Final answer:
Dalits were considered 'untouchable' because they were associated with 'unclean' occupations within the traditional Indian caste system, leading to severe social exclusion and stigma.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that explains why Dalits were considered to be "untouchable" and "unseeable" is that they performed "unclean" occupations. In the rigid traditional caste system of India, Dalits, also known as Untouchables or Harijan, which means 'children of God,' a term coined by Mahatma Gandhi, were at the bottom of the caste hierarchy. These individuals traditionally worked in jobs that involved polluting activities, including anything that was considered unclean or related to death and thus were subjected to severe social stigma and exclusion.
Dalits were hierarchically below the four primary tiers of the caste system which included Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and Shudras (workers and laborers). They were barred from entering Hindu places of worship or using the same water sources as higher-caste members and faced numerous other social restrictions. Some Dalits sought to escape the stigma and restrictions of their caste by converting to other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam, which do not practice the caste system.