#hmm maybe i overshot with the 'way greater implications' there lol

[lyknest]

i am very intrigued by this conversation. are they talking about caste as in the varna system that's rooted in Hinduism? because if so, this conversation has way greater implications than that on the surface.

despite what the internet and the majority of upper caste hindu diaspora will tell you, varna system is an evil that's still very prevalent in the hindu culture which in turn is the cause of systematic oppression, socioeconomic inequality & a lot of bigotry that exists in india (e.g. contrary to popular beliefs, colourism predates colonialism in india and stems from various hindu/brahmanical scriptures)

anyways, went a little off-track there, coming back to the show. according to the caste system there are different varnas of social hierarchy.

brahmins, kshatriyas, & vaishyas are considered to be aryans and shudras & dalits are non-aryans and are treated to be as low-caste untouchables, are not allowed in places of worship, and are not allowed to rise above the power of the aryans, who have profited off this exploitation for thousands of years.

now, the refusal of boon (whom im assuming to be a priest, i.e. brahmin) to let katha meet chan (who has been titled a magician/god by the villagers) and not letting him enter the ashram (aka the place of worship of chan) reeks of this social hierarchy.

when katha counters, boon again dismisses him and by that he shows his unfound entitlement and emphasises on his apparent superiority to katha. (are you certain he would think you more special than i?)

because according to the varna system, the aryans are the ones who are blessed by gods for their apparent good deeds in the past life, whereas non-aryans are being punished (this is from where the bigoted concept of karma comes from in hinduism).

it is considered to be the duty of the aryans to uphold this varna system to ensure 'justice', which is what boon here seems to be doing and this hierarchy is again emphasized in the last frame when you see boon looking down upon katha.

im not really sure if that's what's the intention is here, and what the caste system means in Thailand, but if hinduism (and it's influence in Buddhism) is anything to go by, it adds not only more layers to this conversation but also who actually Dome is, of he is indeed a God.