Gandhi is famous for his lifelong struggle against one aspect of caste, untouchability. He was, however, long in favor of the general principle of the caste system, Varnashram. Jawaharlal Nehru reported of him that toward the end of his life Gandhi did make some general statements against caste, but what is puzzling is not that Gandhi eventually condemned caste. What is puzzling is that a person who in other respects was sane could seriously propose in the 20th century that young people instead of choosing their occupations should do what their parents did.

Gandhi wrote, for example: “Varna is intimately, if not indissolubly, connected with birth, and the observance of the law of varna means the following on the part of us all the hereditary and traditional calling of our forefathers in a spirit of duty. Those who thus fulfill the law of their varna can be counted on one’s finger’s ends. This performance of one’s hereditary function is done as a matter of duty, though it naturally carries with it the earning of one’s livelihood. Thus, the function of a Brahamana is to study and teach the science of Brahman (or spiritual truth). He performs the function, as he cannot do otherwise, as it is the law of his being. That secures him his livelihood, but he will take it as a gift from God. A Kshatriya will perform the function of protecting the people in the same spirit accepting for his livelihood whatever the people can afford to give him. A Vaishya will pursue wealth-producing occupations for the welfare of the community, keeping for himself enough for his own maintenance and rendering the balance to the community in one shape or other. A Shoodra will perform physical labour in the same spirit of service.

“Varna is determined by birth, but can be retained only by observings its obligations. One born of Brahmana parents will be called a Brahmana, but if his life fails to reveal the attributes of a Brahmana, when he comes of age, he cannot be called a Brahmana. He will have fallen from Brahmanahood. On the other hand, one who is born not a Brahmana, but reveals in his conduct the attributes of a Brahmana will be regarded as a Brahmana, though he will himself disclaim the label.

“Varna thus conceived is no man-made institution but the law of life universally governing the human family. Fulfillment of the law would make life livable, would spread peace and content, end all clashes and conflicts, put an end to starvation and pauperisation, solve the problem of population and even end disease and suffering.” (6)