“It is usual to hear all those who feel moved by the deplorable condition of the Untouchables unburden themselves by uttering the cry “We must do something for the Untouchables”. One seldom hears any of the persons interested in the problem saying ‘Let us do something to change the Touchable Hindu’. It is invariably assumed that the object to be reclaimed is the Untouchables. If there is to be a Mission, it must be to the Untouchables and if the Untouchables can be cured, untouchability will vanish. Nothing requires to be done to the Touchable. He is sound in mind, manners and morals. He is whole, there is nothing wrong with him. Is this assumption correct? Whether correct or not, the Hindus like to cling to it. The assumption has the supreme merit of satisfying themselves that they are not responsible for the problem of the Untouchables. “

– Dr BR Ambedkar in Untouchables or The Children of India’s Ghetto


India is a peculiar country and for the Occidentals, the Oriental fascination of India has always amazed them. There have been numerous sociological insights developed by the Occidentals in understanding Indian society, which is primarily a Society of Castes.

From Alberuni to Fa Hsien, Abbe Dubois to Lois Dumont, Susan Bayly to Nicolas Dirks, western intellectuals have tried to explain and enunciate the enigma that is the Hindu Social Order. All of them with their own intrinsic approaches have put in much effort but have invariably failed to offer any particular solutions to emancipate the untouchables, the proverbial victims of the Hindu Social Order.

Why is it that the Upper Caste gaze of reforms always focuses on the Untouchables? Why is there no focus on as to how it is the Upper Castes themselves that need to be reformed, that need to be taught to believe in humanity? When will there be a shift in the gaze?

At best and at times the best the Upper Caste liberal progressive minds happen to do is to act as saviours of the untouchables which doesn’t shake the status quo even an inch.

Recently in a judgement the Supreme Court quashed a case registered under SC ST POA Act by using its special power under Article 142 of the Indian constitution. The court in its ruling observed that the accused abused the SC woman out of frustration arising out of a property dispute between him and the woman who are neighbours.

It’s a well known fact that historically untouchables have not been allowed to amass wealth, land or property as per the Hindu Dharma Shastra Manusmriti. Didn’t it occur to the judges of the Supreme Court that a property dispute between an untouchable and an upper caste can have casteist undertones. That frustration is not coming out of nowhere. It is the expression of jealousy and contempt for the untouchables.

Isn’t it unjust and morally wrong on the part of the judges to expect the untouchables to keep listening to humiliating casteist comments just because the upper caste persons are frustrated?

The Jews were derisively named and their names were an object of mockery in pre Nazi Europe. One might think that mere words of abuse are not that potent to destroy lives of any group of persons. But the world now knows how that disrespect and contempt for the Jews culminated into the Holocaust under the notorious Nazi Leader Hitler.

Is India waiting for the same fate for the untouchables under any future caste supremacist leader? If not then why is there no policy of the Indian State that speaks about how the dignity of the untouchables is to be respected and any upper castes need to be sensitised and taught to unlearn the casteist values they are taught in their households. Why is there no curriculum in the Indian education system that makes the students aware of the wrongs done on the untouchables throughout history and continuing even today, be it mere verbal abuses or physical assaults?