[fhrow4484]

> I look like a brahmin person

> they assume my caste based on how I look

I'm curious in this comment, are you dressing up a certain way that is typical of brahmin, or are there some other characteristics that makes you look brahmin?

[danans]

Due to historical endogamy of Indian castes, there are very often phenotypes that are associated with relative position in the caste hierarchy. This is highly regional, and far from exact, but leads to examples like the GP gave.

These patterns are often used by people as a shorthand for categorizing another's relative caste and often as the basis for discrimination.

At a very broad generalization, upper caste individuals tend to skew more toward more west asian, and less regional/indigenous phenotypes.

The trait most strongly associated with higher caste is fairer complexion, which is the basis of great deal of South Asian discrimination, and has ancient roots reaching back millennia, though it was reinforced by colonial powers. There are many exceptions to this though, and a lot of stories about people being misidentified as one caste it the other on the basis of complexion.

People pay close attention to this because phenotypes are a type of currency, especially in matters related to marriage and community identification, and also power relationships.

[gunfighthacksaw]

We stamped this kind of thinking out of Europe in the 40s. Shame it wasn’t all over the world, but… scope creep

[tsol]

Have you been paying attention to the discourse around the current Ukrainian refugee crisis? It's alive and well in Europe

[gunfighthacksaw]

Putin is not invoking genetic or phenotypic arguments to my knowledge.

He wants a cultural genocide, not a biological one.

If every Ukrainian tomorrow declared themselves Russian, Putin would be ecstatic. Compare a Dalit declaring himself Brahmin.

[sa1]

Refugees of Indian and African origin aren't being allowed to cross borders or board trains. I presume that is what OP is referring to.

[Lascaille]

>Refugees of Indian and African origin aren't being allowed to cross borders or board trains.

One man's crisis is another opportunity. I wonder how hard it is to enter the Ukraine now and then cross to Europe with no papers as a 'refugee, formerly expat-student.'

[drewwwwww]

this is satire, right

[sumedh]

> or are there some other characteristics that makes you look brahmin?

Some brahmins have lighter skin and brown eyes compared to average Indian who has brown/dark brown skin and black eyes. So some brahmins think they are different(better) to other Indians and prefer to marry amongst their own kind.