Andrew Osenga gives a fascinating explanation of who the “Dalits” are…

You may not know the name Dalit, but you’ve probably heard of “the Untouchables.” And no, that has nothing to do with Kevin Costner or Al Capone. The Untouchables have been a part of Indian Hinduism for the past 3500 years. The religion teaches that, in relation to your actions in past lives, you are born into a certain level, or “caste”, of social, economic and religious status.

Like all hierarchies, there are a few people up at the top and a bunch down below. In this case, there are 300 to 400 million people in the lowest castes (of which there are hundreds of sub-castes) and there are 250 to 300 million people who are below the castes entirely. These are the untouchables. 250 million is the population of America, by the way.

The people below that invisible line are treated terribly. They are considered less than animals. They do the jobs no one else will. They handle dead animals, dead humans, and their waste. They’re usually denied basic healthcare and education. Most can not read or write, so their history is handed down through stories and songs.

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