Varna is Not Caste: Unmasking the Academic Misrepresentation of Varna

The modern understanding of caste is deeply entangled with colonial narratives, social hierarchies, and political agendas that distort the indigenous concept of Varna. This book challenges these misconceptions by differentiating between the fluid, functional classification of Varna and the rigid, birth-based caste system imposed through external influences. Through a critical examination of various scriptures, historical developments, and contemporary discourse, this book aims to decolonize the understanding of Hindu social structures. It argues that caste, as it exists today, is a colonial construct reinformed by external influence, whereas Varna was a dynamic system meant for the harmonious functioning of society. The book ultimately calls for a reevaluation of Hindu social philosophy, free from the distortions imposed by foreign and ideological biases.