Examining the Castes by Color

First let me explain the classes before we examine the colors associated with each caste. The top three classes are considered twice-born and because of this are accorded a much higher place in society then the other two classes. The highest class in Indian society is the class of Brahmins, which are the teachers and priests. The next class is the Ksatriyas who are the warriors and rulers. The third class that is twice-born is the Vaisyas who are merchants, artisans, farmers and more. After the twice-born classes there are the Sudras who are laborers. They are still above the lowest caste of Untouchables who are the polluted laborers.
The colors associated with each class explain what they are expected to do very well. The Brahmin, who are the teachers and priests of this society are classified with the color white. White symbolizes purity and the power to develop knowledge in those looking to learn. Priests and teachers fulfill these two roles very well and the color designated to them fits this profile. The Ksatriyas, who are the warriors and rulers have the color red as their color. This fits very well because red is a powerful color and one associated with battle, the two requirements to be in this class. The Vaisyas, who are farmers, artisans and merchants are connected with the color brown. Brown fits these occupations very well since farmers work with the dirt, artisans must understand color, and merchants are trying to sell their wares. The Sudras who are not twice-born, are the designated laborers of the Indian caste system. They have been given the color of black to represent them which shows their place in the caste because black is not a color that people usually desire. The Untouchables who do the polluted labor are so far below the caste that they are not even given a color. Not having a color is far worse then having a bad color because at least a bad color shows they took the time to find a color for the class. The fact that they could not give the Untouchables shows their rank and how much thought is spent by the higher castes on them.
From the hyperlink embedded in the word classes Kelley L. Ross, Ph.D. explains the colors in a different way. “Associated with each varn.a there is a traditional color. These sound suspiciously like skin colors; and indeed, there is an expectation in India that higher caste people will have lighter skin—although there are plenty of exceptions( especially in the South of India)” (www.friesian.com/caste.htm). There is a connection between the skin colors expected from the Indian castes and the fact that the different classes of Brave New World are expected to wear certain colors. For example in Chapter Two the students being brought around by the Director of Hatcheries, were shown a group of babies dressed in khaki. Even at this very young age the Delta’s were being programmed to identify with the color of khaki and see it as their specific color.