#caste discrimination

[inspirationallybored]

To anyone who says that casteism isn't that prevalent in cities anymore, or that it only exists in villages:

My classmate said this when our class teacher was confirming for any SC/ST students in our class for the board examination registration: "If we have any of them, make them sit on the floor."

We study in an English-medium school (which is supposedly a more 'educated' and 'prestigious' medium of studying), in a metropolitan city near the capital, his father is an IIT graduate.

No, it doesn't matter that we've been classmates for at least two years now, that we're all friends and know each other, that we don't have a single SC or ST student in the entire school. I don't care that it was said in jest, or that he was scolded and almost put out of the class.

You think that if a 17 year old can say this jokingly, that there aren't people who believe in this unironically? And that such people aren't in positions of power?

The problem isn't in the reservation system, it's in the people who exploit it. And guess what? The people who do exploit these systems for their own gain, despite having equal or more privilege (money, opportunity, etc.) instead of letting those who need it use them, they're also being casteist, because differentiation in caste also steamed from the work that they did, the quality of life, and affected the opportunities they have.

So, if you want to complain about the reservation system or have it removed, first acknowledge AND remove the concept of casteism and untouchability first. First give the actual equality and respect, then talk about 'special privileges'. Come up with a better solution, or address the root problem, instead of complaining.

[embodiedfutures]

South Asian activists’ hunger strike to ban caste discrimination reaches day 18

A group of caste equity leaders have been fasting for more than two weeks to convince Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill that would make caste

COALITION LAUNCHES  HUNGER STRIKE AS A COMMITMENT TO ENACT ANTI-CASTE DISCRIMINATION BILL — EQUALITY LABS

‎The Daily: An Unexpected Battle Over Banning Caste Discrimination on Apple Podcasts

‎Show The Daily, Ep An Unexpected Battle Over Banning Caste Discrimination - Sep 25, 2023

about the ongoing hunger strike to ensure that the historic anti-casteism bill passes in california ^^ wanna support?

if you’re on mobile, go to: https://tinyurl.com/Signsb403

other devices, like laptops: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/

—

sample email below from the mobile link, not my own writing:

Subject: Please Sign SB403 (Wahab) to End Caste Discrimination

I am writing to request the governor to sign the historic bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab, which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal by adding caste to ancestry and defining caste in the Civil Rights Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, and Education Code.

Caste systems are social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. Caste discrimination manifests as workplace discrimination, housing discrimination, gender-based violence, and other physical and psychological forms of violence.

Caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, construction, restaurants, and domestic work. In these sectors, caste discrimination has included harassment, bias, wage theft, and even trafficking. Caste is today inextricably intertwined with existing legal protections in state and federal civil rights laws such that discrimination based on one’s caste is effectively discrimination based on the intersection of other protected identities. However, because of the grave discrimination caste-oppressed Californians face, these existing protections must be made explicit.

Caste is a workers rights issues, a women's rights issues, and racial justice issue. It is also a bill that has bipartisan support. That is why we are joined by Asian Law Caucus, Stop AAPI Hate, AAPI Equity Alliance, Tech Equity, Equality Labs, Alphabet Workers Union, Ambedkar Association of North America, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, Californians for Caste Equity, Hindus for Caste Equity, Jakara Movement, South Asian Network, Sikh Coalition, and Sikh American Legal Defense Fund. Every major legal association is in support of caste equity and the lawfulness to make caste equity explicit. This includes the American Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association, National Asian American Pacific Bar Association, and Asian Law Caucus.

That is why we urge you to make history and sign his bill without hesitation. Justice delayed is justice denied. Let's ensure California opportunity for all by ensuring that ancestry and caste discrimination is explicitly prohibited and make history across the country.

Thank You,

[Name]

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and if you don’t know what caste is? send in an ask @bfpnola or join our Discord server, link in bio, so we can answer you in real-time!

[sudamaniparva]

idk what hindutva bigot needs to hear this but literally nothing and no one will ever be as good at vilifying hinduism than hindus themselves.

saying this as a hindu who regularly goes to temple.

