[bodhiandpysics1]

Technically untouchables... but in practice white people can be very high caste indeed. I worked with a sanskritist in Chennai who was a very traditional brahman, and he did eat with me, but was extremely careful about separate food and separate plates (Tamilian Brahmans of that type are always careful about these things, but he was more careful than needed. I didn't mind since I'm jewish and used to weird dietary restrictions).

[vsskanth]

Just curious, did you notice if your plate was made of silver ?

[bodhiandpysics1]

Sanskritists can't afford silver plates... it was the standard cheap metal everyone uses.

[vsskanth]

K just wondering. Sometimes they serve guests in silver plates, and usually they don't have more than one set. So it might appear like your utensils are separate.

The food thing might be separate to tone down the spice levels for what's served to you.

[bodhiandpysics1]

I lived for quite some time in india... spice wasn't the issue. Have you ever spent time around Iyengar Brahmans of the old school?

[vsskanth]

I have :) I am Tamil brahmin Iyer myself and I've spent quite a bit of time at the "agraharams". There are some brahmins who are extremely orthodox. They won't eat anything that grows under the ground, share utensils or even physically touch anyone they perceive to be a meat eater. This is however something that you usually observe with people living in temple adjacent communities or in very rural areas with religious duties. The rest are fairly urbanized so you don't see this normally.

I was just trying to give the benefit of the doubt to the family you ate with. But I now know whats going on here.

[bodhiandpysics1]

The Chennai sanskrit community is actually wonderful, but they can be very religious. And the fact that I'm white obviously made a difference.

[29athrowaway]

So technically Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Elon Musk are untouchables in that system?

[bodhiandpysics1]

They don't have caste... and it's important to note caste != class. There are dirt poor brahmans and rich dalits.