ALjazeera Inside Sotry;  Aired on Aug 15, 2016
Monday marks 69 years of Indian independence. But millions of Indian citizens say they're not free.
Four so-called lower-caste men in the state of Gujarat were stripped and flogged for doing what many say was their job.

In response hundreds of people began a protest. They've walked 350 kilometres in 10 days, ending in the town where the men were beaten.

The protesters say the issue is bigger than just four men. That members of the Dalit caste face discrimination in every facet of life.

And that the Indian government ignores their calls for reform.

Just how rooted is the caste system in Indian society? And can Dalits' lives be improved?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:
Vivek Kumar, sociologist and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Gurharpal Singh, professor in inter-religious relations and development at SOAS University of London.
Sat Pal Muman, Chair of Caste Watch UK.