Vol. 7 · pages 376–380

THE UNTOUCHABLES : THE IMPURE.. UNTOUCHABLES 357 PART VI UNTOUCHABILITY AND THE DATE OF ITS BIRTH Chapter XV. The Impure and The Untouchables. Chapter XVI. When did Broken Men become Untouchables ?

THE UNTOUCHABLES : THE IMPURE.. UNTOUCHABLES 359 CHAPTER XV THE IMPURE AND THE UNTOUCHABLES I WHEN did Untouchability come into existence? The orthodox Hindus insist that it is very ancient in its origin. In support of their contention reliance is placed on the fact that the observance of Untouchability is enjoined not merely by the Smritis which are of a later date but it is also enjoined by the Dharma Sutras which are much earlier and which, according to certain authors, date some centuries before B.C. In a study devoted to exploring the origin of Untouchability the question one must begin with is : Is Untouchability as old as is suggested to be? For an answer to this question one has to examine the Dharma Sutras in order to ascertain what they mean when they refer to Untouchability and to the Untouchables. Do they mean by Untouchability what we understand by it to-day? Do the class, to which they refer, Untouchables in the sense in which we use the term Untouchables to-day? To begin with the first question. An examination of the Dharma Sutras no doubt shows that they speak of a class whom they call Asprashya. There is also no doubt that the term Asprashya does mean Untouchables. The question however remains whether the Asprashya of the Dharma Sutras are the same as the Asprashya of modern India. This question becomes important when it is realized that the Dharma ., Sutras also use a variety of other terms such as Antya, Antyaja, Antyavasin and Bahya. These terms are also used by the later Smritis. It might be well to have some idea of the use of these terms by the different Sutras and Smritis. The following table is intended to serve that purpose :—

DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES360 I. Asprashya Dharma Sutra Smriti 1. Vishnu V. 104. 1. Katyayana verses 433, 783. II. Antya Dharma Sutras Smriti 1. Vasishta. (16-30) 1. Manu IV. 79; VIII. 68. 2. Apastambha (III.I) 2. Yajnavalkya I. 148. 197. 3. Atri 25. 4. Likhita 92. III. Bahya Dharma Sutras Smriti 1. Apastambha 1.2.39.18 1. Manu 28. 2. Vishnu 16. 14 2. Narada I. 155. IV. Antyavasin Dharma Sutras Smriti 1. Gautama XXXI; XXIII 32 1. Manu IV.79; X.39 2. Vasishta XVIII. 3 2. Shanti Parvan of the Mahabharata 141; 29-32 3. Madhyamangiras (quoted in Mitakshara on Yaj. 3-280

THE UNTOUCHABLES : THE IMPURE.. UNTOUCHABLES 361 V. Antyaja Dharma Sutra Smriti 1. Vishnu 36.7 1. Manu IV. 61; VIII. 279 2. Yajnavalkya 12.73 3. Brihadyama Smriti (quoted by Mitakshara on Yajnavalkya III. 260) 4. Atri. 199 5. Veda Vyas 1. 12. 13. II The next question is whether the classes indicated by the terms Antya, Antyaja, Antyavasin and Bahya are the same as those indicated by the term Asprashya which etymologically means an Untouchable. In other words are they only different names for the same class of people? It is an unfortunate fact that the Dharma Sutras do not enable us to answer this question. The term Asprashya occurs in two places (once in one Sutra and twice in one Smriti). But not one gives an enumeration of the classes included in it. The same is the case with the term Antya. Although the word Antya occurs in six places (in two Sutras and four Smritis) not one enumerates who they are. Similarly, the word Bahya occurs in four places (in two Sutras and two Smritis), but none of them mentions what communities are included under this term. The only exception is with regard to the terms Antyavasin and Antyajas. Here again no Dharma Sutra enumerates them. But there is an enumeration of them in the Smritis. The enumeration of the Antyavasin occurs in the Smriti known as Madhyamangiras and that of the Antyajas in the Atri Smriti and Veda Vyas Smriti. Who they are, will be apparent from the following table :—