Varna labels carry fixed hierarchical meanings that persist regardless of redefinition

Evidence

All reform consists in a change in the notions, sentiments and mental attitudes of the people towards men and things. It is common experience that certain names become associated with certain notions and sentiments which determine a person’s attitude towards men and things. The names Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra are names which are associated with a definite and fixed notion in the mind of every Hindu. That notion is that of a hierarchy based on birth. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 912

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the social-capital and reputation literature — names/labels as carriers of fixed social meaning — and to general claims about how linguistic categories preserve hierarchy.