Definitions of Scheduled Castes
The Scheduled Castes occupy the bottom most rung of the social ladder. They from the majority of the “backward” or “depressed” classes. The terms “Scheduled Castes” signifies those groups of people who were out of the caste system or the Varna hierarchy in the past. They comprise the bulk of “untouchables” or “untouchable castes”. These groups or castes have been discriminated against by the superior castes through the ages and they never had any kind of social acceptance from the majority of the people who belonged to the upper the top most position in the social, political or economic field, as a group. Their low social position continues even now though lot of measures have been taken to make them equal with others.
Term “Scheduled Castes”
The term “Scheduled Castes” is a politico-legal one. It was introduced by the British. It was first coined by the “Simon Commission” in 1928 and then “Government of India Act, 1935 “listed” out or scheduled a few of the castes as the most inferior ones which required some special attention. This list of castes was designated as “Scheduled Castes”. When India became independent, this term was adopted by the Constitution for the purpose of providing them some special facilities and constitutional guarantees.
No Precise Definition for the Term “Scheduled Castes” : The term “Scheduled Castes” is nowhere defined in the Constitution with State governments to notify by an order, the castes, races and tribes which can deemed as “Scheduled Castes”.
Attempts towards a Definition : Sociologist have tried to define the term in their own way. We may consider here the definitions of Dr. Majumdar and Dr. Ghurye.
- 1 Dr. D. N. Majumdar uses the term “Scheduled Castes to refer mainly to the untouchable castes. He defines: “The untouchable castes are those who suffer from various social and political disabilities many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced by higher castes.”
- 2. Dr. G.S. Ghurye: Scheduled castes are those groups which are named in the Scheduled Caste Order in force time to time.
- 3. In spite words, the term can be defined this way: The term Scheduled Castes which comprises of the bulk of the “untouchable castes”, included all those groups which are subject to some disabilities in major fields of life-social, religious, educational, economic and political.
Example for SCs: C.B. Mamoria has listed the following castes as the most important castes that come under the category of “untouchables”- Chamar, Khatilk, Regar, Pasi, Kori. Dom, Dhobi, Dusadh, Balai, Mochi, Meghwal, Od, Bagdi, Bhuiya.
Some Scheduled Caste Groups of Karnataka: Adi-Karnataka, Adi-Dravida, Holeya, Holer, Karama, Moger, Mundala, Madiga, Bhovi, etc.
All the SCs are not Untouchables
It should be noted that all the Scheduled Caste are not untouchables. The list of Scheduled Castes also includes some “touchable” castes. Almost about 80% of the Scheduled Caste are “untouchables” suffering from various kinds of disabilities. However, people in general use the terms “Scheduled Castes”, “Untouchables”, “Harijans”, “Dalits”, “depressed classes” in more or less the same way without making any difference between them.
Numerical Strength and Distribution of the SCs.
- The 2011 census recorded nearly 20.14 crore people belonging to various scheduled castes in the country.
- Dalits form around 16.6% of India’s population. There are around 9.79 crore women among the total SC population, and the sex ratio works out to 946 females per 1000 males.
- Four states account for nearly half of the country’s dalit population, reveals the 2011 census. Uttar Pradesh stands first with 20.5% of the total scheduled caste (SC) population, followed by West Bengal with 10.7%. Bihar with 8.2% and Tamil Nadu with 7.2 % come third and fourth. Nagaland, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have no scheduled castes among their population.
CRITERIA OF UNTOUCHABILITY (Dalit)
Introduction
People who constitute the bottom most place in the Indian social stratification system are often regard as “untouchables”. All of them come under the category of what our Constitution calls the “Scheduled Castes”. The word “untouchable” applies to the despised and degraded section of the Hindu population.
According to Dr. D.N. Majumdar, “the untouchable castes are those who suffer from various social and political disabilities many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced by higher castes.” In fact, he uses the term Scheduled Castes to refer mainly to the untouchable castes. In simple words, “untouchables” are those who occupy the bottom most place in the society and have been subjected to various social, cultural and other kinds of disabilities and exploitation for their very touch is regarded as contaminating or polluting the higher caste people.
Meaning of Untouchability:
Untouchability is a mass phenomenon of group prejudices and discrimination affecting about 140 million people. It is an ignoble practice associated with the Indian caste system. Untouchability is a practice in which some lower caste people are kept at a distance. Defined of social equality and made to suffer from some disabilities for their touch is considered to be contaminating or polluting the higher caste people.
