Human Rights Violation: An Overview in India

Abstract

India, the worlds largest democracy, even after more than six decades of establishment of the Republic, remains at risk of not only denying right to life and dignity but also systematically violating the human rights of Dalits, the principal victims of caste system. Caste system in its hierarchical structure offers a glaring example of violation of Dalits rights through centuries of hegemony, oppression and exploitation. The Caste is an un-natural division of Hindu society based on politico-religious ideological doctrine called Karma. Caste is specific to Indian society; it is an institutionalized inequality and indignity. Caste is a graded inequality with elevation for some and degradation for others. Untouchability is the part and parcel of the caste structure. Untouchability is the manifest of caste practice in terms of purity and pollution. Caste system and untouchability both constitute social and economic exploitation and cultural discrimination, which are worse than slavery. Caste and untouchability are the significant markers of the denial of human rights and dignity of Dalits or the Scheduled Castes in India.