Portraits of a Nation Quotes

“Vedas and the post-Vedic literature mention Varna Ashrama with three classes. The term and the connotation attached to caste system is not what Var naDharma was. Chanakya specifically mentioned that there is no slavery within Var na Dharma. The word shudra appears in Tulsidasa’s version of Ramayana. It is not mentioned in the version given in the Mahabharata nor in Bhasa’s Ramayana. Neither Buddha nor any other scholar discussed or even referred to the caste system as it is portrayed today.”
― Kamlesh Kapur, Portraits of a Nation: History of Ancient India

“Mahidasa Aitareya, the author of one of the 10 major Upanisadas, was the son of a maid. In Chhandogya Upanisada, Satya Kama Jabala, the son of a maid and an unknown father was revered as a sage. Vishvamitra was a Kshatriya before he became a seer. Sage Kakshivat, a Vedic sage, was the son of a shudra maidservant. According to Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 53.13-19), Sage Kapinjalada was a Chandala and Sage Madanapala was the son of a boatwoman. Even in our own times, Swami Vivekananda was a Kayastha and therefore technically a Shudra. Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata was the son of a fisherwoman; Vidur, the prime minister of Kuru King Dhritarashtra was the son of a maidservant and Valmiki was from a lower caste.”
― Kamlesh Kapur, Portraits of a Nation: History of Ancient India

“At birth one is Shudra, through education and samskaras, one becomes cultured (Dwija or twice born), then by practicing the Vedas, one becomes Vipra or knowledgeable and it is only by acquiring the knowledge of the Absolute Brahm, does one become enlightened or Brahmin.”
― Kamlesh Kapur, Portraits of a Nation: History of Ancient India