1. Untouchables are also not considered a hindu; depriving them the benefits/dignity of having a religion (whatever they are). Gandhi tried to bring them into the hindu fold by relabeling them as "harijan", and considering them a Shudra. Both these "benevolent in his own mind" acts were seen by Ambedkar for what they were -- continuation of upper-caste supremacy by any other means -- and he was a life-long opponent of Gandhi.
2. The "I'm higher than you are" attitude is not limited to Brahmins. It has gone fully fractal. Many untouchables practice some form of it (dhobi higher than bhangi, etc.) This deep entrenchment of caste discrimination will be hard to eliminate.
3. Generally speaking, most Indians, including the lower castes and untouchables are not knowledgeable of their own history. Even if literate, they have absorbed whatever self-serving government or priestly propaganda filtered down to them as they grew up.
Some additional points:
1. Untouchables are also not considered a hindu; depriving them the benefits/dignity of having a religion (whatever they are). Gandhi tried to bring them into the hindu fold by relabeling them as "harijan", and considering them a Shudra. Both these "benevolent in his own mind" acts were seen by Ambedkar for what they were -- continuation of upper-caste supremacy by any other means -- and he was a life-long opponent of Gandhi.
2. The "I'm higher than you are" attitude is not limited to Brahmins. It has gone fully fractal. Many untouchables practice some form of it (dhobi higher than bhangi, etc.) This deep entrenchment of caste discrimination will be hard to eliminate.
3. Generally speaking, most Indians, including the lower castes and untouchables are not knowledgeable of their own history. Even if literate, they have absorbed whatever self-serving government or priestly propaganda filtered down to them as they grew up.