Caste is something more than mere discrimination, as it is extended to all aspects of life; its physical and psychological effects on "lower" Castes and "outcastes" constitute gross human rights abuse. Though Caste discrimination is worse than slavery and Apartheid in many respects, the West has not taken any significant position against it.[2] Is it because Caste falls outside the definition of discrimination for reasons of race and ethnicity? Perhaps it is because of a widespread view in the West that Indian notions of life are more religious than their Western equivalents. Yet, as this paper explores, what have passed as religious views in India are generally mundane theories and rules of social control that have been declared "sacred". On this basis, it would be possible to argue that if serfs still existed in Europe believing it their religious duty to remain subservient to aristocrats, Europe too would have been a more religious place than it is now.

Ludicrous as this may seem, it is the way the claim to special religiosity of Asia is made in defence of Caste. Even prominent intellectuals like Ananda Coomaraswamy have written, "If it be asked what inner riches India brings to aid in the realization of a civilization, then from the Indian standing, the answer must be found in her religion and her philosophy and her constant application of abstract theory to practical life." To make this the "Indian" paradigm, the views of vast masses of oppressed Indians must be excluded. In fact, discourses on India constantly ignore their perspective.