Bhangi

Bhangi is an Indian caste even though they are outside of traditional Jati also treated as Untouchables. Bhangis are traditionally restricted to the two job functions of cleaning latrines and handling dead bodies (both human and animal) . "Toilet Cleaner" [Bhangi] are also called as manual scavengers and they have to carry it away in a bucket on their head.

Efforts have been made to improve sanitation systems in India, including laws that ban the construction of dry toilets. However Bhangis continue to work in their traditional roles and they continue to face considerable social barriers.

Relations to other castes

Fellow Indian sub-castes even within the lowest Dalit caste such as "Dhobi" (washer-men) and "Chamar" (leather workers), are considered socially above the Bhangi. These upper sub-castes among Dalits would not interact with lower-order Bhangis, who have been described as "outcasts even among outcasts". Even though most Bhangis are devout Hindus with a great deal of devotion for Hanuman , some Bhangis have converted to Christianity and Buddhism.

Achievements

Although the Bhangis traditionally have a lower status there have been Bhangis that are recognized as Hindu saints. For example, Maharshi Naval Ram and his successors Daya Ram Maharaj (his son), Ram Baksh Maharaj and the present-day Badri Ram Maharaj are important Hindu figures. Saint Umaid Ram Maharaj and his successors Sukaram Maharaj, Deepa Ram Maharaj and the present-day Mangeshwar Ram Maharaj are important Hindu figures as well. Sanjeev Khudshah is a Bhangi motivational speaker, writer & sociologist.

External links

* [http://www.himalmag.com/may2001/filmreview.html Lesser Humans] — Review of a documentary film on the Bhangis

References