What are the most essential Causes of Untouchability?

Untouchabbility went with the caste. The Indian Caste System had created had social evil of untouchably. Those who belong to the caste of the untouchables were considered to be the most degraded amongst Hindus. The hierarchical order of the Caste System, make the difference between the member of the higher caste and the untouchables.

As a result of Caste System, several taboos became prevalent in the society. Because of these taboos the members of the lower castes or the so called Harijans suffered from various draw backs and limitations. In fact these taboos were widely created in order to make the life of the members of the upper class convenient. In fact the untouchability in the Indian Society particularly in the Indian Rural Society is the result of the Caste System.

So far we have seen that it is the Caste System which is responsible for the untouchability. Caste System is also governed by various other factors to say that Caste System is solely responsible for untouchability is not correct. Hutton has right pointed out:

“The origin of the position of the exterior caste is partly racial partly a matter of social custom.”

According to Hutton therefore, there are three causes of the untouchability:

1) Racial causes; 2) Religious causes; 3) Social causes.

1) Racial Causes:

It is a well known story that before Aryans came to this country this land was inhabited by members of some other race. Since the Aryans became victorious they subject the vanquished to all sorts of humiliations. Those who were considered inferior from the point of view of race later on became untouchables and inferior in many respects. They were not allowed to use the vehicles, palanquins, horses, etc.

That was meant for the member of the upper castes. Even today in Assam the members of the Ao branch of the Naga tribe is not allowed to wear ivory ornaments on both the arms because the people of Ao branch are different from the Naga tribes from the point of view of race. In fact the untouchability has in its roots the racial factors. Dr.D.N.Majumdar has rightly pointed out.

“The disabilities of the so called ‘depressed’ caste are not ceremonial but probably found on racial and cultural itself”

2) Religious Causes:

Apart from the racial cause, the religious customs, conventions, beliefs, traditions etc, are also responsible for untouchability. In religious beliefs and customs too much of importance is given to purity and dignity and so as a result of these beliefs it came to be realised that those who engaged in impure occupations could not be considered as touchable. Since it was the lot of the Harijans to engage in impure professions like scavenging etc, they came to be realised as untouchables. Dr. Ghurya has correctly remarked.

“Idea of purity, occupational, or ceremonial are found to have been a factor in the genesis of caste or the very soul of the idea and practice of untouchability.”

It was on account of the wrong notion of purity which became part of the religious beliefs. The sweeper and cobblers came to be regarded as untouchables in the Hindu Society. Apart from these religious beliefs, social taboos also encouraged untouchability. Marriage amongst different castes was prohibited. Apart from it the object that was regarded as ‘to tem’ was not allowed to be consumed. Then certain other false beliefs also generated this evil practice of untouchability. According to Hutton:

“There can be little doubt that the idea of untouchability originates in taboos.”

3) Social Causes:

Several factors that may be termed as social have also contributed to the origin and development of the untouchability. Various social customs and conventions that were basically meant at providing convenient life of the members of the upper class have made untouchability a part of the social order. The conventions are not to be broken either by the members of the upper caste or by member of the Scheduled Caste. Some of the religious thinkers have added to these unhealthy conventions, since they were given name of the religion, the Harijans made them part of their life.

This made the task of the social reformers all the more difficult. For example, in Tamil Nadu state, the Purnadanavan were not only considered as untouchables but unpreventable by this it meant that they could not leave their place of living and show their face to members of the other castes. They could wash their clothes at night only. Thakar Bappa, a great social reformer, had great difficulty in making them coming out and meet him.

When they were coming out they were trembling from top to the bottom because the religious unhealthy stigma and untouchability had influenced their life very much.

In fact racial, religious, social as well as economic factors contributed to the institution of untouchability. With the spread of education and as a result of efforts made by the government and social institutions, it is now coming to an end.