Religion has always been the beauty of Indian society |

A Mehtar (scavenger/sanitary worker) might convert from Hinduism to Islam where they get a more pleasing nomenclature of Halalkhor (one who earns in the righteous way), but neither can they get rid of their caste-related work — of cleaning, carrying human excreta on head, scavenging — nor do they get any respite from the tyranny of discrimination.

Even in their new religion, they are treated as inferiors. They have to build separate mosques to remember their Allah and even if they, somehow, manage to get a place in the main mosques, they are relegated to the back rows. Caste does not leave their shadows even in death as they face discrimination in burials. Caste-based graveyards are a proof.

A conversion to Sikhism or Christianity also don’t end the woes of those belonging to the lower castes. Their name might change to a “Danish” or “David” or “Dasmesh” from “Dinesh”, but their exploitation continues. Some don’t even get the liberty to change names and continue to live as a “Jhameli” or “Fekan” or “Ghurahu”.