The caste system became less rigid as the Indian people were exposed to outside ideas. Many Sudras and untouchables were attracted to the ideas of Islam because Muslims rejected the caste system. The Indian Constitution has forbidden discrimination against the Dalit since 1950, but many of India’s 160 million Dalit continue to live in poverty. Indian people with family names associated with the Dalit often face discrimination. Despite this, the Indian people elected a Dalit to the presidency. K. R. Narayanan served in that position from 1997 to 2002.