Being 'Untouchable'

  • Hanna Adcock
Bangladesh embodies a combination of Bengali society and culture, a Hindu and Buddhist heritage and later Muslim traditions. The caste system and prejudice against 'untouchables' are part of Hindu culture. Although Hindu in origin, work-based discrimination and social exclusion have been a reality in both the Hindu minority and the Muslim majority communities in Bangladesh. Also known as Dalits (meaning broken people) they are considered 'unclean' living in their own neighbourhoods apart from 'clean' groups. They are denied entry to the temples, social centers and burial grounds of non-Dalits.

The following images form a series of black and white portraits of so-called 'untouchable' Bangladeshi people within their houses.