What was the position of those people in a society whose social practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas?
Due to diversity in the sub-continent, there were many people whose social practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas. Their mention has been found in many Sanskrit texts. They are often described as odd, uncivilized, and beastly people. They are also considered as forest dwellers who hunted to survive. The Nishida, Eklavya was one of them and belonged to this category of people. The others who were suspected included nomadic pastoralists. They did not adjust themselves in the framework of settled agriculturists. The people who did not speak Sanskrit were often termed as Mlechchhas. They were looked down upon in society. There are many stories about such people in the Mahabharata.
