7 factors responsible for the Origin of Untouchability in India

But all this does not mean that untouchability is caused mean the automatic eradication of the former. Actually there are other causes of untouchabiity besides the castes system. In caste in India J.A.Huston writes, “the origin of the position of exterior caste is partly racial, party religions and party a matter of social custom”.

In this way, the three fundamental causes of untouchability are —1) Racial 2) Religious 3) Social.

1) Racial factor:

The fundamental causes of untouchabiity are social factors. The vector always considers him superior to the vanquished and wants to be spared the latter’s influence. This is no less true in the case of races. In the opinion of some scholars the Aryans designated to some derogatory names the non Aryan races settled in India and considered them untouchable. In Assam the Ao branch of the naga tribe is not allowed to wear very ornaments on both arms.

According to Hutton this restriction has been imposed upon the Ao people because they are different from the other Naga clans from the viewpoint. In gunwale the bride and bridegroom belonging to the artisan and Harijan races, which had low social status, were not allowed the use of the palanquin or the horse. The cause of this has been explained by some sociologists to be the advent of the higher castes from the plains into the native homeland of the artisans and Harijans.

These examples prove that racial distinctions have some hand in the origin of the custom of untouchability Dr. D.N. Majumdar has written correctly, “the disabilities of the so called ‘depressed’ castes are not ceremonial but probably founded on racial and cultural differences.

2) Religious factors:

Religious beliefs and conventions are also causes of untouchability. In religion much importance is attributed to purity and divinity. As a result of the religious importance of this purity it was considered essential to remain proof to the people who engage in impure occupations. In this way untouchability originated in the religious factor. In the words of Dr.Ghurye ‘idea of purity, whether occupational or ceremonial is found to have to have been a factor in the genesis of caste or the very soul of the idea and practice of untouchability.

It was the sense of purity which led to the sweepers and cobbler being designated as untouchables in Hindu society. Besides purity another cause of the origin of untouchability in the social taboo. Intermarriage among castes, consumption of the object of totem, or its disrespect in any way is forbidden.

Besides this there area number of other taboos prevalent in the castes like avoiding washer man because he washes clothier seeped in the secretions of the women’s menstrual cycle. Thus in the Vol. I of Census of India. Hutton has written, “There can be little doubt that the idea of untouchability originates in taboo.

3) Social factors:

The practice of untouchability has its origin in some social factors as well. Social customs and conventions shared the burden of maintaining the untouchability of the untouchables recognised by the religious and racial causes. Social conventions are so influential that even the members of the untouchable castes dare not violate the customs of untouchability.

In the Hindu of 24th December 1932 it was written about the puradvannon caste established in the Tinnereli district of Madras that they are not only considered untouchable but even un presentable and, they cannot leave their dwelling places in the day time because there is a fear of their defiling the other castes. They wash there clothes at might. When Thakkar Bappa went to meet them they came out only upon extreme entreaty and the when they came their entire body was trembling because they were burdened by the social stigma of untouchability.

In this way the racial, religious and social factors are the major ones among many causes of the origin of untouchability. All of these have had a hand in the custom of untouchability and it would be difficult to remove untouchabiity as long as ignorance in these spheres continues to exist.