Caste

Gandhi was ardently against untouchability, nevertheless he did believe in the philosophical framework of the caste system. Specifically, he believed that caste was inherited:

The Gita does talk of varna [caste or color] being according to guna [attribute or mode] and karma [action], but guna and karma are inherited by birth. The law of varna is nothing if not by birth.[13]

There is no doubt that caste was an integral part of the ancient religions of the Indian subcontinent, but Bahá'ís believe that since God alone is eternal, therefore all traditions must eventually yield to the winds of change--everything save God is subject to change. Bahá'u'lláh has stated that for this age the central principle is unity. Hence caste-based divisions--along with racial, ethnic, class, and religious divisions--must be eliminated. Indeed, divisions of caste, race, etc. can have no place in a nonviolent civilization.

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