Caste system has worked for India for centuries,excepting during British Rule.
British used the Division of labor ,promoted by Caste System to Divide and Rule.
Contrary to what people think, mistreatment of lower castes had not been in vogue prior to their regime. The Gods ,Krishna, Rama, are not Brahmins.Rama is a Kshatriya and Krishna is a cowherd.Disposition and conduct determine caste and nothing else.
As of today Caste in India exists for Politicians to garner votes .Ordinary Indian to day does not think of Caste any more,especially the educated.
Mistreatment of some castes are still on in India .It is practiced by some communities,like Kshatriyas(never by a Brahmin) because of old habits.This is also mending.
So called lower castes are also moving up the social order and they are well integrated into the main stream.
However still some way to go.This will happen by literacy alone and not by enacting laws.This will increase the divide into a chasm.
Unlike Race or other Divisions in Society,caste system is not based on Race or creed or language.It was based initially on the Disposition of the individual to perform a task.To day we find Doctors children becoming
Doctors,Lawyers offspring as Lawyers( at least in India).
Similarly,based on the skillset of the individual,caste system was formed.
This has no bearing on birth.
Unfortunately many of the systems founded by Hindus were not not understood properly, have been practiced by rote with out reading the texts.
It is a fact that differences between individuals can not be wished away nor one’s feeling of Superiority.This is the Nature of Man.Casteless., people say.But is it feasible or possible?Inequality/divisions will be there in the world;only thing is it shall be known by a different name, like poor and the rich,Party members and common man in Communist countries,Nation Vs Nation,Language Vs Language,Region vs Region, profession Vs profession.
When an individual has a particular disposition or Aptitude and if he is raised in the environment which nurtures it, he/she will realize his/her potential..This is exactly what Caste is all about.
http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/should-india-be-left-to-reform-at-its-own-pace/#comment-167690
Related:
People often confuse Caste with Varna, which means group that has a particular disposition and vocation.
What people are talking now is about caste, which is a distorted view of Varna, which has no sanction ofSastras, the Holy Writs.
Most of the great sages and Gods worshipped do not belong to Brahmin community, supposedly higher in echelon.
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