The caste system as practiced today is a social distortion, not an essential religious feature of Hinduism. The original varna system described in the Bhagavad Gita [4.13] was based on individual qualities and actions, not birth.
Ancient texts like the Rigveda show social mobility based on merit. The current hereditary system emerged from later social and political developments, not core Hindu teachings. Many Hindu reformers and saints have actively opposed caste discrimination.
Modern genetic studies confirm substantial mixing between groups throughout Indian history, contradicting rigid caste separation. Understanding this helps distinguish between eternal Hindu dharma and social practices that need reform.
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