Capitalism vs. the Caste System

“The untouchable has been touched by India’s growth. Dalits are coming out from hunger and humiliation,” said Chandra Bhan Prasad, a popular Dalit newspaper columnist and childhood friend of Ram’s.

“Capitalism is beginning to break the caste system,” said Prasad, who is conducting the survey.

“To me, this is the greatest social change India has ever witnessed in its known history,” Prasad said. “The Dalit has been unchained. The answer was found in the machine.”

Undependable power, like the rutted dirt roads and lack of running water, is one of the remaining impediments to economic growth in Dalit villages.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083002299.html?hpid=topnews

Sep 01 2008 11:14 am | The Global Picture |

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