MELBOURNE, 3 November 2025: Caste exists within South Asian diaspora communities and remains visible through surnames and the proliferation of caste-based organisations across Victoria and Australia. Its invisibility—or rather, hidden visibility—in “multicultural” Australia is a subject often ignored or brushed aside.
A family seeking a caste-compatible spouse for their child is not uncommon. So too are diatribes against India’s affirmative action policies (reservations in government jobs), caste titles on vehicle number plates, and preferences for friendships or romantic relationships within the same caste. These are everyday manifestations of casteism, surfacing amid growing concerns over recent anti-immigration rallies. Yet, caste embedded deep in the collective psyche is rarely confronted or openly discussed.
This was precisely what the symposium “Understanding Caste Discrimination in the Diaspora – Building Dialogues and Allyships” sought to address. Panels explored themes such as the invisibility of caste, breaking barriers, class and identity, diaspora experiences, caste allyship, and media representation.
The discussions and subsequent Q&A sessions were engaging, tackling issues like the concealment of caste identity within Australian diaspora communities despite its visible traces in daily life, and recognising that caste-based prejudice can affect anyone—not only those at the lower end of the social hierarchy.
Speakers emphasised the need to view the caste-discriminated not merely as “oppressed,” but as part of a broader human rights concern, echoing Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s anti-caste philosophy as universal to all forms of discrimination. Whether caste and class intersected as equal forces remained a thought-provoking point of debate. These overlapping subjects encouraged vibrant and insightful exchanges.
Rajya Sabha MP, poet, and writer Rajathi Salma shared her life experiences, highlighting the gendered challenges faced in raising the voices of Tamil Nadu’s marginalised women. As a Muslim Tamil woman, she noted, questioning patriarchal and caste hierarchies is far from easy—but essential. Advocate Arulmozhi, Public Engagement Secretary of the Dravidar Kazhagam, reflected on the legacies of Periyar and Ambedkar, urging a reimagining of equality and rationalism through the Dravidian anti-caste lens that continues to empower the oppressed.
Prominent academics and contributors included Prof. Hari Bapuji (University of Melbourne), Prof. Catherine Holmes (RMIT), Dr. Vikrant Kishore (University of Nottingham, also moderator for some sessions), Dr. Ali Saha, Madhu Kishore, Minakshi Salve, Dr. Rupali, Parag Bhagat, Sanchi Meshram, Sushant Wanjari, Gibirala Thomas, Digvijay Badage, Vastav Pradeep Bhagat, Sandhya Ambade, Dr. Fotis Kapetopoulos, Neeraj Nanda (South Asia Times), and Deepak Joshi (NRI Affairs), among others.
In essence, the symposium brought crucial attention to caste and oppression within the Indian and South Asian diaspora, urging those aware of the issue to move towards practical action.
The event was supported by the University of Nottingham, Digital Heritage Centre, Deakin University, SAFI, Asian Media, Culture and Society, PATCA, HFHR, THP, and the Ambedkar Global Federation.
NOTE – The link of the detailed Video of the symposium will be posted here as & when available.
