As home to one in six of the world’s population, with a highly complex ethnic make-up, 1,600 languages, a third of the world’s poor, 43% of its children under-nourished, and the fourth largest number of billionaires in the world, India confounds all expectations. But India enjoys a rising global profile, and with that comes heightened responsibilities. The big ideas of our times, from global development goals, to environmental protection, to human rights, will succeed or fail based on how countries of India’s stature deal with them.

We all have a stake in India. That is why we must not ignore one of the largest global scandals of all, which persists within its borders, and which fuels exploitation and poverty – a pervasive social hierarchy based on birth, which treats 167 million people as outcasts. These are the Dalits. If a group of 100 people represented the population of the world, five would be Americans, three would be Indian Dalits. They form the ‘bottom’ of India’s caste system, below the four main ‘varna’ groups. ‘Dalit’ means ‘broken’ or ‘crushed’. It is the name chosen by these ‘untouchables’ of old, and it represents their sense of a history reverberating with oppression, exploitation and injustice.

Dalits are the worst victims of what is arguably the most tenacious hierarchy on earth. The caste system has ancient roots, and became a means of social stratification, in which ‘low’ castes were expected to perform dirty, degrading and dangerous tasks for the rest of society. Caste has been described not as a means for the division of labour, but for the division of labourers.

Although associated originally with Hinduism, the caste system is practised across all religious communities in India today.

It may be tempting to forget the caste system and focus on India’s economic boom. However, the two cannot be separated so simply. Much of India’s economic infrastructure is overlaid on this ancient system of hierarchy and obligation. Caste is deeply-embedded, not only in the rural areas which almost never intersect with modern, trendy, industrialising India, but also in the fast-growing urban centres.

In the past, Dalits had to ensure their shadow never fell on non-Dalits, so as not to pollute them. It is not quite like that today. But Dalits are still treated as untouchable in myriad ways.

This exhibition exposes, through a series of portraits, what it means to be untouchable in an emerging superpower.

Manual scavenger

Every day, Uma walks through the village with her basket to the communal latrine. Nobody touches her along the way. She has an enamel toilet in her own home, but she cleans the excrement of others because this is the job assigned by her caste.

This practice has been illegal since 1993, but still 700,000 Dalits, perhaps more, endure the same daily routine as Uma. 

Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh.

Segragation

Jaya, sister of Sanju, carefully prepares chai at home for us. Her Dalit community lives in isolation from the 'higher' castes. Segregation has been one of the keys to preserving the caste system from generation to generation.

According to a major recent study, social customs continue to prohibit everything from meals to marriages between Dalits and 'higher' castes. 

Nasik District, Maharashtra.

Conclusion

Being untouchable has no place in our world.

With its many different facets, there is no single solution to the plight of Dalits. However, Dalits plead for their cause to resonate worldwide, like apartheid in South Africa. 

‘Untouchability’ was banned in India’s Constitution, but as Dr B.R. Ambedkar, architect of India’s constitution and Dalit icon, once said, “It will take more than a law to remove this stigma from the people of India. Nothing less than the aroused opinion of the world can do it”. 

The Indian Government has taken some remedial measures to address the social exclusion of Dalits, and the current political leadership has repeatedly stated its commitment to combat caste-based discrimination. However, much more needs to be done. 

Global corporations investing in India can play a role, by implementing the ‘Ambedkar Principles’, which set out how to comply with the UN Global Compact with special sensitivity to caste.

Corporations must ensure all their supply chains are entirely clear of labour exploitation, for demand increases supply, and Dalits are the most susceptible to labour exploitation. They should take responsibility in hiring practices, to ensure Dalits are not excluded from employment because of the structural disadvantages faced by their communities.

India’s global partners can play a role. The UN has charged the Indian Government with demonstrating clear progress to tackle the many different forms of caste-based discrimination, and this message needs to be reinforced by fellow UN member states. 

Foreign aid and development policies, too, should specifically tackle the structures that support social exclusion, especially caste-based discrimination.

It is up to us to see that this happens. Don’t forget the Dalits.