the "untouchables" or "achhuts". Those who engage in heavy physical labor or work with “unclean objects.” For example, sanitation workers, garbage men, prostitutes, butchers, fishermen, street vendors and traveling performers.

People from this caste are prohibited from communicating with representatives of the “elite”. An exception is made only for hairdressers, who also live at the very bottom of the Indian caste system.



Also, “untouchables” are prohibited from eating in public catering, drawing water from public wells, receiving a full education and wearing smart clothes. These are outcasts from society, with minimal chances of achieving anything.

The reasons for the emergence of the caste system are still debated. There are two main versions: conquest and epidemic.

As for the conquest of India: scientists believe that castes and the strict division of society appeared precisely thanks to the invaders. They occupied the territory of India, which then consisted of many principalities, and divided the entire society into the “elite” and everyone else. The elite included, for example, brahmins and warriors - the same conquerors. And the middle and lower castes “got” to ordinary people - the local population.





And the second version is epidemiological.

Due to overpopulation and unsanitary conditions, outbreaks of dangerous infections periodically occurred in India. The main spreaders of diseases were people who did “dirty” work. Their services could not be refused, but no one wanted to contact them - so they were assigned to a special caste of “untouchables”. At the same time, tanners and blacksmiths were placed in this caste; it was believed that their work was directly related to “communication with lower spirits.”



The caste system appeared tens, if not hundreds, of generations ago, but it still works. In some parts of the country, “achkhuts” are settled in separate areas so that they do not even accidentally intersect with the “elite”.



Of course, Indian laws now prohibit dividing people into “pure” and “untouchable.” But in practice they do not work and a significant part of society continues to remain outcasts.