Vol. 7 · pages 276–280

THE UNTOUCHABLES : UNTOUCHABILITY AMONG HINDUS 257 “V.93. The taint of impurity does not fall on kings and those engaged in the performance of a vow, or of a Sattra; for the first are seated on the throne of India, and the (last two are) ever pure like Brahman. 94. For a king, on the throne of magnanimity, immediate purification is prescribed, and the reason for that is that he is seated (there) for the protection of (his) subjects. 95. (The same rule applies to the kinsmen) of those who have fallen in a riot or a battle, (of those who have been killed) by lightning or by the king, and for cows and Brahmins, and to those whom the king wishes to be pure (in spite of impurity). 96. A king is an incarnation of the eight guardian deities of the world, the Moon, the Fire, the Sun, the Wind, Indra, the Lords of wealth and water (Kubera and Varuna) and Yama. 97. Because the king is pervaded by those lords of the world, no impurity is ordained for him for purity and impurity of mortals is caused and removed by those lords of the world.” From this it is clear that the king, the kinsmen of those who have fallen in a noble cause as defined by Manu and those whom the king chose to exempt were not affected by the normal rules of defilement. Manu’s statement that the Brahmin was ‘ever pure’ must be understood in its usual sense of exhalting the Brahmin above everything. It must not be understood to mean that the Brahmin was free from defilement. For he was not. Indeed besides being defiled by births and deaths the Brahmin also suffered defilement on grounds which did not affect the Non-Brahmins. The Manu Smriti is full of tabus and don’ts which affect only the Brahmins and which he must observe and failure to observe which makes him impure. The idea of defilement in Manu is real and not merely notional. For he makes the food offered by the polluted person unacceptable. Manu also prescribes the period of defilement. It varies. For the death of a Sapinda it is ten days. For children three days. For fellow students one day. Defilement does not vanish by the mere lapse of the prescribed period. At the end of the period there must be performed a purificatory ceremony appropriate to the occasion. For the purposes of purification Manu treats the subject of defilement from three aspects : (1) Physical defilement, (2) notional

DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES258 or psychological defilement, and (3) ethical defilement. The rule 1 for the purification of ethical defilement which occurs when a person entertains evil thoughts are more admonitions and exhortations. But the rites for the removal of notional and physical defilement are the same. They include the use of water. 2 earth. 3 cow’s urine, 4 the kusa grass 5 and ashes. 6 Earth, cow’s urine, Kusa grass and ashes are prescribed as purificatory agents for removing physical impurities caused by the touch of inanimate objects. Water is the chief agent for the removal of notional defilement. It is used in three ways (1) sipping, (2) bath, and (3) ablution. 7 Later on panchagavya became the most important agency for removing notional defilement. It consists of a mixture of the five products of the cow, namely, milk, urine, dung, curds and butter. In Manu there is also provision for getting rid of defilement by transmission through a scapegoat 8 namely by touching the cow or looking at the sun after sipping water. Besides the individual pollution the Hindus believe also in territorial and communal pollution and purification very much like the system that prevailed among the early Romans. Every village has an annual jatra. An animal, generally a he buffalo, is purchased on behalf of the village. The animal is taken round the village and is sacrificed, the blood is sprinkled round the village and towards the end toe meat is distributed among the villagers. Every Hindu, every Brahmin even though he may not be a beef eater is bound to accept his share of the meat. This is not mentioned in any of the Smritis but it has the sanction of custom which among the Hindus is so strong that it always overrides law. II If one could stop here, one could well say that the notion of defilement prevalent among the Hindus is not different from that which obtained in Primitive and in Ancient Societies. But one cannot stop here. For there is another form of Untouchability observed by 1. Chapter V. 105-109; 127-128. 2. Chapter V. 127. 3. Chapter V. 134-136. 4. Chapter V. 121, 124. 5. Chapter V. 115. 6. Chapter V. 111. 7. Chapter V. 143. 8. Chapter V. 87.

