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jashiran t1_iwkw3mn wrote

Still caste would be a good predictor of wealth, I reckon.

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TruthIsMaya t1_iwkz4xr wrote

You would reckon wrong then…

There are plenty of Brahmins (highest caste) that are poor and plenty of Dalits that are rich (lowest caste).

The highest caste Brahmins are generally not the wealthiest caste either. They are just more well regarded in traditional society. Historically Brahmins have been poor and had very austere and spartan lives.

Brahmin priest for example only get paid 300 rupees a month ($4 USD). Which is close to poverty line in india.

The idea that “high class means wealthy” is a western notion.

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Just_trying_it_out t1_iwo96hk wrote

That's an insanely misleading example since the priest caste there is supposed to live frugally.

It'd be much more telling if there was no correlation among wealth for castes in general rather than pointing out the priests live frugally and that there are outliers in any lower caste

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TruthIsMaya t1_iwoqc4a wrote

What is your definition of upper caste and lower caste then?

Normally people just go with the two poles, dalits and Brahmins

And assume the priest class in Europe is analogous the Brahmin caste/Varna in india (it’s not as Brahmins are obligated to live modestly and donate excess wealth and assets)

The wealthiest varnas will likely be merchants, traders, artisans and rulers

Vasiya, shudra, Kshatriyas

But that is a huge group to generalise.

Until recently, exorbitant wealth acquisition was looked down upon and treated as a moral hazard in society as it is adharmic

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