02-11-2009, 02:53 AM
S.Basu and JC Basu were kAyastha
I think the kAyastha community, other than the brAhmaNa-s and vaishya-s were characterized by a higher than average intelligence. How brAhmaNa-s, and other Indian FCs compare with respect the Ashkenazim in intelligence needs more controlled study. The "OBC" layer of India is rather heterogeneous making it hard to create a general description of intelligence for this group of original service castes. If we remove nutritional deficiency the most important determinant of intelligence is genetics with education and parental background having at best a small role. We should keep in mind that tropics and temperate-frigid zones exert entirely different selective pressures on intelligence and other body parameters. In a tropical zone with reasonable water supply there is a reduced selection for intelligence compared to a temperate-frigid zone. India with its peculiar monsoonal system offers a middle ground, due to water supply being fairly variable (at least in some parts). Nevertheless I would imagine some depression of intelligence in India with good tropical climate in the past. Against this background only the social selective pressures of certain caste occupations would have selected for higher than average intelligence.
I think the kAyastha community, other than the brAhmaNa-s and vaishya-s were characterized by a higher than average intelligence. How brAhmaNa-s, and other Indian FCs compare with respect the Ashkenazim in intelligence needs more controlled study. The "OBC" layer of India is rather heterogeneous making it hard to create a general description of intelligence for this group of original service castes. If we remove nutritional deficiency the most important determinant of intelligence is genetics with education and parental background having at best a small role. We should keep in mind that tropics and temperate-frigid zones exert entirely different selective pressures on intelligence and other body parameters. In a tropical zone with reasonable water supply there is a reduced selection for intelligence compared to a temperate-frigid zone. India with its peculiar monsoonal system offers a middle ground, due to water supply being fairly variable (at least in some parts). Nevertheless I would imagine some depression of intelligence in India with good tropical climate in the past. Against this background only the social selective pressures of certain caste occupations would have selected for higher than average intelligence.