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WHEN BUDDHA STOPPED ANIMAL SACRIFICES, COWS WERE SANCTIFIED BY THEM
“Untouchability Was Punishment For Sticking to Buddhism’’ Brahmins’ Adaptability
A novel theory on the origin of Untouchability was expounded by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Leader of the Independent Labour Party, in the course of a talk with our representative.
Untouchability, it may be mentioned, is an institution or social practice that is the exclusive property of India and does not exist anywhere else in the world. In more than one sense it is an institution that is unnatural and runs counter to human psychology and social forces. The reasons for the origin of Untouchability that can carry conviction, therefore, must be such as will override all social and psychological considerations.
According to Dr. Ambedkar, Untouchability is of comparatively recent origin and could not possibly have existed in Vedic times or for centuries after that period. There is certainly no mention of Untouchability anywhere in the Vedas. How did it come into existence then ?
Semi-Tribal State
Dr. Ambedkar pictures a period when some of the people had only recently settled down to agricultural life while others were in a nomadic state moving about from place to place with their flocks of sheep and cattle.
The former with their encumbrances of landed property, houses, crops, etc., and higher state of civilisation than that of the pastoral tribes naturally did not want their peaceful life to be disturbed by the pastoral tribes. Nor were they a match for the pastoral tribes who were not burdened with any immovable property and were for obvious reasons physically hardier and more robust.
To guard their property against the depredations of the wandering tribes therefore the agricultural villages engaged the services of