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Why were some groups historically treated as untouchable in the caste system?

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Painting depicting Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma with Ganesha standing and paying homage to Mahadevi, who is seated on a lotus and playing a stringed instrument. — Hinduism Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma (left to right) pay homage to Mahadevi (the great goddess, in white in the form of Saraswati), attended by the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, in a painting dated c. 1750.

In the context of the Hindu caste system, groups historically treated as "untouchable"—now often referred to as Dalits or Scheduled Castes—were marginalized due to concepts of ritual purity and pollution.12

Within the traditional varna framework, society was hierarchically ordered based on ritual status, with Brahmans at the top. Those relegated to the status of "untouchable" were considered polluting because of their specific occupations or behaviors. These included tasks deemed demeaning or impure, such as the disposal of dead animals, the removal of human waste, or the consumption of flesh.32

From a traditional Hindu perspective, this social stratification was viewed as a manifestation of karma, dharma, and samsara. While these practices were deeply embedded in historical social structures, they were formally prohibited following India's independence, and the practice of untouchability was made a punishable offense under the Indian Constitution. It is important to affirm that such discrimination is a violation of fundamental human dignity and equality.12