Angry and humiliated the Dalits filed a police complaint but that only made matters worse, they are now faced with a social boycott.

Their water supply has been stopped and the village shops refuse to sell them rations.

"I sat on a horse for the first time, but when the wedding procession was passing through a street where the upper caste live they objected to me sitting on the horse and attacked us with weapons and stones," said Bansi.

"They said don't sit on a horse. Don't play loud music you are lower castes untouchables. You don't have the right to ride a horse. If we are human beings then why can't we celebrate like other people?," asked Mohan Meghwal, a relative.

Upper castes in the village admit that while the dalits may have access to education and good jobs they are still not considered social equals.

"As far as eating and sitting with them is concerned, we don't sit and even have a smoke together as social equals," said Mohanlal Janwa, upper caste teacher.

The government has registered a case under the SC/ST act a non-bailable offence but the main instigators of the incident are still absconding.

And despite a nominal police presence there is a sense of fear and mistrust among the Dalits who live in this street.

The reservation issue may be dominating national headlines but the truth is that even 59 years after independence while Dalits may have access to education and good jobs they are still not treated as social equals.

When it comes to social customs they continue to face social discrimination and humiliation.