2500 years ago, the greatest man India has given the world tried to eradicate the caste system, and failed. He was no match for the wily Brahmins and their foxy theories. That was a long time ago, and today even the Brahmins are to be found beyond religious roles, in all walks of life, in all professions. So much for an academic definition of caste today. No one, in my view, can blame anyone for being born into any caste as they are not responsible for it! For me, at least, caste today is simply a hangover from the past!
With all due respect to Adi Shankara, the shadow of the rupee and not the Sudra looms larger than life, and the millions of poor Indians in India today know they can look forward to a better life through hard work and education - and what we are witnessing is nothing less than a peacceful revolution! Yes, we have nothing to lose but our casts. The new Indian, in the millions, is not so easily scared by traditional beliefs and theories and, as I said, the rupee is going to be the new star of India, defying the status quo and ushering in a new age of awareness when people are taking their lives into their own hands. Celebrate life!