Some thoughts on Jaati, Caste & Varna

There is too much negativity in Indian society and politics about castes, jati and varna. Politics has made it worse instead of solving it. Here are some of my thoughts on the same: 

1. Jaati is not caste and it's also not varna system.
2. Jaati is essentially a birth-based system.
3. Jaati is biological, main purpose seems to be endogamous. Indian society has largely been endogamous all along.
4. Jaati is also no heirarchycal system in society. All jaatis are essentially equal. Howerver it's us the people who based on importance have put them in heirarchy.
5. Jaati today makes sense only for the purpose of endogamy, that's also not to be followed strictly 
6. Every jaati is at the same level that maintains and supports the whole society.
7. Jaati systems help build knowledge in particular area over generations, skills thus acquired guided occupations
8. Jaati system deals with identity, the beliefs, traditions, geographical location, family lineage, language or dialects, customs, food habits, deities, eating/drinking habits,and propogates it through generations.
9. Today varna system has also lost it's meaning and importance.
10. Varna was only about categorising occupation so one gets into a varna once he/she starts working else one is not part of any varna
11. Today varna could be like groups of scientists, or businessman, or politicians...
12. In the past farmers have become kings, like Shivaji, or Bramans became rulers like Peshwas, 
13. There are 1000s of castes in India, can't be justified/blamed upon varna systems
14. Caste system did not come from vedas. It was created by britishers to manage Indian society just randomly.
15. People have always kept moving between their own traditional jobs non-kshatriya becoming kings
16. everyone was free to learn vedas and higher knowledge else how could artists create such wonderful temples, music, arts
17. Major kings of past 2-3 millenia were not necessarily Kshatriyas: rashtrakutas, cholas, mauryas were shudras, Shungas were brahmins, kakatiyas , Guptas were vaishyas,
18. Jaati has been very organic choice for Indian society all along.
19. Sampradaya: group of people following similar traditions like Shaivaism, strict follower of a guru, they follow a particular way of life within Hinduism. Lingayatism, is one such. 
20. there is no direct relationship between Jaati, varna, sampradaya and caste. They are completely independent.
21. Jaati as an Institution is very basis for hindu society.
22. sculpture, artists, dancers, singers, fabric makers, etc. were actually shudras. All the types of artists were part of shudra class who were greatly supported by kings and rich classes of the ancient times.
23. As people migrated from one region to another, they often changed occupation or were identified with a different class or varna.
24. Count of jati keep increasing over time. New jatis came during mughal era, during british rule, and still forming new ones. However Mauritius, Fiji, they don't have any such jatis.
25. Relevance to Jati/janma is only for roti, beti and worldly actions, not for spiritual actions.
26. Jatis are socioeconomic groups

27. Varṇa means “colour” and refers not to skin colour as some western authors opine, but rather “colour” of one’s character and disposition which can be of four dominant types (1) Intellectual, (2) Management, (3) entrepreneurial (4) proletariat.

    Jāti is a socio-economic unit based on occupational specialisation. Jātis operated like trade guilds of Medieval Europe.

Here below is link to a blog where this topic is presented in very thorough manner.

https://grassrootsindica.com/stop-demonizing-caste-why-we-should-stop-this-caste-hierarchy-nonsense/