Rather , it was the unequal access to economic and political power that entrenched status distinctions and crystallised the hierarchy .
Jaiswal showed that neither skin colour and notions of race were the basis of caste ( varna ) differentiation .
It was the unequal access to economic and political power that entrenched status distinctions and crystallised the hierarchy .
Jaiswal showed that neither skin colour and notions of race were the basis of caste ( varna ) differentiation .