Home-Bred Untouchability: The Untold Truth of Untouchability at Home
- NLR Journal
- Apr 10
- 1 min read
By Lamiya Sultana, Teaching Assistant at Swami Vivekananda University, Kolkata.
Abstract
Untouchability, though constitutionally abolished under Article 17 of the Indian Constitution, continues to thrive within the private domestic sphere in subtle and normalized forms. This article delves into the phenomenon of home-bred untouchability, which manifests through caste-based, gender-based, and status-based discrimination within families. Through real-life cases, including that of Sarla Bai—a tribal woman subjected to domestic violence and caste-based abuse—this piece exposes the hidden layers of inequality perpetuated inside households. It examines cultural practices like restricting menstruating women, maintaining separate utensils for domestic workers, and the marginalization of dependent family members. Despite legal safeguards like the Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (1989), home remains an unregulated zone of prejudice. The article argues for urgent introspection, education, and structural reforms to uproot these embedded biases. It also outlines practical, community-driven solutions to foster equality and dignity within households. The journey to a truly egalitarian society must begin by addressing the untold truths hidden within our homes.
Keywords: Home-Bred Untouchability, Domestic Discrimination, Caste-Based Violence, Tribal Women, Article 17, Constitution Of India, Domestic Workers, Menstruation Taboo, SC/ST Atrocities, Constitutional Morality, Intra-Family Inequality, Cultural Biases, Social Reform, Equality at Home.
Comments