socio 2nd tri

8/18/2019 Socio 2nd Tri

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National law institute university, Bhopal

Project on

UNTOUCHABILITY IN INDIAN SOCIETY

Sociology- II

SUBMITTED BY-: SUBMITTED TO-:

DEEPAK KANEIYA D!BI PALSIN"H

#$%# B!A!ALL!B!&' ASSISTANT

PO(ESSO

II TIMESTE

Table of Contents

Introduction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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)t*te+ent o, ro.le+///////////////!!!/

O.jecti0e)/////////////////////

Hyot1e)i)////////////////!!!/

21o *re 3nto3c1*.le!////////////!//

S134r* in 0e4ic erio4/!////////////!!

B!r!*+.e45*r *n4 1i) )tr3ggle ,or t1e rig1t) o,

3nto3c1*.le)////////////!!/

ig1t) ro0i4e4 .y con)tit3tion/////////

Concl3)ion///////////////////!!

Bi.liogr*1y /////////////!


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ACKNOWLEDGEMNTS

I would like to thank my Sociology teacher Dr. Bir Pal Singh for allowing me to pick up such an

interesting topic. I would also like to thank my seniors as well as my friends for providingvaluable inputs during the course of this project.


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STATEMENT OF PROBLAM:-

Studying and preparing a detailed project on the untouchables and their status in society .

OBJECTIVES:-

1. o understand !who are untouchables! .

". o understand their position in #edic period.

$. Struggle by %mbedkar.

&. 'onstitutional powers and rights.

HYPOTHESIS:-

(ntouchables are generally engaged in profession which are treated as menial in

Indian society. Sc)s are generally treated as untouchables.


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Shudra’ s in vedic period

Basically the culture and tradition of a country depends on its historical background. %ncient #edic

culture still continues in some aspects in India because the Indians are the successor of the #edic

inhabitants. he culture was divided in two distinct groups* Dravidians and %ryans. #edas and

(panishads which had a thoughtful effect on the development of cultures+ traditions and religious

conviction of India. #edic culture has continued from 1,-- B' to ,-- B' in the north and northwestern

parts of India. his time period is divided into two parts he #edic #edic /eligion. 'aste meaning

Varna or color originated in #edic period. hrough this distinction %ryans claimed supremacy over the

con0uered Dasas and Panis2. It is a Portuguese word meaning clan. hey mastered the art of cultivation

with it emerged greater division of labor and hence need for different occupations.3nce the %ryans settled

as agriculturists the %ryan society developed into grouping what is known as the fourfold caste system.

hose who were fighting were known as Kshatriyas; those cultivating were known as Sudra*and+ the

lowest class in the priestly community elevated themselves to the status of Brahmins. Significantly+ with

the beginning of cultivation by the %ryans the earlier word 4gavasthi4 meaning search for cows came to

mean 5to fight5+ because fights between the various tribes of %ryans for fertile land and herds of cattle

were common. Soon+ by 6-- B.'. a new grouping emerged in the %ryan community+ a group of people

dealing with trade and commerce. his led to emergence of new class #aishyas+ the Sudra community

moved up to form this new grouping+ while the non%ryans and mi7ed%ryan became Sudras. he

concept of pollution also figured during this time as those who undertook unclean occupations like

cleaning of carcasses+ fishing and other occupations came into e7istence.

In the beginning+ the class system was not rigid. But in the later #edic period it became rigid when the


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Brahmins and the kshatriyas became powerful and the vaishyas were made to pay tributes. he sudras

became miserable and began to be treated as untouchables.

he Brahmins were speciali8ed in creating the sacred te7ts and carrying out various types of rituals and

they also acted as a priest. he people of royal family were classified as 9shatriyas. hey performed a

commanding role in society and helped to maintain law and order. In the :arly #edic Period all the three

upper classes Brahmins+ 9shatriyas+ and #aishyas were considered as relatively e0ual %ryan+ but in the

;ater #edic %ge the Brahmins and 9shatriyas became upper class. he #aishyas were traders and farmers

or any type of worker but the Shudras were the lower class* they were untouchable for upperclass and

were meant to serve the upper three classes.

The case s!se"+ in those days had some advantages. It reduced friction within the society. indu society disintegrated and fell an easy prey to foreign invaders .


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Landmark struggle by Dr.B.R. ambedkar for Untouchables.

%s the un0uestioned leader of the depressedclasses and the principal architect of the

Indian'onstitution+ the name of D#$ Bh%"#a& Ra"'eeA"(e)*a# +ill always be remembered

in Indianhistory. Dr. B./. %mbedkar isknown as the leader of the Indian(ntouchables+ as

modern indu

society).Dr. B./. %mbedkarplayed a vital role in shaping themodern Indian society. >estrongly

denounced theoutrageous attitude of theBrahmanical >induism towardsthe untouchables and

worked for the liberationof the untouchables from the oppression of >igh'aste >indus. he

caste system that subjugatedmore than one fifth of the population to levelsworse than animals for

more than two thousandyears of ine0uality became the prime target ofhis life. >e tried toremove untouchability in orderto establish a new social order based on theprinciple of e0uality.

