Caste mobility - 6

...The Marathas of Maharashtra have also risen on social scale in Hindu society. In their case it was newly developed warriorship which enabled them to acquire higher status starting from Shudras status. As we know all the Shudra kings were granted Kshatriya status provided they agreed with Vedic religion; the only thing remaining was the patronage of Brahmans and they would be assimilated in Hindu society. Before that the Brahmans of Maharashtra refused to coronate Maratha king on the grounds that he was not a Kshatriyas; the same pious and other worldly Maharashtrian Brahmans were later to usurp his throne under Peshawa raj. However when Maratha king was refused coronation by the simple, pure, pious and religious Brahmans them his courtiers arranged for a poor Brahman from Kashi who agreed to do the coronation for some consideration. The fables were created to assign the Kshatriya origin to Maratha king. Then the similar assimilative pattern followed which had been followed through Vedic history; the Shudra kings came to be defenders of Brahmans forgetting their own people. With this the Marathas acquired Kshatriya status and became a land owning caste with jobs in the army. However the Brahmans raised themselves to the status of demigod; they came to be known as Bhu-dev or Brahmandev.

The upward movement limit for whole caste mobility is set by Brahmans. Whatever Kayasthas, Jats and Marathas do; they can never be equal to Brahmans; let alone becoming superior to them.

Then there are Nadars and Ezhavas of south India who have also moved up the social hierarchy only a little.

More examples of upward caste mobility are found in 8^th and 9^th centuries and onward. At that time there was no big ruler in India in northern India. This led to rise of uncertain conditions in north India. Many new local rulers arrived on the scene; each claiming suzerainty over a small area. These were by and large small kings of obscure origin. As usually these small kings did not have popular acceptance and neither the divine and social right to rule. This required acquiring of Kshatriya status by these people which could have made them qualified divinely ordained rulers. The Brahmans could only provide this. Thus, exchange of favors among new rulers and Brahmans took place and these new rulers were granted Kshatriya status by the Brahmans in lieu of patronage and acceptance of Brahmanical superiority. And the administrative jobs for Brahmans with these new kings were assured or reserved...