The untouchability virus
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the concept of ‘social distancing’ is on everyone’s mind. But social distancing of another sort has been practiced in South Asia for more than three thousand years. Undoubtedly, maintaining physical distance and avoiding touching others are necessary for preventing the transmission of the virus. With ‘social distancing’ being recommended as the most effective weapon against the pandemic, many have, regrettably, begun to praise the supremacy of the etiquette of the namaste for maintaining personal and social distance, with some even going so far as to extol the idea of cultural purity and the superstitions around untouchability.
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the concept of ‘social distancing’ is on everyone’s mind. But social distancing of another sort has been practiced in South Asia for more than three thousand years. Undoubtedly, maintaining physical distance and avoiding touching others are necessary for preventing the transmission of the virus. With ‘social distancing’ being recommended as the most effective weapon against the pandemic, many have, regrettably, begun to praise the supremacy of the etiquette of the namaste for maintaining personal and social distance, with some even going so far as to extol the idea of cultural purity and the superstitions around untouchability.
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