Name given to some
jatis who were thought to be so unclean that their very presence polluted caste
Hindus, i.e.
Hindus from the four varnas (major social divisions).
Jatis are endogamous social groupings characterized by their
hereditary occupation (groups in which members are banned to marry outside of
their own group).
Untouchability was frequently associated with impure or debased
activities, such as working with leather, as was the case with the Chamars, or
with tribes whose ancestral employment was to remove night dirt, which they did
by carrying it in baskets balanced on their heads.
Untouchables were subjected to several limitations and
prohibitions in traditional culture, including where they may reside, work,
draw water, and even migrate.
They had to make their presence known in several situations
in order for caste Hindus to leave the region.
Although untouchability has been banned since independence,
societal attitudes that encourage it continue, and discrimination is difficult
to avoid in a society where one's name typically conveys one's jati.
As a result of the past, these people are still marginalized
and impoverished in many regions.
They've gotten increasingly militant in recent years, using
the moniker dalit ("oppressed") to identify themselves, and have
started to exert their political influence at the ballot box, attempting to
take advantage of their large numbers.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.