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Origin of Untouchability III
WHEN DID UNTOUCHABILITY ORIGINATE ?
Upendranath Roy
Three parts of Ambedkar's theory
Ambedkar's theory can be divided in three parts. The first part is concerned with why untouchabes live outside the villages. The second discusses when untouchability came about. The third consists of his views as to why and how untouchability came into being The first part of this theory is generally acceptable to us, while the second and third parts are far from satisfactory. So the two parts must be examined at length. First, however, it is necessary to see what evidence Ambedkar furnishes to establish his contention that untouchability originated sometime around 400 A, D. Yuan Chwang's account
The first unambiguous reference to untouchability according to Dr. Ambedkar is to be found in the account of the chinese traveller, Yuan chwang He came to India in 629 A. D. and stayed for 16 years. So he acquired accurate knowledge of the manners and customs of India. Movcover his account is well preserved. We learn the following from his account ;
"As to their inhabited towns and cities the boadranguler walls of the cities (on according to one text, of the various regions are broad and high, while the thoroughfares are narrow tortuous passages, the shops are on the high ways and booth. or (inns) line the roads. Butchers, Fisheramen, Public performers, reecutionrs, and scavengers bave their babitations marked by a distinguishing sign. They are forced to live outside the city and sneak along on the left when going about in hemlets"
Though the above passage is too short, Dr. Ambedkar finds it sufficient to admit that "when Yuan chwang came to India, untouchability had emerged”! The Chandāla girl in the 'Kādam Bari
Baņa Bhatta did not write 'Kadambari' long before Yuan chwang. Rather, the two works are contemporary. Dr. Ambedkar quotes from the ‘Kadambari' the description of a Chandala Settement as well as the description of a Chandala girl's appearance in the
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