ia, their main contacts were with the Brahmans. They, with a few other upper castes, were the first to profit from British education and to enter government service under the East India Company.iv The "Scheduled castes" were at the bottom of the social ladder. When India was under British rule they were carried on a specific list, or "schedule", and got special government protection and scholarship aid. They have suffered from religious and civil disabilities. Some of their degrading jobs included sweeping the streets, and they could not do many things, go many places, and were all abused. The Sepoy Mutiny was an important event that took place under the British, and was an unsuccessful rebellion against British rule in India. The sepoys felt that the British did not respect their traditions of religion and caste, which gave them the desire to rebel in the first place, but also gave reason to change in India. There are three important things said about the caste system. First, India is trying to create social equality, while habits work against it. Second, competition for improvement on status is increasing. Third, the caste plays a unique role in India and it contrasts sharply with the situation in a more fluid society.iiiThe present caste system of India is in a state of great flux, as a result of various reform movements for the emancipation of the lower castes. Buddha and Mahavira were probably the earliest of reformers, who founded two new religions that had no place for social discrimination. Many other reformers tried to uplift the illiterate oppressed classes, who were made to do all the inhuman work for little or no wages, and punished severely for minor mistakes. However, the most profound impact on the equality of castes was made by Mahatma Gandhi. He gave a new term for the achhoot (untouchable) classes - Harijan (Hari = god, jan = people), meaning, "people of the God". Gandhi was a strong opponent of any discrimination don...
