Untouchability is the act of isolating a particular community of people from the mainstream of the society.it is not merely the inability to touch a person; it is a kind of phenomena where untouchables are considered to be inferior at every stage of social system. Under Untouchability people belonging to lower castes are despised and denied social equality because their touch is consider to be polluting.
Untouchables are ‘outcastes’ excluded from the traditional four-fold caste system consisting of Brahmin, Kshatriya, vaishya and Shudra. Untouchables are now called as ‘Dalits’.
There are many theories on the origin of untouchables. Greatest scholar of India’s social history Dr. Ambedkar concluded, “Contempt for Buddhist was the root cause of Untouchability “. Much prior to the appearance of Buddha, Vedic society was in chaos and Vedic and non-Vedic groups were against each other. Non-Vedic groups were those who were not the followers of Varna – ashram-dharma before the birth of Buddha, despite of friction and conflicts, Vedic and Non-Vedic seemed to remain integrated but Buddha’s a...
The Hindu Caste system characterized individuals by their born occupation and skin color (Varna). The caste system was also focused on Hinduism and the belief of reincarnation. Hindus believe they are born again into a different person after death. This reincarnation depends on the good and bad deeds that the individual performed during their current life. Reincarnation ends when the person reached perfection and paradise, known as Nirvana. The caste system directly reflected the Hindu religion. If a person born into high class was to perform negative actions, then their next life would mirror those actions. The highest class in the caste system was the Brahmins, or priests. These priests and religious teachers were the most powerful citizens because they ruled over religion. The next class system is the rulers and soldiers called Kshatriyas. After the Kshatriyas, were the Vaishays (merchants and traders). Finally, the caste system contained the Shudras (laborers and workers). Outside of the caste systems was a group called the Untouchables (Achuta). The untouchables were outcasts in society and were n...
The caste system in India has been dated back to approximately 1000 BC and still affects the lives of millions of people not only in India but also through South Asia. The determination of this system of social layer for 3000 years of changing economic and social environments is a confusing idea. The Hindu conception of social order is that people are different, and different people will fit into different aspects of society. Social order or class according to the Varna is that the framework of moral duties according to personal characteristics of individuals and not necessarily birth (Pruthi, 2004). Varna is the term used for the four groups into which the traditional Hindu society is divided. This essay will outline the main social and economical features of the caste system in India and how it fits within the ontological framework of Hinduism (Philosophy 312).
...e most privileges, while the Dalit, or untouchables, remain the lowest and are subjected the same inhumane conditions.
There are four main castes and one in which they consider to be the outcastes. The four main castes are the Brahmin, the next is the Kshatriya, the third is the Vaishya, and the fourth is the Shudra. The outcastes are in the group called Dalits. Each caste has a purpose in life, the Brahmin are considered to be the priestly caste in which they are teach the Veda, and are to “sacrifice for others and receive alms” (Institutes of Vishnu 5-10, pg. 44). The Kshatriya is considered the warriors or the ruler caste, they have constant practice in battles, and they are to protect the world from harm. The Vaishya are to be the merchants and the farmers, they tend to the cattle, they, “engage in farming, keeps cows, trades, lends money at interest, and grows seeds” (Institutes of Vishnu 5-10, pg. 44). The Shudra are the manual laborers who according to the Institutes of Vishnu under the Four Castes, are to serve the twice born men who are to sacrifice and to study the Veda, the Shudra also engage in all the different duties of craftsmanship (5-10, pg.44). In case of a crisis, each caste is allowed to follow the occupation of the caste that is below them in rank. The duties in which all four of these castes, whatever gender or stage of life, are to follow and hav...
The caste system is a type of social inequality that exists mainly in the Indian Sub-continent, which was said to have been introduced by the Aryans, who categorised the different kinds of people as Brahmins (Nobles), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (Merchants), sudras (servants) and the untouchables who were not allowed to mingle with the other higher sections of the society or to do the work other than those which were ...
In a truly just society, justice would lead to a heightening of the vulnerable patients making their health perhaps the only position of their life that is no longer vulnerable. Until social justice is applied to our geopolitical stage, gender and ethnicity differences will continue to limit work opportunities and fair pay. But, if we were to get the health component right, their health would not be a compounding factor in their vulnerability. Instead, good health can help to establish one’s capabilities to explore opportunities and better their lives. Whether it is Nussbaum’s (2000) exhaustive list of 10 essential capabilities or liberalism’s primary good (Almgren, 2013, p. 35), good health and well-being enables a person to fulfill their
In India the caste system had 4 main classes and then the ‘Untouchables’. The untouchables weren’t usually allowed out during the day, and weren’t to be seen by anyone. Their duties included sweeping streets and cleaning latrines. On the bottom of the class system there were ‘Sundras’ who were servants and laborers. Above them was the ‘Vaisgas’ which included farmers and merchants. The second to
For untouchables ignorance showed by the social world hues untouchable’s identity. Whether untouchables who are assigned as "various" don't consider themselves to be 'dalit', poor, handicapped, or creature, these terms by the by depict a key reality in society tuned to the oppression of ‘dalit’ and
This paper will discuss the Varnasrama dharma (caste system) in India and examine the practice of Devadasi in Hinduism. Focus will be on the history of the caste system and the Devadasi practice examining how it grew in India during the ruling of the Chola Empire. Consideration will be giving to the religious side of the practice including how Devadasi became an auspicious part of Hindu culture that grew throughout southern India. The paper will also consider the political side of India and how overtime the practice of Devadasi became less auspicious and was used to exploit women under new ruling, until the abolishment of this practice in the 19th century. There will be a discussion on the different caste groups in India and how economically the Devadasi girls become reliant on this religious practice to survive in India. Looking further at the changes from temple auspiciousness practices to low level prostitution and how the practice of devoting oneself to God became less religious and more corrupt. Finally, concluding with Devadasi in the present day and how the political changes in India have wiped out this particular ritual by enforcing laws against prostitution ,yet investigating poverty and sexual relations in the lower caste areas of India and human rights issues and examining if this practice is still present in India today.
