ELI5: What is the Indian caste system exactly?

Imagine India is like a giant school with different classrooms. This school has been around for a very long time, and in the past, everyone was put into a classroom based on what their parents did for a job. This is the caste system.

• Brahmins: These were like the teachers and priests. They were considered the smartest and most respected.
• Kshatriyas: These were like the rulers and soldiers. They were in charge of protecting everyone.
• Vaishyas: These were like the shopkeepers and farmers. They made sure everyone had food and things to buy.
• Shudras: These were like the helpers and laborers. They did the jobs that others didn't want to do.
• Dalits (Untouchables): These were considered outside the school system entirely. They did the jobs that were seen as dirty or unclean.

• People were often friends with others from the same classroom (caste).
• They often married someone from the same classroom.
• It was hard to move to a different classroom, even if you were good at something else. If your parents were farmers, you were expected to be a farmer too.
• Some classrooms (like the Brahmins) had more privileges (like getting better seats in the lunchroom) than others (like the Shudras or Dalits).