Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Ancient India: Kinship, Caste and Class

Question:

According to Xuan Zang, where were executioners and scavengers forced to live?
1) Inside the city and villages.
2) In luxurious residences provided by the king.
3) Outside the city and away from the settlements.
4) In separate areas designated by the Brahmanas.

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

Options:

1

2

3

4

Correct Answer:

3

Explanation:

The Manusmriti prescribed certain "duties" for chandalas, including living outside the village, using discarded utensils, and wearing clothes made from the dead and iron ornaments. They were restricted from walking in villages and cities during the night. Additionally, chandalas were tasked with disposing of bodies of individuals with no relatives and serving as executioners. In later accounts, the Chinese Buddhist monk Fa Xian described how "untouchables" used a clapper in the streets to avoid being seen, while Xuan Zang observed that executioners and scavengers were compelled to live outside the city.

Historians have analyzed non-Brahmanical texts to understand whether chandalas embraced the prescribed life of degradation mentioned in the Shastras. In some instances, these depictions align with Brahmanical texts, while in others, there are indications of different social realities.