What happens when a village resolves to end caste discrimination
- Bhavika Jain
- TIMESOFINDIA.COMUpdated: Mar 13, 2026, 22:14 IST IST
At first glance, Soundala looks like any other village in the semi-arid Khandesh region of Maharashtra. It faces familiar challenges: broken roads, inadequate funds for development works, and water scarcity.
But on February 5 this year, this settlement of roughly 2,500 people passed a formal gram sabha resolution declaring itself caste free. It was an attempt to confront one of India’s most entrenched social hierarchies at the village level.
But on February 5 this year, this settlement of roughly 2,500 people passed a formal gram sabha resolution declaring itself caste free. It was an attempt to confront one of India’s most entrenched social hierarchies at the village level.
