QA on racism Q 3 Do people of particular skin colors belong to particular castes?

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Q3: Do people of particular skin colors belong to particular castes?

Question:
Hi Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu, dandavat pranams. I’m loving this class and learning so much from all your answers. I especially appreciated how you categorized the four levels of equality, ending with the point that at the level of identity, we are all spirit souls, and therefore equal.

But we do observe differences at the level of abilities, qualities, etc. That’s where the varnashrama system comes in—not to demean anyone, but to distinguish people based on their nature and their role in society.

Now my question is: Today we talk about race—referring to bodily features like skin color. For example, people say I’m “yellow” because I’m Asian, or Indians are called “brown,” or others are “black” or “white.”
Did Krishna intend for these bodily distinctions—what we now call race—to also indicate particular abilities or qualities? For example, I’ve heard some say that people born in Indian bodies have more aptitude for austerity. Does skin color or race determine spiritual potential or one’s place in varna?

Answer:
A very thoughtful question—thank you.

At a material level, equality doesn’t mean uniformity. Everyone differs in IQ, EQ, height, weight, and especially in talents and abilities. So we could say nature itself endows different people differently—there is no equality of ability. And that’s something we can’t artificially create. We must acknowledge the inequality of ability in nature.

Now coming to the idea of skin color and caste:

In some rare places, Srila Prabhupada may have made statements linking skin tone with certain qualities, but these should be understood in context, not as absolute or universal principles. The core teaching of the Bhagavad-gita is found in verse 4.13, where Krishna says:
“cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ”
“I created the four varnas based on guna (qualities) and karma (activities), not birth or appearance.”

So Krishna doesn’t tie varna to external characteristics like race or skin color.
Let’s take an example:
In Africa, most people are black. If black skin were associated with a particular varna (say Shudra), then would that mean the entire society could only function in one varna? That’s illogical—all varnas exist in every society regardless of racial background. You’ll find thinkers (Brahmanas), leaders (Kshatriyas), businesspeople (Vaishyas), and workers (Shudras) everywhere.

The diversity we see in skin colors around the world is largely the result of adaptation to environmental conditions over millennia—something that even modern biology recognizes. For example, darker skin is more suited to tropical regions, lighter skin to colder climates. This bodily evolution doesn’t indicate mental or spiritual evolution.

Also, even within one skin color, such as among whites or blacks, there is a wide diversity in talent, intelligence, and social status. In fact, even in Africa, slavery existed before colonialism—certain black tribes enslaved others. So it’s incorrect to say that race determines ability or position in society.

Now, regarding the idea that “Indians are more inclined to austerity”—this is not a biological trait. India is a land where many spiritual practices, saints, and incarnations have appeared, so the environment is spiritually surcharged. That means souls who already have a spiritual inclination may be born in India to facilitate further growth. So it’s not that being born in an Indian body causes spiritual strength—rather, spiritually inclined souls are born in India to continue their journey.
So we should not put the cart before the horse.

Summary:

• Varna is based on qualities and activities—not skin color.
• Skin color is a result of geographical adaptation, not a marker of caste or capacity.
• Every society has all four varnas, regardless of racial background.
• Spiritual potential is not determined by race, but by the soul’s karma and consciousness.
• The Indian subcontinent may attract more spiritual souls, but that is a matter of soul destiny, not racial biology.

Thank you for your deep and sincere question!