One out of six Indians lives and suffers at the bottom of the Hindu caste system. In India, the lowest rung on the caste system are the 160 million  "Untouchables", or the Dalit, those considered "dirty" and "unclean" and are therefore completely marginalized, sometimes beaten or killed, and suffer the worst of what it means to be rejected.

The "Untouchables" is considered one of the strongest racist phenomenons in the world. Historically, those who worked in ignominious, polluting and unclean occupations were seen as polluting peoples and were therefore considered as "Untouchables". The "Untouchables"  were given nearly no societal rights.

However, India banned Untouchability with the Untouchables Act of 1955, which provides penalties from preventing anyone to enjoy certain rights.  Even though the Caste System is illegal, people are still gravely discrimminated against. Imagine being literally relegated to live at a distance from "higher class" people because of your occupation? It is unfathomable from a Western perspective which lauds "tolerance" and has seen large strides in gender and racial equality.

India, however, still has a tedious path ahead of them. MORE action is demanded to help bring equality.

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