1500 BCE

Despite having been formally abolished in the 1950s in India, discrimination based on the ancient South Asian caste system still persists in practice. While the origins of this hierarchical system are not fully known, the castes seem to date back thousands of years with the arrival of the ancient Aryans. This nomadic group of people had migrated into the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE, bringing with them an already-established caste system with four main categories, or varnas: Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats), Vaishyas (merchants and traders), and Shudras (laborers)—all of which are designated at birth. The separation of people began to take hold with the popularization of Hinduism—initially a tradition started within the Brahmin class. Hindu ideals of karma and reincarnation had led the people to believe that Shudras were born into their caste due to misdeeds in their previous life.

Dalits, or “untouchables,” form a fifth group that do not fall within the caste system—outcasts, in every sense of the word. Considered impure from birth and falling in the lowest stratum of society, Dalits are subject to discrimination, stigma, marginalization, and violence. Dalit women are frequent victims of sexual abuse. While socioeconomic, educational, and legal interventions have been made in favor of Dalits, many of them continue to face undue discrimination and prejudice in the workplace, school, and various other settings—even in the United States.