Srinagar, Sept. 15 -- Untouchability was abolished by the Constitution of India. Article 17 is very clear about it. Legally, there should be no place for untouchability in modern India.

But the uncomfortable question is: has it really disappeared from society?

I don't think it has disappeared completely. It has changed its form.

The old untouchability was visible. People were stopped from entering temples, using common wells, sitting with others or even walking through certain places. It was cruel, direct and easy to identify.

Today's discrimination is often different.

It is more educated. More polite. More indirect.

Nobody may openly say, "I will not sit with you because of your caste."

Instead, somebody may say, "We are comfortab...