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The caste system is very much a part of Indian society even though the law forbids discrimination on the basis of it. Anyone who tells you otherwise - that ther

The caste system is very much a part of Indian society even though the law forbids discrimination on the basis of it. Anyone who tells you otherwise - that there is no caste system anymore - is lying or is from one of the upper castes and therefore don't know what it feels like to be a non-Brahmin. My parents didn't believe in the caste system, were opposed to it strongly and therefore it's impossible to figure out which caste I am from just by my name (ambiguous last name). I can't count the number of times people have tried to fish for information about my caste. Some ask me directly while others try to be "more polite" about the question. I just smile and tell them I am not telling you because it's not relevant and I don't believe in it. This makes them very upset. Then some of these people try to make guesses based on the colour of my skin (light skin in India is consider superior and dark skin is looked down upon), my height and other characteristics. And this has happened not just in India but more so in the US and Canada, where I now live.

amriksohata 7y ago
" is lying or is from one of the upper castes and therefore don't know what it feels like to be a non-Brahmin." Seriously brahmins barely make up 5% of Indians. Before British rule, Indians switched caste just like people move between classes in the UK. The British used caste as a divide and rule tool to create further wedges between different castes so it was easier to rule them all. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-48619734 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-48619734 https://www.jerusalemonline.com/how-the-british-empire-invented-the-caste-system-to-control-india-35730/ https://www.jerusalemonline.com/how-the-british-empire-inven...
- gauku 7y ago
  I'm not much educated on the subject and hope to read more one day but a few weeks ago I found this twitter response from an associate professor of history which begs to differ with you on this. https://twitter.com/achakrava/status/1141945588482625536 https://twitter.com/achakrava/status/1141945588482625536 Though Would like to add the that original brightwork article sounds like a conspiracy theory
  - amriksohata 7y ago
    If you read the vishnupuran there are various stories of how khastriyas (warriors) became teachers (brahmins) and vice versa. Even ashwatamma was called the son of a brahmana, his father was Drona, a Brahmin, but he was referred to as a son of a Brahmin because of his alliance with the crown prince Duryodhana and deeds he was determined more of a warrior
    - gauku 7y ago
      I think you missed a lot of time jumping from Vishnupuran to when British arrived. And are we already believing Mahabharatha to be not just a work of fiction?

amriksohata 7y ago

" is lying or is from one of the upper castes and therefore don't know what it feels like to be a non-Brahmin." Seriously brahmins barely make up 5% of Indians. Before British rule, Indians switched caste just like people move between classes in the UK. The British used caste as a divide and rule tool to create further wedges between different castes so it was easier to rule them all. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-48619734 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-48619734 https://www.jerusalemonline.com/how-the-british-empire-invented-the-caste-system-to-control-india-35730/ https://www.jerusalemonline.com/how-the-british-empire-inven...

gauku 7y ago
I'm not much educated on the subject and hope to read more one day but a few weeks ago I found this twitter response from an associate professor of history which begs to differ with you on this. https://twitter.com/achakrava/status/1141945588482625536 https://twitter.com/achakrava/status/1141945588482625536 Though Would like to add the that original brightwork article sounds like a conspiracy theory
- amriksohata 7y ago
  If you read the vishnupuran there are various stories of how khastriyas (warriors) became teachers (brahmins) and vice versa. Even ashwatamma was called the son of a brahmana, his father was Drona, a Brahmin, but he was referred to as a son of a Brahmin because of his alliance with the crown prince Duryodhana and deeds he was determined more of a warrior
  - gauku 7y ago
    I think you missed a lot of time jumping from Vishnupuran to when British arrived. And are we already believing Mahabharatha to be not just a work of fiction?