Well,I wouldn't be the best person to answer that as I know little about the intricacies of Indian society.An untouchable or low caste Indian,particularly one from a rural background could answer that best,for the caste system seems to be most dominant in India's rural parts.
However,as far as we,my people,can see from the Indians in our places,the Indians seem very much still casteist or classist if not both.To answer your question-It can be said that Indian low castes used and continue to live even worse lives than slaves do in some other cultures.
Here,in South Tibet or AP,the economically better off Indians will not socialise with the less well off ones,the former being dominated by higher caste ones and latter by lower caste ones.This can be seen in India as well,when we go to their places.The higher caste ones,particularly the brahmins in charge of temples, won't go to visit the homes of lower caste ones or enter them or eat or drink anything from the hands and homes of lower caste ones,with even children being segregated by their parents due to caste differences and being rationalised off by saying that the lower caste children are dirty and will spread diseases or impart their bad culture and upbringing.This imparts their caste bigotry subtly to their children and ensures the survival of caste system and its evils.Even in festivals these two groups will not freely mingle with each other.
To give an example-lower caste people who usually fill the lower paying jobs like construction workers etc will invite their bosses,natives of South tibet/AP, to their homes on special occasions like festivals for feasts and as such and we usually comply with it to keep up good relations and morale among them but they rarely, if ever invite higher caste people,who are usually at higher positions than lower castes due to better education,because they almost never accept the invitations or even if they do,never take active part,registering just a physical attendance and not interacting with their lower caste brethren.
