D:\AMBEDKAR\VOL-07\VOL7-23 Mk S.K.—27-09-2013\11-10-2013 305
THE UNTOUCHABLES : OCCUPATIONAL... UNTOUCHABILITY 305
CHAPTER VIII
OCCUPATIONAL ORIGIN OF UNTOUCHABILITY
WE may now turn to the occupational theory of the origin of Untouchability. According to Mr. Rice, the origin of Untouchability is to be found in the unclean and filthy occupations of the Untouchables. The theory is a very plausible one. But there are certain difficulties in the way of its being accepted as a true explanation of the origin of Untouchability. The filthy and unclean occupations which the Untouchables perform are common to all human societies. In every human Society there are people who perform these occupations. Why were such people not treated as Untouchables in other parts of the world? The second question is : Did the Dravidians have a nausea against such callings or against persons engaged in them? On this point, there is no evidence. But we have evidence about the Aryans. That evidence shows that the Aryans were like other people and their notions of purity and impurity did not fundamentally differ from those of other ancient people. One has only to consider the following texts from Narada Smriti to show that the Aryans did not at all mind engaging themselves in filthy occupations. In Chapter V Narada is dealing with the subject matter of breach of contract of service. In this Chapter, there occur the following verses :
The sages have distinguished five sorts of attendants according to law. Among these are four sorts of labourers; the slaves (are the fifth category of which there are) fifteen species.
A student, an apprentice, a hired servant, and fourthly an official.
The sages have declared that the state of dependence is common to all these but their respective position and income depends on their particular caste and occupations.