Why write about ethnic groups and what are they ? RRS makes his observations here -

There might have been a point in time when there was a common human strain with similar beings spread out across various parts of the globe - I use the term "common human strain" to imply that human beings all over the world might have had more or less the same anatomical structure , body parts etc with minor variations - Undoubtedly there would have been a point or perhaps several points in time when the earth was visited by extra terrestials of different types - Their mating with the "locals" has resulted in a variety of cross breeds which accounts for what we have today as "racial" differences - While civilisation and the structure of society in general has brought about a fairly high degree of co-operation among different races , there is still the deep rooted feeling of racial pride which often translates into nasty concepts of superiority and inferiority - Within races there are so many sub-divisions and India is notorious in this respect with its traditional concept of the caste system - The remarkable point is that while the original concept of the caste system had just four divisions based on birth and traditional occupation , over the centuries it has resulted in so many sub divisions to cross over thousands - Moreover, it is not just that the so-called caste number one looks down upon others - It is also quite remarkable that say caste number 22A looks down upon caste number 23B and so forth - The ritualistic side of these groups is often carried to ridiculous extents - "How many times do you sprinkle water around your head , only thrice? Well , we are a lot better as we do it at least five times !!! - However there is a certain flavour to these things in the sense of customs followed , history of their migration through various parts of what was India in the past and I have tabled below my personal impressions of a few groups from India as also whatever authentic information  I could collect from my close friends belonging to these groups -

About the Vadamal or Smarthas

About the Chettiars      

About the Gounders

About the Nadars or Shanars

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