Unfortunately, however, only a relatively small proportion of the lower castes have
benefited from these preferential policies. Even thought there is an increasing acceptance of
lower-caste individuals, there is also more overt hostility and violence expressed against the
lower castes and classes in many parts of India. For example, in parts of Bihar, which is a state in
eastern India, upper-caste landowners formed a private army in 1994 called the Ranvir Sena to
“protect” themselves from the lower castes. Although this was outlawed, the Ranvir Sena had
carried out 20 massacres of Dalits by early 1999 (Sekhon, 51). Hostility is also expressed by the
many people who support the removal of reserved government jobs and in institutions for
technical education, particularly on the part of many from the traditionally higher castes who are