How Caste System in India is Built and Main Features

The Caste System is a hierarchy based on the purity of individuals. It is similar to a social class that exists in many societies today. The Dalits A.K.A. ,“ The Untouchables” are the lowest level in the indian Caste System. I want the caste system of India to be abolished so there can be equality, no more religious segregation, and fair protection from the police force.

Dalit people are considered impure and are left to do the dirty jobs that the other caste members do not want. The untouchables are outcasts that have to live in their own separate villages away from all of the higher castes. Each day many Dalit people are being harassed and treated less than human. “Dalits are not allowed to drink from the same wells, attend the same temples, wear shoes in the presence of an upper caste, or drink from the same cups in tea stall.” Stated by the article, India’s “untouchables”, Face Violence, Discrimination. The untouchables cannot escape this treatment either, each member of the Dalit caste is labeled an untouchable right from birth due to their parents being untouchables as well. The Dalit people are horribly beaten and humiliated because of the fact that the are “impure.” A statistic shows the insane treatment against the untouchables, it states, “ Every hour two Dalits are assaulted; every day three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered, and two Dalit homes are torched.” Unthinkable acts are happening every day towards the people that can't even defend themselves. Treatment like this is comparable to how the Jewish people were tortured during the holocaust. Many weak, scared people were sent to concentration camps where they were treated similar to the Dalit people of the Indian society and couldn't stand up for themselves either. Even though these events are happening in a different time period, the damage and torture are still similar.

The entire Caste System is based on religion. The highest level of the caste system is the Brahmin class. The Brahmin class consists of religious leaders and teachers. The second class consisted of rulers and warriors that are known as the Kshatriyas. Next, the Shudra class are laborers, or servants to higher castes members. Each caste member believes if they are pure and do the right things in life, once reincarnated, they will have a better life than their previous. Last are the Dalit people, in the Indian society untouchables are considered outside of the caste system. Since they are ,“impure” there can be no physical contact with them and an upper caste member. “They had to move off the path if someone from a higher class approached because contact with such people was, “contaminating,”’ Stated by the article, Social Classes and Castes in Ancient India. This religious segregation makes the Dalit people have to live in shame for their whole lives along with their children and their children's children. The untouchables are forced to live in exile and can only enter the other cities or villages at night to scavenge for food. In the article of Social Classes and Castes in Ancient India, it states, “Indeed, the Untouchables’ very shadows were considered polluting, and they were required to beat drums and make loud noises to announce their approach.” Since Dalits are considered unclean they are treated like waste and not equals.

Police officers are supposed to protect and serve their communities and treat everyone equally, right? Well in India, police officers are crooked and either assault the Dalits too or refuse to attempt to get justice for the crime towards the Dalit people. “Because the police, village councils, and government officials often support the caste system, which is based on religious teachings of Hinduism, many crimes go unreported do to fear of reprisal, intimidation by police, inability to pay bribes demanded by police, or simply the knowledge that the police will do nothing.” Stated by the article India's “Untouchables” Face Violence, Discrimination. The police just turn their heads and let the crimes happen to the Dalits because they are said to be, “unclean.” In some other cases instead of turning their heads the police officers do something that's much worse, they participate in the crimes towards the Untouchables. Smita Narula said, “There have been large scale abuses by the police, acting in collusion with upper castes, including raids, beatings in custody, failure to charge offenders or investigate reported crimes.” Even the people that are supposed to protect the society are joining in on mistreating and assaulting the Dalit people. Untouchables are truly being abused with no one to help them. This is so terrible because the police should be protecting and defending the dalit people from the other castes but that's not the case. The police force in our society today is dedicated to our country and work to protect the people in it. For example on the day of 9/11, many policemen were on sight saving people from the conditions of the building and some officers even died trying.

I want the caste system of India to be abolished so there can be equality, no more religious segregation, and fair protection from the police force. Dalits are human just like any other member of the caste system and should be treated like so. The Untouchables should gain rights and that will only be possible if the caste system was completing nonexistent. Everyone in India should be treated the same no matter of how “pure” or “impure” they are.