Vaishyas

Hindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles in agriculture and cattle-rearing but over time they came to be landowners, traders and money-lenders.

The Vaishyas, along with members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya varnas, claim "twice born" (dvija) status in Hindu theology.

Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia.

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Kshatriya

Kshatriya, from (holder of) Kshatra (rule or authority), is one of the four varnas (social orders) in Hinduism.

Traditionally, Kshatriya constitute the ruling and military elite of the Vedic-Hindu social system, as outlined by the Vedas and the Laws of Manu. 

They were in charge of the protection of the Hindu society by fighting in wartime and governing in peacetime.

Kshatriya lineage

The major branches of Kshatriya varna are:

• Suryavanshi (solar line), claiming direct descent from Ramachandra, and descent from Surya;
• Chandravanshi (lunar line), claiming descent from Yadu, as Yadu was born in a Chandravanshi dynasty,and descent from Chandra; 
• Agnivanshi, claiming descent from Agni;and 
• Nagavanshi, claiming descent from the Nāgas.

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Brahmins

Brahmin (also called Brahmana; from the Sanskrit brāhmaṇa ब्राह्मण) is a term for a scholar class in the traditional Hindu societies of India and Nepal.

Brahman, Brahmin, and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self. 

Brahmin (or Brahmana) refers to an individual, while the word Brahma refers to the creative aspect of the universal consciousness[citation needed].

The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit word Brāhmana.

In the Smriti view, there are four "varnas" or classes: the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras.

Brahmins were engaged in attaining the highest spiritual knowledge (brahmavidya) and adhered to different branches (shakhas) of Vedas.

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Shudra

Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. 

The other three varnas are Brahmins (priests); Kshatriya (those with governing functions), and Vaishya (agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders). 

According to this ancient text, the Shudra perform functions of serving the other three varna. The varna system became rigid in the later Vedic period. In modern Indian society, the government is taking steps to end the differences between various castes.

Who Were the Shudras? is a book written by B.R. Ambedkar. Ambedkar dedicated the book to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (1827—1890).

In this book Ambedkar argues that the Shudras were originally Aryans belonging to the Kshatriya class. Ambedkar further argues that the Brahmins brought about the degradation of the Shudras. 

Relations have also been drawn between the wide acceptance of Mahars in Hinduism as outcasts and untouchables due to their affirmation to Buddhist practices. In a separate chapter, Dr. Ambedkar also expresses his view regarding the Partition of India, 1947, stating that if the Muslim community demanded a separate state their interests must be safeguarded as a threat would lay to Indian security and stability due to divided interests, as well as a chance of rebellion soon after the independence of India.

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