From Economic Times India, (bold emphasis mine)
On the face of it, entrepreneur Ashok Khade is just another one of India's growing wealthy, heading a successful $27 million infrastructure and oil and gas business group that employs 4,500 people.
But the 56-year-old is a rarity, as he belongs to India's dalit, or "untouchable" classes, who for centuries have been anchored at the bottom of Hinduism's caste system and remain among the most exploited and despised.
The opening up of India's economy has helped bring in some mobility in the rigid social hierarchy, leading to a gradual rise in jobs and opportunities for India's poorest and even created a new breed -- the dalit millionaire.
Khade, a first-generation businessman who now drives a BMW, battled poverty and discrimination as a child in a village near Sangli in Maharashtra state, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from India's financial hub, Mumbai.
Not only has economic freedom been expanding people’s choice—to avail of or harness more economic opportunities—for them to advance (unless they are mentally resigned to comply with local customs), but has also been instrumental in reducing class discrimination or class inequalities by providing “some mobility in the rigid social hierarchy”. In short, economic freedom and free trade changes culture.
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