The Musahar community is a Hindu caste who lives on the margin of society due to India's harsh cast system.
It is considered the lowest of the Dalit groups, the untouchables, which are the most segregated communities in India. They are discriminated for their skin colour, religion, and traditions.
The Musahars, whose name translates in English as "rat eaters", live in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and north Madhya Pradesh. They speak Bhojpuri, a dialect deriving from Hindi.
According to Hindu mythology, the whole Musahar community was punished by Parmashwar (the Hindu god of creation) when one of the Mushara member dug holes into a horse's belly.
Parmashwar, who had given the horse to the man as a gift, was terribly offended and therefore punished the whole community by making them rat catchers.
"Earlier our meals were dependant on the availability of rats and grains that we would procure from the rat holes," Malhu Sada, 74, a member of the community, told Al Jazeera. Full story...
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It is considered the lowest of the Dalit groups, the untouchables, which are the most segregated communities in India. They are discriminated for their skin colour, religion, and traditions.
The Musahars, whose name translates in English as "rat eaters", live in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and north Madhya Pradesh. They speak Bhojpuri, a dialect deriving from Hindi.
According to Hindu mythology, the whole Musahar community was punished by Parmashwar (the Hindu god of creation) when one of the Mushara member dug holes into a horse's belly.
Parmashwar, who had given the horse to the man as a gift, was terribly offended and therefore punished the whole community by making them rat catchers.
"Earlier our meals were dependant on the availability of rats and grains that we would procure from the rat holes," Malhu Sada, 74, a member of the community, told Al Jazeera. Full story...
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