Victimology is the scientific study of victimization and is an issue that affects millions of Americans each year. Anyone is at risk to be general target, but some people share similar traits and many criminologists seek to explain the facts that define the relationship between offender and the victim. This involves the study or investigation into the relationship type and level between the offenders and the victims of the crimes (Hagan, 2013). It works to create linkage between the criminal justice system and the victim to become a voice to advocate and secure justice for the victim. Most often violent crime is planned and executed by a person who is close to the victim. Victims are placed into four categories of victimization; The Victim
Discrimination. Intersecting identities. Domination. In today’s society, people are criticized in others of their race, gender, abilities, age, etc., as those certain people are trying to destroy our humanity. Creating this problem in the society, will affect the social, political, and economic factors for many countries, also starting a war between different race or ethnicity. The role of being diversity in modern society, gives people to communicate better and have more confidence to express our opinions or beliefs. Intersectionality, is a study of meeting different groups with similar aspects/appearances, but they’re consider as inequality in the society or had faced discrimination; it relates to my privileged life by being
Many people don’t want to believe that we are living in a social injustice environment in this country. They choose to ignore the fact that rich are getting richer while the poor are just getting poorer. The rich public schools are giving their students the necessary opportunities to live a decent life while the poor students are left out and have to struggle for those opportunities. The social injustice is visible to every citizen in this country and it continuing to grown; however, there is a few solutions to minimize and possibly to solve the social injustice problem we have in American. One of them is give equal education in all public schools so everyone can have an equal opportunities in getting the jobs and careers they choose. Second
People have the right to not be forced to do something they don’t agree with, for example, women have the right to choose what happens with their body but in some cases it is not equal for all women. Here in the United States fortunately women have the power to decide whether to abort or not. But in china and India they have different beliefs and traditions; therefore women have no such thing as rights they are not able to express their thoughts, this is discrimination against females. Just as Richard Wright states on the article “The library card”, “hiding my thoughts and feelings from them”. The speaker of the passage did not have the right to go in the library do to his ethnicity; this was not social justice towards him.
“Learn to feel beyond yourself” (Earthlings). Oppression seems inevitable and is brought upon by your sex, race, or species. If only the human race could stop being selfish and feel beyond themselves, the world would be a better place. Oppression is not an ultramodern problem; it has been around since the Earth began to be inhabited. Oppression in India from foreign countries began centuries ago, now only the lasting impression sits. In Surat in 1612, the British built its first factory and founded the East India Company. As a result, many people of India encountered numerous hardships due to industrialization. Before the British conquered Indian lands, the Indians were farming and not technologically advanced. Until 1858, the East India Company quelled any Indian revolts and prolonged the rule of the British. The Indians were forced to acculturate to the English language, education system, religion, and controlling rules. A sepoy mutiny that broke out in 1857 to 1858 led the British to be directly in charge of the people. Sepoys were Indians with authority, but British puppets—meaning the Indian sepoys did anything the British demanded. India was granted self-rule and government in 1935 with the help of Gandhi, a peaceful leader who gained India’s independence, and his method of non-violence and non-cooperation. They did not gain their full independence until 1947 (Infoplease). The joy of the Indians did not linger long enough because the Muslims segregated and moved to their own country Pakistan (Infoplease). Seventeen million Muslims migrated to Pakistan—making it the largest migration ever. Two years later, India affirmed their ...
What is privilege? First, we must figure out what privilege is not. Being privileged is not a choice. Privilege is not what hard work or a high salary job can earn. Privilege is not what can be bought at the mall or any materialistic item, even though that it what the world is all about today. In the broad definition, social privileges are abilities you’re afforded, based on external factors. Such as where you were born, how you look, where you live, what kind of education you have received, what you believe in, who you are attracted to, etc. These privileges are important and necessary to acknowledge and understand because where there is privilege, there is always disadvantage and oppression. Privilege is merely advantages people have by virtue of their status or position in society. It's a word that we throw around during many of our daily lives. We know we have to be knowledgeable of it. And we talk a lot about it. In fact, our class was based on the topics of power and privilege. For many, the immediate connotation is simple. The white male that has his school paid for (by his parents) and has a job right out of college. So he is considered privileged. Many people categorize privilege by race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual preference. I would like to categorize it differently. I believe privilege to be a way of life, either one is privileged or one is oppressed there is no in between.