Who were “Untouchables”? State their social condition in the Indian society.
Answers
Answer:
Untouchability is believed to have been first mentioned in Dharmashastra. According to the religious Hindu text, untouchables were not considered a part of the varna system. Therefore, they were not treated like the savarnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras).
Explanation:
Untouchability, in its literal sense, is the practice of ostracising a group of people regarded as 'untouchables', as ascribed in the Vedic Hindu literature to persons of "low caste" or to persons excluded from the caste system resulting in the segregation and persecutions from the people regarded as "higher" caste.[1]
The term is most commonly associated with treatment of the Dalit communities in the Indian subcontinent who were considered "polluting". The term has also been used to refer to other groups, including the Burakumin of Japan, the Baekjeong of Korea, and the Ragyabpa of Tibet, as well as the Romani people and Cagot in Europe, and the Al-Akhdam in Yemen[2][3] Traditionally, the groups characterized as untouchable were those whose occupations and habits of life involved ritually "polluting" activities, such as fishermen, manual scavengers, sweepers and washermen.[4] Untouchables were also practised against those people who ate beef freely,[5] in contrast to the Hindu groups who regarded themselves as the people following higher standards by not eating beef which is considered a sin according to Hinduism since Hinduism forbids the eating of either cow or bull.[6]
Untouchability is believed to have been first mentioned in Dharmashastra, according to the religious Hindu text, untouchables were not considered a part of the varna system. Therefore, they were not treated like the savarnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras).