Caste in India: The Facts and the System c8.s6.9

c8.s6.9

Does this mean that India has simply preserved a primitive type of the Āryan constitution? Such is certainly not my belief. If caste emerged in India from common Āryan premises, there resulted in the classical countries a quite different system. The caste, however, has remained thoroughly impregnated with ideas which connect it with the Āryan background. They could hardly fail to develop into an original institution, transplanted as they were to such unique conditions in India. Their aspect has been so greatly altered that at first sight the most primitive types are unrecognizable in the caste. Caste is, however, their legitimate heir. We have accomplished nothing if we have failed to grasp the mechanism of this transformation.