Why do Shudras practice untouchability? - 2

...these sub-castes or sub-jatis also do not inter dine or intermarry because they are divided fundamentally along bloodlines which prohibited any kind of interaction. And nobody among non-twice born remembers these bloodlines. The Shudras and untouchables can hardly remember the names up to their three generations.


Now, why do all these Shudras who themselves are considered as impure, practice untouchability against the people ranked below them? These people do so even after being very poor and landless themselves. So it is basically poor against poor. It is antagonism between the poor; not among the poor; the poor are of different kind to each other; long live the dasterdly caste. One of the reasons for such a situation to exist is the traditional belief in Varna or jati system. The most impure are ranged against the polluted people. The second reason is that they themselves are very poor and depend upon the high castes for their livelihood. The land owning castes are in a position to adversely affect their means to livelihood. If higher castes are displeased then the sources for sustenance for these people may dry up. Thus if a Shudra intermixes with the untouchables and it comes to the knowledge of upper castes, then the concerned Shudra receives a polite indirect warning to desist from such practice or face action. Normally this is sufficient to restore the traditional dharmic practice. Even otherwise the concerned Shudra has to agree to their dharmic advice because his economic sustenance is endangered. The dependent people cannot be independent. Thus for his economic sustenance he has to behave like high castes towards untouchables. Another reason is the fear of losing his social status when mixing with the still lower category people. Also a Shudra considers him superior to untouchables and does not intermix with them on his own. Then there is always a threat hanging over his head of excommunication from his own caste men who also fear the loss of status through such adharmic acts. There would be no agreement to intermixing with the untouchables within his jati. As it happens the acceptance among higher castes is a very valuable factor because it sustains their superiority over still lower jatis. The people have been dancing one leg to gain the acceptance from Brahmans. The acceptance is not to be treated as equal but as near equal. Nobody can be equal to higher castes. It is the acceptance to be treated as fit enough to enter into social discourse with the Brahmanas without being made to feel inferior. If Brahmans talk to somebody without any element of disrespect then it is sufficient. Even if there is an element of disrespect it remains sufficiently hidden, not really observable to an inattentive observer...