Mahatma Gandhi said that the greatness of a nation can be measured by how it treats its weakest members, yet India's untouchables are still found living in grim and appalling conditions all over this nation.

Poverty-stricken, this group took up shelter along the rail tracks on the outskirts of Varanasi, a city which itself can hardly be praised for its cleanness (fig.).

Impoverished and deprived from all but their human dignity they try to make a living by doing those jobs that no one else wants to do (fig.).