no-longer-a-slumdog

Terms and Concepts
Aryan
The Aryan race, a group of people with fair skin, invaded India
from Eurasia more than 3,000 years ago. The name Aryan
means “royal” or “noble.” Because these people believed themselves
to be better than the indigenous peoples, the caste system
was devised to prevent them from becoming “contaminated”
by the darker-skinned natives. Aryans, of course, established
themselves as the highest caste.
Brahmin
Brahmins comprise the highest caste of the Hindu religion. Although
they only make up approximately 5 percent of the total
population, they hold the lion’s share of the power in India’s
political, educational and corporate spheres. 1
Caste/Caste System
According to Hinduism, people have an intrinsic value and
are sorted into different groups called “castes.” This insidious
system that has served to segregate the population and turn
people against each other is based purely on their genetics.
Dalit/Untouchable
The word Dalit literally means “broken,” “crushed” or “oppressed.”
In Hindu society, Dalits are at the lowest rung of the
ladder. The vast majority of them are impoverished, exploited
and powerless to change their fate. Considered to be polluted
or unclean, they are called “Untouchables.” If they were to
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