Untouchables Essay Example for Free

invulnerables EssayIn the article Untouchable, Tom ONeil tells us what being an untouchable is either about. By interviewing those labeled as untouchable, ONeil finds a way to truly express to us what its like to be an untouchable and the true underlying complications that the seeming unbreakable circle body has intercommunicate on its cultural members. What argon untouchables? Untouchables, or achutta, argon the lowest ranking members in the class system or pecking order. ONeil states that untouchables are outcasts people considered overly impure, too polluted, to rank as worthy beings, (ONeil, p. ).Interestingly, untouchables are not deformed or distinctively different from another(prenominal) Indians in each way. Their skin is the same color. They dont wear rags they are not covered with sores. They walk the same streets and attend the same schools. (ONeil, p. 2). Yet, ONeil goes on to tell us that they are shunned, insulted, banned from temples and higher cir cle homes, made to eat and drink from separate utensils in public places, and, in extreme but not uncommon cases, are raped, burned, lynched, and gunned down. (ONeil, p. 1).Untouchables cannot hide from their status if they were born an untouchable they will forever be an untouchable. Untouchables may as well wear a scarlet tattoo on their foreheads to advertise their status. (ONeil, p. 2). ONeil goes on to quote Sukhadeo Thorat, a faculty member at Jawaharlal Nehru University and among the few Untouchables in India with a Ph. D. You cannot hide your caste, he says. You can look for to disguise it, but there are so homosexualy ways to slip up. A Hindu will not feel confident ontogenesis a relationship without knowing your background.Within a couple of months, your caste will be revealed. (ONeil, p. 2). ONeil tells us that Family name, village address, body language all deliver clues, but n angiotensin-converting enzyme so much as occupation. Untouchables perform societys uncl ean work work that involves physical contact with blood, excrement, and other bodily defilements as defined by Hindu law. Untouchables cremate the dead, clean latrines, cut umbilical cords, remove dead animals from the roads, tan hides, sweep gutters. These jobs, and the status of Untouchability, are passed down for generations.Untouchables are trapped at the bottom of a system that cant function without disagreement. (ONeil, p. 2). Stuck in a never-ending world of reject, untouchables are mistreated, disregarded, and held at an unremovable status throughout their life. Whats stopping this? Well, untouchability was abolished in Indias constitution in 1950 however, it is still a factor today. Many people would head word out that the crudest, most overt forms of discrimination have largely disappeared, the result of sporadic reform movements before and after Indias independence in 1947.Its true that at least in the public sphere, Untouchables have made progress since the days wit hin living memory when they were beaten if their shadow moved(p) a higher caste person, wore bells to warn of their approach, and carried buckets so their spit wouldnt contaminate the ground. Untouchables couldnt enter schools or sit on a judicial system near a higher caste person. (ONeil, p. 2). Yes, things have changed however, it isnt quite changing drastically enough. Why? Because Hinduism, a religion held by many of these Indians, supports the view of untouchability and provokes more societal authority than that of their constitution.ONeil puts it best when he states The ancient belief system that created the Untouchables overpowers modern law. While Indias constitution forbids caste discrimination and specifically abolishes Untouchability, Hinduism, the religion of 80 percent of Indias population, governs daily life with its hierarchies and rigid social codes. Under its strictures, and Untouchable parent gives birth to an Untouchable child, condemned as unclean from the f irst breath. (ONeil, p. 1). With such a large percentage of India dedicated to these Hindu beliefs, its easy to see why breaking down this caste system is such a struggle.Although, the 1950 constitution has made some progress. The 1950 constitution mandates a quota system that reserves seats in the federal legislature cope with to the Untouchable share of the population 15 percent. Reserved spots extend to positions in state legislatures, village councils, civil service, and university classrooms. (ONeil, p. 2). Still, after 60 years since the constitution, whole a small amount of progress has been made. Unfortunately, much of Indias caste system is still undoubtedly present. for all the laws and regulations on the books, the hard heart of caste remains unmoved.There are 160 million Untouchables in India a country that trumpets itself as a model for developing