In my medical anthropology class, we have been examining ways that people view illness around the world through their views of the body. According to our texts, Indian culture's view of the body is both biologically and socially permeable. In other words, disease, illness, and contamination will be absorbed by the skin. Just like Westerners have a sort of perception that they will "catch cold" by getting caught in a draught or going outside without the proper clothing, the people of India believe that if something touches them, it will penetrate their skin and infect them. Thus, the caste system has the "untouchables," those people who will contaminate others just by coming in contact with them.
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