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The Real Story: Is it time to Abolish India’s Caste System?

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Dalits for iB2.jpg

12/08/2016 GMT

Is it time to Abolish India’s Caste System?

BBC World Service - The Real Story, Is it time to Abolish India’s Caste System?

Are recent protests by low-caste Dalits a turning point?

Is India’s caste system a discriminatory and divisive anachronism that’s had its day, or does it provide stability and order in a complex society with its roots in ancient traditions? Members of the low-caste Dalit community – once known as ‘untouchables’ – are marching in the state of Gujarat following a spate of recent attacks against them. They say they’ll boycott their designated tasks within the caste system, which include the manual cleaning of sewers and the disposal of dead animals. Join Anu Anand and her guests as they discuss whether positive discrimination on the basis of caste works – or whether it’s time to abolish the caste system altogether.

Photo: a protester against attacks on Dalits in Gujarat State, India. Credit: Getty

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