Honest question: putting caste aside, what is your economic class? As you may have noticed, my post was at least as much about economic class, yet you only focus on caste in your response (I wonder why).

I'm surprised people are responding so negatively to this question. Even based on my own experience in the U.S. as an American, I can understand exactly where my husband is coming from. I haven't had many wealthy friends throughout my life and I don't tend to get along with people from wealthier backgrounds, for the most part, because the way they tend to act is out-of-touch with my own experience. With wealthier people, I find class a hard barrier to overcome, at least when it comes to friendship. And I have to say, even in my travels in India, I've noticed MAJOR differences in how Indians of different classes act. It might be nice to pretend there are no differences between those of different economic classes, but it's just not the case.

So to me, my husband's concern seemed completely understandable. People tend to make friends with those they relate to more. People of similar backgrounds can often relate more easily. This isn't a condemnation of anyone.