Caste is an unique institution that is found only in the Indian subcontinent whereas all over the world classes with its fluidity of movement are the natural divisions of the society.
A national society can be likened to a triangle. The narrow top part is occupied by upper classes, the middle part is the domain of the middle classes and at the bottom are the labouring classes. A strong nation anywhere inthe world is a triangle where the middle classes occupy disproportionate area at the middle. No society in the world can claim that it does not have its share of poor, unwanted and hopeless people but they are mostly unseen as a residue settled at the bottom thus not spoiling the overall view of the triangle. The beauty of the class system is that any individual can lift himself up by his own merit based on education and wealth. Caste based society is a triangle too but with three horizontal and impenetrable lines dividing it in four casteist divisions. Now what happens to the unfortunate residue of the two upper castes. It settles down on its own horizontal line below which it cannot sink. It is not a pleasant sight , this casteist triangle. Antonio
