This volume is a collection of essays on untouchability written by Professor Jha at various points of his long and illustrious career. It dwells on the manner in which social stratification in ancient India developed to exclude castes like Candalas and Nisadas, leading to their exploitation and sub-human treatment. Candalas and Nisadas were both over time assimilated into the Brahmanical caste structure as degraded shudras, and ultimately relegated to being untouchables. The book also examines the Bhagavadgita and Asoka's Dhamma from the perspective of caste and untouchability.