Caste is a state of mind, so abolishing it requires a notional change.

Evidence

There can be only one answer to this question, and it is that inter-dining and intermarriage are repugnant to the beliefs and dogmas which the Hindus regard as sacred. Caste is not a physical object like a wall of bricks or a line of barbed wire which prevents the Hindus from commingling and which has, therefore, to be pulled down. Caste is a notion; it is a state of mind. The destruction of caste does not therefore mean the destruction of a physical barrier. It means a notional change. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 950

Categorization

Category: Definitional Content

• DEFINE: Defines caste as a notion/state of mind rather than a physical barrier — the conceptual underpinning of the whole reform program.

Related

• Caste persists as a mental state, not a physical barrier. (similarity 0.95)
• Caste persists because it is a sacred notion, not a physical barrier. (similarity 0.93)
• Abolishing caste requires destroying the sacred authority of shastras (similarity 0.85)
• Reform of caste requires denying scriptural authority, not reinterpreting it (similarity 0.85)
• Destroying caste means destroying shastra and Veda authority, a near-impossible task. (similarity 0.85)
• Caste can only be destroyed by attacking its religious foundations (similarity 0.84)
• Ambedkar argued that destroying caste required destroying its religious foundations, not just inter-caste marriages (similarity 0.84)
• Religious notions are the root mechanism sustaining India’s caste system. (similarity 0.83)
• Only intermarriage, not inter-dining, can dissolve the separatism of caste. (similarity 0.82)
• Only destroying shastra-based religion can break the caste system. (similarity 0.82)
• Destroying caste requires denying shastra authority outright, as Buddha and Nanak did. (similarity 0.81)
• Hinduism’s pervasiveness makes renouncing caste seem impracticable to many (similarity 0.81)
• Caste observance stems from religious belief, not human malice. (similarity 0.81)
• Inter-caste marriage campaigns fail without first destroying belief in shastras. (similarity 0.81)
• Debate exists on whether caste persists or dissolves under liberalization (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Scriptural reinterpretation is useless against caste; authority itself must be denied #responds-to (0.75) — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 115