Were Dalits prohibited from drinking water from wells in ancient times? Is there any evidence to support this claim?
08.06.2025 00:31
History stands as a testimony to the atrocities committed on the oppressed section.
From ‘Castes and tribes of India’ :
On March 20, 1927, Ambedkar and his followers marched to the Chavdar Lake, where he drank water from it, asserting their right of equality and equal access to public resources.
Why can’t my wife just accept the fact that I’m going to cheat?
A note on the Paraiyans, Sonnerat, writing in the eighteenth century, says that,
Medieval inscription time to time record caste disputes.
And,
Have you had any paranormal activity situations happen personally to you or someone you know?
I am not sure whether Sayakkars were classified as Avarnas, but they were harassed for taking water from tanks and wells. The issue was taken before the government and they were given retrieve.
Mahad Satyagraha -
The text itself is variously dated from 2nd century CE to 4th century CE, but the legends are believed to be older.
The well the girl was using is meant for Avarnas. The touch of an avarna is considered impure and hence she hesitates giving water to Ananda.
If any Indian whatever, even a Choutre, by accident touches a Paraiya, he is obliged to purify himself in a bath.
The medieval Chōla era the indigenous early settlers were relegated to the status of Avarnas and they were given space to live outside villages and towns. They had separate ponds, cremation grounds, so as to not ritually pollute others.
Scientists just learned the age of America's deepest canyon - SFGATE
Every house had a well and no one stopped Dalits so on.
In 1927, Ambedkar launched a satyagraha to allow untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad (currently in Raigad district), Maharashtra, India.
Hope these modern so called Shudra priests actually learn the history of discrimination in the subcontinent instead of doing apologetics.
Samsung could drop Google Gemini in favor of Perplexity for Galaxy S26 - Ars Technica
And that Dalits dealt with corpses that’s why others fetched water for them.
So no matter what job the Avarnas choose , their touch was/is considered impure by casteists who stick to the practice of ritual purity.
Pre modern times :
Space photo of the week: Pink 'raindrops' on the sun captured in greatest detail ever - Live Science
Avarnas were people who were perceived to be doing ritually unclean jobs - not necessarily actual unclean jobs. For example, Toddy tappers were considered impure. Because, toddy tapping was considered impure.
In December 1937, the Bombay High Court ruled that untouchables have the right to use water from the tank. It took ten years for the Dalits to get justice.
The Brāhmans cannot behold them, and they are obliged to fly when they appear. Great care is taken not to eat anything dressed by a Paraiya, nor even to drink out of the vessel he has used; they dare not enter the house of an Indian of another caste; or, if they are employed in any work, a door is purposely made for them; but they must work with their eyes on the ground; for, if it is perceived they have glanced at the kitchen, all the utensils must be broken.
Why did Trump call Biden and Schumer Palestinians?
I read another answer which is nothing but apologetics for the evil system. The OP claims :
Source : Travancore Manual, Volume I, page number 196.
When an Indian of any other caste permits a Paraiya to speak to him, this unfortunate being is obliged to hold his hand before his mouth, lest the Indian may be contaminated with his breath; and, if he Is met on the highway, he must turn on one side to let the other pass.
DePaul soccer player Chase Stegall dies in residence hall - Chicago Sun-Times
They were allowed to appear before the sovereign during the royal processions.
Shockingly, the practice of keeping away Dalits from common wells, continues to this day in some places.
They were exempted from the payment of all dues with the exception of Padaippanam and Kappalvagai panam.
Do you consider masturbating to porn cheating if you are married?
When Ambedkar became a professor of political economy in the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, other professors objected to his sharing a drinking-water jug with them.
They were freed from persecution at the hands of Brahmins, Pillaimars and others who were in the habit of obstructing their passage to take water from tanks and wells, by putting up fences of thorns etc, assaulting and exacting unreasonable dues from them and interfering with and interrupting them in their public religious performances. Their residence was also prescribed within certain limits.
There were Paraicheri for Paraiyars, Kammalancheri for Kammalas, Ilai Cheri for toddy tappers so on. Some inscriptions mention Theendacheri (untouchable hanlet) - the term Cheri is still in use and is usually a reference to slums.
Major US retailers cancel Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - GamesIndustry.biz
Yes. Avarnas were generally prohibited from deinking or fetching water from common wells and ponds. They had their separate wells and ponds.
Inscription granted certain privileges to the professional people called Sayakars of Idalakkudi viz.,
"they are prohibited from drawing water from the wells of other castes; but have particular wells of their own near their inhabitations, round which they place the bones of animals, that they may be known and avoided.
New COVID-19 variant detected in Washington state, health officials say - KING5.com
Where ever the concept of Varnashrama and ritual purity spread, this was the situation.
Even today a lot of villages only have common wells and ponds. Not every rural house has a well.
The story goes like this : Parched in the hot sun, Ananda approached a girl fetching water and asks her for water.
6 Foods You Should Be Eating for Bone Health, According to Dietitians - Yahoo
Even as recently as 18th century, the custom of keeping away Dalits from the common wells was in practice.
Ananda replies, ‘I didn’t ask for your caste’ ‘I asked for some water’
They (Dalits) can ask any of us to fetch the water for them and we will oblige. But they cannot do it on their own. This practice has been there for ages and it cannot be changed,”
Is it true that in 2028 there will be a new AIDS variant that will wipe out all the LBGTQ+ people?
North or South, East or west - you can find Dalits facing the same issues when it comes to fetching water from common wells and ponds.
One of the caste Hindus told ‘The Hindu’:
One such dispute is recorded in a granite pillar in the Parasuraman Peruntheru, Idalakudi, Nagercoil, dated to 661 M.E (Malayalam Era), that is 1486 AD
—— which songs do certain kuorans remind you of?
Even if a Dalit didn’t engage in any said impure activity or job, he or she would still be denied access to common well, because by birth they are considered to be ritually impure.
The girl replies, ‘I am a Chandali’
Evidence of this practice comes from early Buddhist literature. The story of Ananda and the Chandali girl Prakrit is an example. The story is found in Divyavadana - a collection of early Buddhist legends.