>is entire life has been a sagaof relentless crusade for social justice. 3pposition to 'aste

System%ccording to %mbedkar+ the >induscheme of social structure based on the four#arnas or

'haturvarna breedsine0uality and has been the parentof the castesystem anduntouchability

which are merelyforms of ine0uality. In >induism+everything is casteoriented andcastebound.

'aste determinesone)s station and status in society.3ne is doomed if he is born in alower caste

or in an outcastefamily. Indian society is a gradationof castes forming an ascendingscale of

reverence and adescending scale of contempt+ asystem which gave no scope forthe growth of the

sentiment ofe0uality and fraternity so essential for a democraticform of government. he caste

system is not justa division of labour+ but a hierarchical division oflabourers which is not based

on natural aptitudeor spontaneity but on the caste of the parents. %mbedkar5s Struggle for

Safeguarding


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R%,hs & he ./&0cha(1es

In 1@"-+ %mbedkar started a e foundedthe ? Bahiskrit !itkarini Sabha on Auly "-+ 1@"&for the

upliftment of the depressed classes. heaim of the Sabha was to educate+ unite andagitate. >e

was firmly convinced that without theright knowledge education2 no fruitful purposeis served.

%lso+ however well educated withoutunity of action unity2 the goal becomes distant.But with

knowledge and unity+ strengthened byan agitation to demand what is rightfully ours+

amovement will be a definite success.%mbedkar embarked on three programmesC :ncouraging

free hostels for the

depressed class.C :stablishment of the People)s :ducationSociety for the depressed classes.C

Providing representation in the legislaturefor the depressed classes.%mbedkar also felt that the

bureaucracyshared the prejudices of the 'aste >indus againstthe depressed classes. >e wanted

the publicservices to be made responsive to the needs ofthe weaker sections. his could be

ensuredthrough greater number of jobs to the scheduledcastes and tribes in the civil services and

othergovernmental services.In 1@" %mbedkar started Satyagrahaat


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%ward! in 1@$" providing for separate electorate for the Depressed 'lasses. "n #rotest$ %andhi

resorted to fasting unto death. remendous pressure wasmounted on %mbedkar to withdraw

this demandfor the status of separate electorate for?untouchables). %mbedkar was unperturbed

andsaid Ghe


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C0##e/ 2&s%%&/ a/) #%,hs 2#&3%)e) (! c&/s%0%&/$

Indian law does not recogni8e the ageold practice of untouchability. his practice is a form of

social discrimination against certain groups of persons+ based on their caste.:ven today+ it is relevant because there are honor killings conducted in the name of inter caste marriages. In real life+

untouchability is not talked about much because it is an ugly truth that people are discriminated against

based on their caste.

%lthough the history of untouchability goes back to the period of the #edas and Puranas+ the

implementation of it was based on mistaken interpretations of the people of that time. %s we all know+

beliefs can be dangerous when people misuse it to gain positions of absolute power and prestige in

society. hese blind beliefs plague the Indian society and get translated into illogical+ cruel and intolerant

actions against specific communities such as the Dalits.

I/)%a/ La+: Le,a1 Meas0#es a,a%/s ./&0cha(%1%!

Indian law does not permit the practice of untouchability. A#%c1e 45 of the 'onstitution of India bans the

practice. he government of India has passed the ./&0cha(%1%! Ac6 4788+ to eliminate any form of

caste based discrimination. o eradicate the caste based discrimination+ the government introduced the

reservation system+ meaning that it has reserved seats in educational institutes and government services

for Dalits. Political parties in India use this as the bait to get votes from the Dalit community too.

>owever+ this is a highly debated issue because many Dalits oppose it+ stating that merit should be given

preference over caste considerations$

Hhether we practice or preach against 0/&0cha(%1%!+ the truth is that it is still practiced in various parts

of India. hose who dared to 0uestion social discrimination faced physical and mental torment because

the social ground reality still remains the same for them.


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O0# c&/#%(0%&/ & Re"&3e ./&0cha(%1%! :

He can do a lot to remove untouchability from our society. he most important way to prevent

e7ploitation of Ha#%'a/s Dalit2 by the uppercastes is to take concrete steps to help the >arijansimprove their own financial conditions.

1. :ducating them and providing vocational training and jobs can also achieve this purpose.

". %ssistance can also be given so that they can setup their own smallscale or cottage industries.

$. %wareness can be created amongst the rest of the people with the use of films and theatre+

songs+ bhajans+ talks+ and discussions. he evil effects of this practice can be highlighted through

these mediums.

&. his can be made more effective if we start right from the beginning+ by informing children

that we are all e0ual.


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B%(1%&,#a2h!

%rticle GDr. B./. %mbedkar he


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Bibliogra#hy and soft data

%rticle GDr. B./. %mbedkar he

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