What does it mean to be discriminated against? What would it be like if almost all equal rights and freedoms were taken away just because you were born into a certain race, or because there is a different way of living within a specific group of people? This feeling of discrimination is one that no individual wants to feel. For the Hindu people, formerly known as “The Untouchables,” this was what they had to live with. The Untouchables, now called Dalits, are India's most oppressed community and have been denied civil and human rights over the decades. The Dalit population is present throughout India. India is a country south of China and Pakistan, west of Thailand and east of Africa. India first gained independence in 1947 after being controlled by British imperial authority. When the English first ruled India, they began to colonize it, starting with Bengal, in the second half of the 18th century; they progressively expanded their dominion throughout India. Starting in 1858, the British government assumed control of the East India Company, becoming the ultimate ruler of India. When India finally regained its independence, almost two hundred years had passed since it had been under British authority. Dalits are part of the lowest social status group in the Hindu caste system and are born below the caste system; the caste system is a system in which Hindus are classified based on their occupations. Caste based society is used throughout India and extends further into other nations; goes to Pakistan, Siri Lanka, Nepal and South Asia. When it was created, the caste system depended exclusively on the work performed, but over time it became hereditary, passing from family to family... kindness towards all people of this race. Works Cited Szczepanski, Kallie. “Learn more about the Dalits or Untouchables of India.” About.com Asian History. About.com and Web. April 29, 2014.Barbara, Joshi R. "India's Untouchables | Cultural Survival." The Untouchables of India | Cultural survival. Cultural Survival and the Web. April 30, 2014.NA. "Who are Dalits? And what is untouchability?" — Portal. NCDHR and Web. 09 May 2014.O'Neill, Tom. "Untouchable @ National Geographic Magazine." na: 1-31. Untouchables @ National Geographic Magazine. National geographic. Network. 06 November 2012. Hampton, Audria. "The Untouchables." The Untouchables. Csu Chico, nd Web. May 13, 2014.NA. “Indian Dalits still struggle with untouchability.” BBC News. June 27, 2012. Web. May 19, 2014. NA. "Indian Independence". Indian independence. British Library. Network. May 20 2014.