This form of discrimination is growing in Australia - from assault to segregated birthday parties

A recent landmark report found caste discrimination is pervasive in Australia, even extending to segregated birthday parties for some children in South Asian communities. Image credit: Pexels

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Experts say caste discrimination and the practice of ‘untouchability’ are on the rise in Australia. But some South Asians are fighting back.

Asang Wankhede is an anti-discrimination lawyer, and comes from a Dalit community — a group of people treated in India as “untouchables”.

“It's a form of social stratification, which is based on the notion of purity and pollution,” he said.

By the accident of your birth, you are assigned a particular status in the society, and that status cannot be overcome.

Mr Wankhede led research on caste discrimination in Australia, and spoke with Dalit people across major Australian cities.

He found common stories of caste discrimination across all ages and places, including schools, universities and workplaces.

Caste discrimination has been able to operate quietly in Australia until now.

But the Australian Human Rights Commission and other institutions are beginning to recognise caste, and provide a pathway to legal protections against this form of discrimination.

This episode of Understanding Hate looks at how caste discrimination occurs in Australia, and how some people in South Asian communities are pushing back.

Transcript

spk_0

SBS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia.

Vikrant Kishore

Lots of people dismiss it, 'Oh, it doesn't exist in Australia', but I'm sorry to say, yes, it does exist in Australia.

Nic

From SBS Examines, I’m Nic Zoumboulis. Some South Asians are trying to fight a 3,000-year-old system that’s made its way to Australia. Experts told us: caste discrimination is a growing issue - So, what is it?

Vikrant Kishore

Caste discrimination refers to a deeply entrenched social hierarchy, which is a very South Asia based issue that categorises people at birth based on perceived purity and pollution.

Nic

That’s Vikrant Kishore, he’s a journalist who’s made documentaries about caste discrimination. There are four castes, which are hierarchical and linked to social standing. There are also people whose status is held so low, they’re born outside the system - they’re known as untouchables, or Dalits. Vikrant is one of those people, and said, although he grew up in a privileged family, they still experienced discrimination. He’s determined to stop it from happening to others in Australia.

Vikrant Kishore

Denial of anything often comes from privilege and lack of awareness. Many people from dominant caste view caste as irrelevant because it benefits them invisibly. But denying caste does not erase its presence. It only in a way silences those people who are affected. And these internal hierarchies, how do we get to know about it? Someone needs to talk.

Nic

A recent landmark report found caste discrimination is a systemic issue for South Asians in Australia. The report’s lead researcher, Asang Wankhede, is an anti-discrimination lawyer and also comes from a Dalit community. He said participants reported caste discrimination across all aspects of life, including employment, education, housing, and social interactions.

Asang Wankhede

It's a spectrum where on one hand we have the extreme forms of physical assault, for example. On the other hand, also very subtle and covert forms of discrimination.

Nic

Asang said the report was an important first step to change, as it provided much needed evidence caste discrimination exists in Australia.

Asang Wankhede

For the longest time what we have seen is that upper caste groups have tried to term any anti-caste movement as Hindu phobia. There was a complete lack of empirical data and understanding of caste in Australia before our report came out. People are recognising now that what they were feeling before were the feeling of being invisibilised.

Nic

India banned caste discrimination in 1950, after gaining independence and enforcing their constitution. But in reality, it persisted and has now continued abroad in diaspora communities. We don’t know exactly how widespread the issue is, and there’s no suggestion this is the majority view… But there’s a growing movement for it to be openly discussed, without using it as a scapegoat for racism.

Vikrant Kishore

Not everyone does practise casteism, but because it is a reality, we need to address that. South Asians should take leadership, acknowledge caste and work collective to dismantle it. And instead of being defensive, we should have solidarity across the board.

Nic

There are advocacy groups who are working to challenge the caste system through policy and community work.

Nandini Sen Mehra

We present many different narratives to stand for Hindu, to stand for Indian, but the fact that we represent a diversity of thought and a diversity of traditions are keeping caste oppression quite central to the conversation.

Nic

That’s Nandini Sen Mehra, from Hindus for Human Rights. She said caste discrimination is pervasive and shows up even in seemingly positive, multicultural festivals. She wants to see more inclusivity within the South Asian community, with events that celebrate people from all backgrounds.

Nandini Sen Mehra

We have interfaith celebrations and events where we celebrate all the Hindu festivals the best we can, but we make them extremely inclusive. And we talk about the multiplicity of narratives around the myths and the legends that we hold dear.

Nic

The Australian Human Rights Commission recommended the Government investigate potential legal protections against caste discrimination in 2024. It was a significant moment of recognition and relief for people from oppressed backgrounds who have suffered discrimination. And they hope it’s a sign of more change to come.

Asang Wankhede

It opens doors at the federal level for all caste oppressed communities to go ahead and file complaints of caste discrimination before the Australian Human Rights Commission. What it cannot do is that you cannot bring a case in the court of law, and that is our next approach as well, in terms of wanting to get recognised by the court of law and test that interpretation in the court as well.

Nic

This episode was produced and presented by Nic Zoumboulis. To find out more, visit sbs.com.au/sbsexamines

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