Untouchability is a deeply rooted social practice in South Asia, especially in Nepal and India, where one group of people is treated as “impure” and segregated from mainstream society. Traditionally based on Hindu beliefs, it forbids one person from touching another or even accepting food, water, or shared spaces from them. This discriminatory system isolates certain communities—especially Dalits—and imposes strict restrictions on women during menstruation, childbirth, and even during death rituals. Despite legal reforms, untouchability persists in many visible and invisible forms.

1. Understanding Untouchability and Its Historical Roots

Untouchability is not only a prohibition against physical contact; it extends to refusing to share food, water sources, temples, religious ceremonies, and public places. In Hindu scriptures, society was divided into four varnas—Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. Over time, this division turned into a rigid hierarchy, where those placed in the Shudra category, especially Dalits, were labelled “impure” and relegated to degrading jobs, social isolation, and lifelong discrimination.

Women also face untouchability in various forms. During menstruation or childbirth, many are forced to stay in separate huts, known as chhaupadi, or isolated corners of their homes. They are denied participation in religious activities, given separate utensils, and treated as socially impure. Similarly, death rituals also involve temporary untouchability, where families mourning a loss must isolate themselves until all rituals are completed.

Although religious texts and societal traditions shaped these practices, the state also reinforced caste hierarchy during Nepal’s Shah and Rana periods through legal codes and rigid social structures.

2. The Present Situation: Why Untouchability Still Survives

Even though the constitutions of Nepal and India criminalize caste-based discrimination, enforcement remains weak. Social behaviour continues to favour caste hierarchy, especially in rural and semi-urban regions. Dalits still face discrimination in schools, temples, water sources, religious functions, marriages, and restaurants. In some cases, resisting untouchability leads to violence, eviction, or even murder.

In urban areas, discrimination becomes more subtle but still exists. Reports show Dalit individuals—including a Dalit Member of Parliament—being denied housing rentals in Kathmandu. The National Dalit Commission also reports that Dalit communities continue to struggle for education, employment, political representation, and fair opportunities.

Several factors keep untouchability alive:

• Deep-rooted traditional religious and cultural beliefs

• Lack of strong political commitment

• Weak law enforcement and absence of strict punishment

• Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of social mobility

• Social prestige linked to caste hierarchy

• Limited awareness about human rights and equality

3. Building an Inclusive Society: What Must Be Done

Eliminating untouchability requires continuous, collective effort from the state, civil society, media, religious leaders, and local communities. Effective eradication begins with strong government commitment supported by practical programs, awareness campaigns, and strict legal enforcement.

Key steps include:

a) State Action and Law Enforcement

• Implement clear, long-term policies to eliminate caste discrimination.

• Ensure strict punishment for those who practice, encourage, or hide caste-based untouchability.

• Guarantee justice, compensation, and protection for victims.

b) Education and Awareness

• Include lessons on caste discrimination, equality, and human rights in school curricula.

• Promote public dialogue between Dalits and non-Dalits in politics, business, and civil society.

• Use media to broadcast strong messages showing that caste-based discrimination is illegal, immoral, and inhumane.

c) Social Transformation

• Encourage participation of non-Dalit communities in anti-discrimination movements, just as seen in global movements like the protests after George Floyd’s murder in the U.S.

• Promote inter-caste marriages, shared celebrations, and public commitments to reject untouchability.

• Highlight success stories of inter-caste couples and Dalit achievers.

d) Economic Empowerment

• Provide education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support to Dalit communities.

• Ensure proportional representation in all sectors with additional compensation for historical injustices.

Conclusion

Caste-based untouchability is not only the problem of Dalits—it is a stain on human civilization and a challenge to modern values of equality, dignity, and democracy. To eradicate it completely, every responsible individual, institution, and community must take proactive and continuous action. Only when every person receives respect and equal opportunity can an inclusive democracy truly thrive.