THE UNTOUCHABLES : UNTOUCHABILITY AMONG HINDUS 259 the Hindus which has not yet been set out. It is the hereditary Untouchability of certain communities. So vast is the list of such communities that it would be difficult for an individual with his unaided effort to compile an exhaustive list. Fortunately such a list was prepared by the Government of India in 1935 and is attached to the Orders-inCouncil issued under the Government of India Act of 1935. To this Order-in-Council there is attached a Schedule. The Schedule is divided into nine parts. One part refers to one province and enumerates the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within steps which are deemed to be Untouchables in that province either in the whole of that province or part thereof. The list may be taken to be both exhaustive and authentic. To give an idea of the vast number of communities which are regarded as hereditary Untouchables by the Hindus. I reproduce below the list given in the Order-in-Council. SCHEDULE PART I. - MADRAS (1) Scheduled Castes throughout the Province :— Adi-Andhra. Gosangi. Paidi. Adi-Dravida. Haddi Painda. Adi-Karnataka. Hasla Paky. Ajila. Holeya. Pallan. Arunthuthiyar. Jaggali. Pambada. Baira. Jambuvulu. Pamidi. Bakuda. Kalladi Panchama. Bandi. Kanakkan Paniyan. Bariki. Kodalo. Panniandi. Battada. Koosa. Paraiyan. Bavuri Koraga. Parvan. Bellara. Kudumban Pulayan. Bygari Kuravan. Puthirai Vanan. Chachati. Madari. Raneyar. Chakkiliyan. Madiga. Relli. Chalvadi. Maila Samagara. Chamar. Mala. Samban Chandala. Mala Dasu. Sapari. Cheruman. Matangi. Semman. Dandasi. Moger. Thoti. Devendrakulathan. Muchi. Tiruvalluvar. Ghasi. Mundala. Valluvan. Godagali. Nalakcyava. Valmiki. Godari. Nayadi. Vettuvan. Godda. Paga dai

DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES260 (2) Scheduled Castes throughout the Provinces except in any special constituency constituted under the Government of India Act, 1935, for the election of a representative of backward areas and backward tribes to the Legislative Assembly of the Province :— Arnadan. Kattunayakan. Kuruman. Dombo. Kudiya. Malasar. Kadan. Kudubi. Mavilan. Karimpalan. Kurichchan. Pano. PART II.—BOMBAY Scheduled Castes :— (1) Throughout the Province :— Asodi. Dhor. Mang Garudi. Bakad. Garode. Maghval, or Menghwar. Bhambi. Halleer. Mini Madig. Bhangi. Halsar, or Haslar. Mukri. Chakrawadya-Dasar. Hulsavar. Nadia. Chalvadi. Holaya. Shenva, or Shindhava. Chambhar, or Mochi gar, or Khalpa. Shinghdav, or Shingadya. Samagar. Kolcha, or Kolgha. Sochi. Chena-Dasaru. Koli-Dhor. Timali. Chuhar, or Chuhra. Lingader. Turi. Dakaleru. Madig, or Mang. Vankar. Dhed. Mahar. Vitholia. Dhegu-Megu. (2) Throughout the Province except in the Ahmedabad, Kaira, Broach and Panch Mahals and Surat Districts—Mochi. (3) In the Kanara district—Kotegar. PART III.—BENGAL Scheduled Castes throughout the Province :— Agaria. Bhumij. Gonrhi. Bagdi. Bind. Hadi. Bahelia. Binjhia. Hajang. Baiti. Chamar. Halalkhor. Bauri. Dhcnuar. Hari. Bediya. Dhoba. Ho. Beldar. Doai. Jalia Kaibartta. Berua. Dom. Jhalo Malo, or Malo. Bhatiya. Dosadh. Kadar. Bhuimali. Garo. Kalpahariya. Bhuiya. Ghasi. Kan.

THE UNTOUCHABLES : UNTOUCHABILITY AMONG HINDUS 261 Kandh. Lodha. Oraon. Kandra. Lahor. Paliya. Kaora. Mahli. Pan. Kapuria. Mai. Pasi. Karenga. Mahar. Patni. Kastha. Mallah. Pod. Kaur. Mech. Rabha. Khaira. Mehtor. Rajbanshi. Khatik. Muchi. Rajwar. Koch. Munda. Santal. Konai. Musahar. Sunri. Konwar. Nagesia. Tiyar. Kora. Namasudra. Turi. Kotal. Nat. Lalbegi, Nuniya. PART IV.—UNITED PROVINCES Scheduled Castes :— (1) Throughout the Province :— Agariva. Chamar. Kharwar (except Aheriya. Chero. Benbansi) Badi. Dabagar. Khatik. Badhik. Dhangar. Kol. Baheliya. Dhanuk (Bhangi). Korwa. Bajaniya. Dharkar. Lalbegi. Bajgi. Dhobi. Majhawar. Balahar. Dom. Nat. Balmiki. Domar. Pankha. Banmanus. Gharami. Parahiya. Bansphor. Ghasiya. Pasi. Barwar. Gual. Patari. Basor. Habura. Rawat. Bawariya. Hari. Saharya. Beldar. Hela. Sanaurhiya. Bengali. Khairaha. Sansiya. Berya. Kalabaz. Shilpkar. Bhantu. Kanjar. Tharu. Bhuiya. Kapariya. Turaiha. Bhuiyar. Karwal. Boriya. Kharot. (2) Throughout the Province except in the Agra, .Meerut and Rohilkhand divisions—Kori.