nations. During the winter I spend in India, hardly a day passed that I didnt hear or read of acid thrown in a sons face , or a wife raped in front of her husband, or some other act whose provocation was simply that an Untouchable didnt know his or her place. (ONeil, p. 2). With such subatomic urge to break apart Hinduism and the foundation many Indians built their daily lives on, its difficult to imagine any drastic changes when considering the rights of Untouchables, not just legally, but also socially.The acceptance of all castes and the abolishment of the caste system as a whole seems quite deplorably far from the future horizon. Those with kinder hearts have tried to speak up and voiced their concern for Untouchables. One many of us are familiar with was Mahatma Gandhi. eventide though Gandhi urged Indians to cease discriminating against untouchables, many feel that he failed. Historians say that Gandhi deserves great credit for pushing the issue of Untouchability onto the national stage and for lending his honorable stature to the campaign to abolish it.Yet he never actually renounced the H indu caste system, and the concrete results of his actions were few. Many Untouchables, particularly the educated ones, would love to relegate him off his pedestal. Even the Harijan label (given to those in place of Untouchable) invokes pity rather than respect. (ONeil, p. 5). Not only did Gandhis lack of abandoning the Hindu caste system all together lead to few, if any, results his actions also lead many Untouchables to believe his efforts failed even farther.Indias one true Untouchable hero is a man name Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and he came into play during Gandhis greatest perceived sin. (ONeil, p. 5). Gandhis greatest perceived sin, however, was to undermine a man named Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Ambedkar pushed for a separate electorate. He feared that an assertive Untouchable could never win an election open to voters of all castes. He wanted Untouchable office-holders elected exclusively by Untouchables. Gandhi resisted Ambedkars position on religious principles, fearing that se cular solutions to caste problems would destroy Hinduism.And in September 1932, when it appeared that the British would side with Ambedkar, Gandhi protested by entering a fast unto death. Ambedkar had little choice but to surrender after a few days as Gandhi weakened. Ambedkar won a guarantee of seats for Untoughables in the legislation, but Gandhis actions broke the momentum for radical change. (ONeil, p. 5). Since Ambedkars death there has been no Untouchable leader of the same comparison. There is only a small chemical group of grassroots organizers spread throughout India.These organizers are helping the cause with every effort, however small it may be. Not only is this helping, medical checkup training is also changing the lives of some Untouchables. Having health care for all members of the society is a huge help but whats really shattering the grounds of the caste system are those health workers who are Untouchables themselves and are being accepted, opportunely or not, by those in a higher caste who need medical attention from whoever may be offering it. Salve and Sathe, two health workers, were members of the Untouchable caste.Building not only their confidence but also changing perceptions of those their helping is causing changes one step at a time. There was much prejudice against Untouchable women like her. Discrimination was the hardest for me, and the hardest to fight, states Salve. I gave people love and affection. tardily casteism goes away. (Necessary Angels, p. 86). In her later year Sathe has also experience change. She had become the sarpanch, or leader of Jawalke the city she had spent years caring for.There has also been changes in villages that Sathe, Salve, and their group does not reach. More women are postponing marriage until 18, the use of contraception has reduced family size, and more girls are attending school. (Necessary Angels, p. 77). Every change, however relatively small fry or moderately large, is a change in the ri ght direction. The suppression of those labeled Untouchable ONeil compares to as slaves. A societal horror one familiar with our U. S. class systems can better fathom.With our racism and prejudices are we any better at all? Babulal Bairwa, an Untouchable landowner in the village of Chakwara says I am clean. I dont smoke or drink or eat meat. I work hard. I do everything right. Why am I Untouchable? (ONeil, p. 7). ONeil responds Because he was born one. One hundred sixty million Indians serve this life sentence. (ONeil, p. 7). Yes, we have grown much since the abolishment of slavery but is racism not still here? Will the discrimination ever be lifted of those people scared with the label of Untouchable?