Introduction:
According to Fa Xian, a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 5th century, the untouchables in India faced a significant plight. Fa Xian's observations provide valuable insights into the social conditions prevalent during that time.

Untouchables in India:
The untouchables, also known as Dalits, were considered the lowest social caste in India's traditional caste system. They were subjected to extreme social discrimination and lived in deplorable conditions.

Untouchability and Social Discrimination:
According to Fa Xian, untouchables were considered impure and untouchable due to their occupation, which often involved handling dead animals, cleaning toilets, or working with waste materials. As a result, they were excluded from participating in normal social and religious activities.

Exclusion from Society:
The untouchables were not allowed to enter temples, schools, or public places where higher castes gathered. They were even forbidden from using the same wells or water sources as the higher castes. This exclusion from society further marginalized the untouchables and perpetuated their cycle of poverty and discrimination.

Physical and Verbal Abuse:
Fa Xian observed that untouchables were subjected to physical and verbal abuse by the higher castes. They were often beaten, humiliated, and treated as subhuman. This violence and mistreatment further reinforced their societal exclusion and contributed to their overall plight.

Limited Opportunities:
Due to their social status, untouchables had limited access to education, employment, and economic opportunities. They were forced to engage in menial and degrading jobs, which offered little to no social mobility or economic advancement.

Impact on Untouchables:
The plight of the untouchables, as described by Fa Xian, highlights the deep-rooted social inequality and oppression they faced. Their exclusion from society, limited opportunities, and constant abuse created a cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and social marginalization.

Conclusion:
Fa Xian's observations shed light on the dire conditions faced by the untouchables in ancient India. The social discrimination, exclusion, and limited opportunities they experienced contributed to their marginalized status and perpetuated their plight. Understanding the historical context of untouchability is crucial to addressing and challenging the caste-based discrimination that still persists in modern-day India.