Imagine sporting a fancy moustache and taking a walk with your girlfriend in the evening. But if you happen to be in Barwa village in Rajasthan, there’s a very good chance that you may be killed. That’s what happened to Jitendra Meghwal when he was ambushed by two men on motorcycles last year. His crime? Sporting facial hair as a lower caste Dalit. As India heads towards next year’s general election, caste prejudice has become a hot-button topic. The recent Bihar caste census shows the inequality faced by the lower caste, threatening Prime Minister Modi’s agenda.
In the 75th year since caste discrimination was outlawed in India, Insight examines why this issue continues to persist. 00:00 Introduction
04:04 The Hindu caste system and discrimination
10:24 Crimes against Dalits on the rise
14:31 Petty restrictions on Dalits
19:02 An army to champion lower caste rights
20:41 A killing over sweets
27:41 Caste discrimination in the workplace
32:57 Has education helped?
35:25 Attacked over a moustache
38:55 Vying for Dalit votes as election approaches
44:27 Can India achieve caste equality?
CVD 