Satish, somehow we end up arguing one another :) Anyways some points, Yes racism/untouchability/anti semitism/sexism all are discriminatory practices, regardless of which country they are in.
There is no 'difference in perspective' to a brahmin washing himself - he is taught to do so because the other person he comes in contact with or even sees is unclean. It is the greatest insult one human can inflict upon another to assume the other person is unclean to the extent of washing yourself when you touch them or see them. It is the same attitude that put up 'whites only' signboards in washrooms and restaurants in racist america.
There is no comparative basis/justification to pain or discrimination. A child who has hurt his knee suffers pain as much as a person going though a holocaust from their individual perspective. An african american not offered seat in a bus suffers same pain as a dalit who sees a brahmin taking bath after seeing him.
The reason why we indulge in 'comparative justification' is because we still identify ourselves as 'brahmins' and part of our ancestors and lack courage to condemn what was wrong.We dont' face a fraction of the anger and resistance that Bharatiyar or even Kalki went through in their condemnation of casteism. My own grandfather used to addrss Kalki as 'singular', nalla ezhudaraan, aaana 'cheri moham'undo' and thebetel leafchewingkudumi arrogant crowd would nod and agree.
I mean imagine how much wrath Kalki must have faced within his own family for writing what he did! We are educated, live in a much liberal world. Yet we lack that courage to condemn what was wrong in unequivocal terms.