Question

Write a note on untouchability.

Answer 1

Hint: It refers to a practice of discrimination. The term is most commonly related with treatment of the Dalit communities in the Indian subcontinent who were been considered as "polluting".

Complete Answer: Untouchability, in its literal sense, means the practice of ostracising a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by the means of social custom or legal mandate.
In general, Untouchability refers to the practice of discriminating against several individuals and groups with reference to their caste and the jobs done by them. Untouchability has been practiced for a very long time. This works on the Indian caste system hierarchy. The untouchables generally bear inhuman treatment since they belong to the groups of lower caste. They have been going through several types of discrimination in almost all places.
Article 17 of the Indian Constitution signifies Abolition of Untouchability as follows -"Untouchability" is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of "Untouchability" shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.
The Untouchability (Offences) Act, that prescribes punishments for the practice of untouchability and abolishes this disgraceful practice, came into action on 1st June 1955. This Act had been passed in the Indian Parliament for the eradication of untouchability from the country. The Act had imposed a 6-month-imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 500 for any person convicted of enforcing the disabilities of untouchability on anyone else in case of his first offence.

Note: B. R. Ambedkar, who was an Indian social reformer as well as a politician who came from a social group which was considered untouchable, theorized that untouchability originated due to the deliberate policy of the upper-caste Brahmanas. According to his view, the Brahmanas despised the people who gave up Brahmanism in favour of Buddhism. Afterwards, scholars like Vivekanand Jha have perfectly refuted this theory.