[personal-blog243]

[icedsodapop]

This is why solidarity in progressive movements are so important!

Congratulations guys! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[gwydionmisha]

Seattle becomes the first city in the US to ban caste discrimination | CNN

The Seattle City Council approved an ordinance on Tuesday that adds caste as a protected class to the city's anti-discrimination laws, alongside categories such as race, religion and gender identity.

[indizombie]

The idea that children have inviolable rights to healthy, nutritious, tasty, clean, culturally relevant food is lost on most people who claim these same rights only for themselves. This is the crux of how caste discrimination operates in India, reinforcing all the hegemonic, hierarchical imbalances that are so evident that they become invisible. An entire mafia has formed around children’s food, making it almost impossible for children to have one decent meal as legally mandated by the NFSA.

Dr Sylvia Karpagam, ‘A critical look at Indian healthcare‘, Aura

[beyonddwalls]

Accepting Differences

Aruna Roy once said “You can never evaluate anything standing from the outside, you have to evaluate yourself first.” This quote tells us a lot about how we are very superficial about matters of importance going on all around India. Matters that really concern us as a citizen but no one really seems to take action upon. Everyone seems to assume their own perceptions about matters concerning gender, castes and ethnicity. These matters are talked upon and are spoken about in a lot of places but no one has really tried to understand what they mean. Humans at every stage of their life are compared with each other and are judged from different point of views. Men are told to be manly and told to not cry like a woman. Women are told to cover up and act in a certain manner.

Why do we differentiate between man and woman and why don’t we treat them equally? Why men are told to be stronger than woman? Why woman are told to take the blame upon themselves? These are the questions that ponder me sometimes as I look in the newspaper or on a news channel. I’m pretty sure a lot of you would have the same thoughts as well. No matter how much we develop and how much of progress we achieve, if what is there on the inside can’t be changed then we have not moved a step ahead at all. Gender biases can be overcome by making people aware of their own biases and try to recognize how these views are affecting their lives. By breaking the gender stereotypes that is to allow all members of society the freedom to choose the roles most suited to them. By analysis to find gender balance. The only way we will create meaningful change is to create systems designed to eliminate bias.

Another important topic of discussion is caste biases. India is a secular country. It is known to have vivid cultures and beautiful traditions. But there are a lot of people who still believe in the age old caste system and treat people the way they want. They believe the hierarchical system of grouping of individuals, the Hindus are divide into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Brahmins are the priests or teachers, Kshatriyas are warriors and rulers, Vaishyas are framers, traders and merchants and lastly Shudras are laborers and are untouchables. This system was followed long before we knew anything about the world. The Brahmins were superiors and the Shudras were outcasts.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948). But 260 million worldwide continue to suffer from caste discrimination. In India the body of legislation meant to protect Dalit’s and improve their situation is extensive. But political will to ensure implementation is lacking and discrimination from village level up to government level continues unabated. Caste discrimination and the human rights violations that inevitably follow can only be avoided if decision makers at all levels decide to take action. Dr. Ambedkar, “Turn in any direction you like, caste is the monster that crosses your path. You cannot have political reform, you cannot have economic reform, unless you kill this monster.” We all can be free from this monster if we stop looking at people according to their castes and treat them equally as human beings. Our nation would be merrier if we ignored the differences and understood humanity.

Ethnicity is a group of people who identify with each other, usually on the basis of presumed similarities such as a common language, ancestry, history, society, culture and nation. India has more than two thousand ethnic groups. As a kid in school we have always been taught that there is “Unity in diversity." We all have different religions, believes and we live in different states of the country India, but all of us are together Indians as a whole. We celebrate Independence Day every year on the 15th of August and feel proud to be an Indian. But there are sometimes we start fighting on the basis of religions and cultures. The most recent one has been the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. For about 300 years Hindus and Muslims have been fighting over the authority of the piece of land in Ayodhya. Very recently the construction of the temple has been finalized.

We as citizens of India can take a step forward to put aside our differences and look at each other with equal value, only then can we achieve to be the greatest. Though Britishers are long gone but the prejudices that prevail inside of us are making us fall far behind the time.

 ~Hrishita Nayak