An Obama Moment for India s Untouchables

Moreover, India can claim a great deal of pride in the fact that the last two presidents were from minority populations one from the lowest of castes (Harijan, formerly referred to as untouchables ), and another one from the Muslim community.

She was born into the Dalit caste, the untouchables, who in former times would never have gotten anywhere near the elite, except to sweep their floors. Since Indian independence, the government has done much to improve the Dalits status, and the deputy consul general is one of the beneficiaries of this policy.