Abstract
India is an extremely large country; therefore Indian nationality is divided into many different ethnic groups and religions. Indian culture is composed of three main ethnic groups, in addition to countless smaller groups. The three more prominent groups are as follows: Indo-Aryan representing 72% of the population, Dravidian representing 25% of the population and the Mongoloid and other groups together representing 3% of the population. Although India is divided in ethnicity, values generally transcend ethnic differences. As a nation, India values respect for one another as well as lending a hand to the less fortunate and most needy. India is best known for its ancient caste system, inspired by Hinduism. Society is divided into five levels of hierarchy. The caste system thus has 5 classes: Brahmins (priests and intellectuals), Ksatriya (warriors), Vaisyas (merchants), Sudras (farmers) and Pancama (untouchables). Positions are strictly hereditary and an individual's caste is by reason of birth, which is an innate criteria. Therefore mobility is virtually impossible. However the class an individual is born into is influenced by previous lives. For example, if an individual acts in good faith in life, he or she will be born into a higher class in their next life. Though this system was abolished in 1950 it is still evident in society today.
