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This is all in the context of the USA. My question is why would you be asked or, if asked, tell your caste?
by intrasight 5y ago
This is all in the context of the USA.
My question is why would you be asked or, if asked, tell your caste?
- flat-pluto 5y agoNobody would come out and ask your caste directly. Most often what tends to happen is they infer your caste based on your surname, or ask you innocent-seeming questions such as: where is your family from, what does your father do, are you vegetarian by birth, etc. The most roundabout way to determine one's caste that I have come across is inviting someone to swim. Brahmins, the upper-caste Hindus, traditionally wear a thread[1] which is on display when you swim. The ones who don't wear a thread are assumed to be non-Brahmin. Anyway, once the caste is known subtle discrimination may follow (depending on the people of course). [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanayana
- intrasight 5y agoSo use a different name. Really. As for the thread, I expect that you could buy one on ebay ;)