Re: Hinduism 101: A crash course in the ancient faith
Anjjan, untouchability is just a social baggage that hinduism carried for so long and its thrown away, Hinduism never mentions anything about untouchability. Sati started a thousand years back as a measure to save women from being carried away by marauders and save the family from the ultimate insult (rape and abuse of womenfolk after the death of the man). It was mainly observed in the Rajput areas of North India, and slowly people followed that custom even in times of peace and it became associated with Hinduism. Just like that untouchability was a social practise started somewhere and spread. But if you have ever been to India, you know there is no untouchability for probably 100 years now and the rigid caste barriers are slowly dissolving too.