varna and jati

[Swaminathan Madhuresan]

--- nanda chandran <vpcnk at HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >I do not know how much exposure you have to Keralan low classes;
> >   as your writings are mainly concerned with `high classes'.
> >   Kerala caste system, arranged vertically has more people of fair
> >   complexion among `high classes' whom you are in contact with
> >   and very many people who are quite dark among the `low classes'.
>
> This may well be due to the fact that the lower strata of the society are
> usually engaged in manual labour, working in the fields etc and are
> constantly exposed to the sun, thus resulting in a dark complexion.

   Sorry, Nanda, I beg to differ: The dark complexion of most number of
Shudras as contrased with the color of the top varna cannot just be explained
away on the basis of "work" in the fields under the hot sun.






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