Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras are the four core work-based classifications from where all the present day caste and sub-castes systems are said to be linked. There are different theories though.
Brahmins are priests.
Kshatriyas are the warriors.
Vaishyas are the business glass.
Shudras - The Greatest Shudra of Modern India who made the lower classes of Hindus conscious of their slavery to the higher classes and who preached the gospel that for India social democracy was more vital than independence from foreign rule ( - B.R Ambedkar)
Brahmins are priests.
Kshatriyas are the warriors.
Vaishyas are the business glass.
Shudras - The Greatest Shudra of Modern India who made the lower classes of Hindus conscious of their slavery to the higher classes and who preached the gospel that for India social democracy was more vital than independence from foreign rule ( - B.R Ambedkar)
To enable the social democracy, Indian constitution was founded on the caste based reservations in government jobs. In last two decades, other castes have been added into the purview of reservations.
As of today, any forms or legal document in India has a caste section
OBC ( Other backward castes) - 41% of total population
SC (Scheduled Caste) - 20% of total population
ST (Scheduled Tribe) - 9% of total population
Rest /General- 30% of total population
As per reservation rules, the government jobs are reserved according to caste
SC - 15%
ST - 7.5%
OBC - 27%
General ( including any from above) - 50.5 %
However state governments can increase the quotas. In Tamil Nadu, reserved quota is as high as 70%.
In spite of the caste division and implicit social divide, some of the states have made good progress. Whereas others have seen massacres in name of caste.
If you are travelling to India, it's good to stay away from any discussion related to caste at a public place ( e.g pub , hotel , trains etc). If asked whether you support caste based reservation, you may want to be diplomatic. ( e.g. If asked, I say that I support Right to Equality. If at all, it should be income based).
Disclaimer : I the author of the content that can be found here within can assure you, the reader that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my highly disorganized and somewhat disfunctional mind interprets a particular situation and or concept.
References:-
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119889387595256961.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandal_Commission
