Reply #16: Yeah you have a pretty good idea

[fujiyama]

It's a good thing you brought up the point of jatis. Industrialization also removes various other restrictions depending on the caste and jati.

For example, while it used to be the Vaisha (I think this is the merchant class) that was heavilly dominant in business, now Brahmins (earlier seen as the preistly class) also gets MBAs.

I'd say that it becomes less well defined as society develops. Though, as a result of cyclical poverty, the lower castes will likely end up with the worst jobs. Fortunately there have been some developments and there has been progress (especially because the government made efforts with affirmative action programs).

India had a lower caste prime minister several years ago, and my guess is they have some in the current cabinet as well. After all, the current PM is a Sikh...so I don't think on the part of the federal/national government there is as much casteism. Though there are problems with individual state governments (like Bihar).