where were the untouchables in indias caste system

The "untouchables" in India's caste system were at the very bottom of the social hierarchy. This group was referred to as "Dalits," which means "oppressed" in Sanskrit, and they were considered outside of the traditional four-fold Varna system that categorized society. The system, which has roots that go back over 2,000 years, includes the following tiers:

1. Brahmins: The priestly and scholarly class.

2. Kshatriyas: The warrior and noble class.

3. Vaishyas: The merchant and trading class.

4. Shudras: The laboring class.

Below these four Varnas were the Dalits, previously known as "untouchables" because their presence was considered impure by the members of other castes due to the types of work they were relegated to, which often involved activities that were considered physically and ritually polluting, such as handling dead bodies, cleaning latrines, or working with leather (since leather comes from dead animals, and many Hindus consider the cow sacred). Because of their low status, they historically faced severe social discrimination and were often segregated from the rest of society in various aspects of daily life. Though India's constitution abolished "untouchability," and laws have been enacted to protect the rights of Dalits, discrimination persists in many areas of Indian society