Untouchables

At Benares, India, the Hindu Maha Subha (Grand Assembly of the Hindus) completed its seventh annual session. It passed a unanimous resolution removing the ban against untouchables, especially with regard to schools, public wells, temples, meeting places.

Pundit Malaviya, President of the Subha, describing the miserable condition of the untouchables, said: "We regard ourselves as polluted by the touch of the very shadow of any one of the depressed classes, and we refuse them the privilege of leading a healthy, decent, civilized life, as long as, out of mere loyalty to their forefathers' faith, these 7,000,000 choose to call themselves Hindus. The moment they accept a different label, by becoming converts to other faiths, the most orthodox Brahman (priestly caste) does not scruple to receive them on terms of equality."