The bane of the caste system has been the hierarchical stratification of the privileges and ritual statuses which were totally ascribed. While the higher castes enjoyed higher ritual status, socio-economic privileges, education and learning, the lower castes were deprived of all good things in life. The subsequent scriptures including the Puranas, Geeta and Manu's Dharmashastra rationalized all such inequalities attributing them to Karma. The rigidity of the ...
