<!--QuoteBegin-acharya+Apr 27 2007, 02:03 AM-->QUOTE(acharya @ Apr 27 2007, 02:03 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Re. the idea/statement: "Varna/Jati was fluid but the brits created the caste system in its rigid format".
The population of the Indian sub-continent was (and remains) genetically segregated along the lines of caste/Varna/Jati - whatever the accurate term and concept may be. The word "caste" may not be an accurate translation of varna/jati and British can certainly be accused of using the existing segregation to their extreme advantage but its vacuous to claim that british created the caste system. The divisions within Hindu society that, in its extreme form, were displayed along the lines of of untouchability existed long before the arrival of british. <b>Such divisions invariably led to a society that was quite keen on preserving blood lines - a thesis that is reasonably well-supported by genetic analysis of representative Indian population in India.
</b>
About eye color, the gene OCA2 on chromosome 15 exhibits a high frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) - leading to a spectrum of eye colors. The small Indian population with blue/green eyes, very likely received a genetic input from a population distinct from the early inhabitants of the sub-continent who appeared to have migrated along the coast from Africa. <b>The input may have occured as recently as a few hundred years ago. The simplest possible explanation is presence of british population in the area during that time. </b>One would have to analyze Y-chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA for a more accurate theory to explain the eye color. For the longest time I thought that Aishwariya Rai wore contact lenses - it turns out thats not true.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Can anybody answer this. Thanks in advance
[right][snapback]67901[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe division of humans into chinese and indians is due to the exact implementation of an ideology of extreme segregation. This need to lend intelligibility and agency to natural phenomenon is the british import. this is what we mean when we say that "caste system" is another typical clownish british construct. See the-caste-non-system
The population of the Indian sub-continent was (and remains) genetically segregated along the lines of caste/Varna/Jati - whatever the accurate term and concept may be. The word "caste" may not be an accurate translation of varna/jati and British can certainly be accused of using the existing segregation to their extreme advantage but its vacuous to claim that british created the caste system. The divisions within Hindu society that, in its extreme form, were displayed along the lines of of untouchability existed long before the arrival of british. <b>Such divisions invariably led to a society that was quite keen on preserving blood lines - a thesis that is reasonably well-supported by genetic analysis of representative Indian population in India.
</b>
About eye color, the gene OCA2 on chromosome 15 exhibits a high frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) - leading to a spectrum of eye colors. The small Indian population with blue/green eyes, very likely received a genetic input from a population distinct from the early inhabitants of the sub-continent who appeared to have migrated along the coast from Africa. <b>The input may have occured as recently as a few hundred years ago. The simplest possible explanation is presence of british population in the area during that time. </b>One would have to analyze Y-chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA for a more accurate theory to explain the eye color. For the longest time I thought that Aishwariya Rai wore contact lenses - it turns out thats not true.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Can anybody answer this. Thanks in advance
[right][snapback]67901[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe division of humans into chinese and indians is due to the exact implementation of an ideology of extreme segregation. This need to lend intelligibility and agency to natural phenomenon is the british import. this is what we mean when we say that "caste system" is another typical clownish british construct. See the-caste-non-system