The practice of untouchability is a stigma to the Indian society. It is an age old practice and has its roots deep down in our social and religious system.
Gandhiji regarded this practice as “a leper wound in the whole body of Hindu politic”. He even considered it “the hatefullest expression of caste”. He carried on a campaign against it throughout his life. Though the practice of untouchability in one form or another has been there in many other countries of the world, it has taken its ugliest shape in India. Millions of the people have suffered from it and the suffering still continue though with less intensity.
Some Ancient References to “Untouchable” Castes.
The untouchable castes were called by different names such as chandalas, svapachas,panchamas, antyajas, atishudras, etc, during the early days. Vedic literature also males a mention of some “impure” groups which were there as early as in 800 B.C. People born of the prohibited “Pratiloma” marriage belonged to that category and were called “Chandalas”, Svapacha” and so on. Manu was of the opinion that the progeny of the hated Pratiloma union would become chandalas or untouchables. In the Vedic literature, we find the mention of chandalas as an ethnic group originating from inter-breeding of a higher caste or varna female and lower caste or varna male. In simple words, the chandalas who were regarded as “untouchables” were children of the most hated union of a Brahmin female with a Shudra male. Patanjali, yet another dharmashastrakara considered chandalas as a variety of Shudras. Most of the dharmashastrakaras considered the Chandals as forming a fifth category and called them Panchamas. The Panchamas were ‘untouchables’. Since they were outside the varna system they came to be known as “Avarnas”. Al Beruni referred to these “untouchables” as a social group called “Anthyaja” constituting the last and the position in the society. Their socioeconomic life was worse than that of the Shudras and hence they were they called “Atishudras”
Criteria of Untouchability
Untouchability in the Indian context has become hereditary. If a person is regarded or branded as “untouchable” for some reason or the other, not only he would remain throughout his life as “untouchable” but his children also would become “untouchable”. Still should be remembered that untouchability did not and does not arise by birth alone. Persons become “outcastes” and “untouchables” by being guilty of certain acts that amount to grave sins. Untouchability indicates not only a low place in the caste hierarchy together with the existence of social and religious disabilities but also a low economic position as well. Most of the scheduled castes are considered to be untouchables.
As C.B. Mamoria has cited, according to 1931 Census report, if a caste suffers from the following restrictions, it any be termed as an “untouchable” caste.
- (i) Inability to be served by twice born or clean Brahmins.
- (ii) Inability to be served by barbers, water carriers, tailors, hoteliers, etc. who serve caste Hindus.
- (iii) Inability to serve water to the caste Hindus.
- (iv) Inability to enter Hindu temples.
- (v) Inability to use public conveniences such as wells, schools.
- (vi) Inability to dissociate oneself from a despised occupation.
Untouchability within Untouchable Castes
Certain anomalies are found among the so called “untouchable” castes. D.N. Majumdar [1948] summarised the position of the depressed [untouchable] caste in 1940s in the following way. These castes are not depressed in all states; the same caste may be “depressed” in one but may not suffer from any social or political disability in another. In Madhya Pradesh the same caste has different social rights and disabilities even in adjacent districts. The disabilities are more rigid where the depressed castes are numerically small and fewer or on the decline, than where they are numerically strong. Where the castes are all of the same ethnic stock or largely so, social disabilities are not numerous and are usually confined to those whose function is considered degrading. Where the higher castes are in a minority and the depressed castes constitute the majority, the degree of ceremonial pollution observed is quite less and often we find few disabilities attached to the inferior castes. Individual members of the depressed castes who have succeeded in life and who are wealthy and own property have been admitted to a higher social status.
Gradations Among Untouchables.
“It is not to be imagined that within the circle of untouchability for instance, there are no sub-gradations and all untouchables are equal among themselves”.
(1) Mahatma Gandhiji himself wrote: “All the various graders of untouchables are untouchable among themselves, each superior grade considering the inferior grade as polluting as the highest class of the caste-Hindus regard the worst grade of untouchables.” Example: A Chamar thinks that he would be polluted by coming into physical contact with a Dom or a Bhangi. Untouchable castes such as Bhuyar, Byar, Khatik and Majhwar are very particular in keeping the caste they consider “untouchables” at a distance. According to Sir Blunt, “Eleven castes will not touch a Bhangi, seventeen will not touch a Chamar, ten will not touch a Dhakar, six will not touch a Dhobi or a Dom.” It is said that in Tamil Nadu alone there are not less than 80 sub divisions, those at the top considering the less fortunate of their own brothers as untouchables.