The Pakistani Dalit

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The hierarchical and discriminatory caste system, legitimised by Hinduism, is so deeply entrenched in Southasian societies that it has even affected the adherents of theoretically egalitarian religions like Islam, Sikhism, Christianity and Buddhism. With the highest Hindu concentration in India and Nepal, the exploitation of Dalits is often believed to be limited to these countries. As this remarkable book explains, however, caste discrimination against Dalits is a social reality in Pakistan as well, where over 95 percent of the population is Muslim.

Pirbhu Lal Satyani knows of what he speaks: a Pakistani Hindu social activist based in Sindh, Satyani works with his country's Dalits. In this slim volume, he claims that of Pakistan's roughly 3 million Hindus, over 75 percent are Dalits of various castes, including . Meghwals, Odhs, Valmikis, Kohlis and Bhils. They reside mainly in southern Punjab and Sindh and seem to suffer the same dismal plight as their counterparts in India.

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