In recent years, Indian Americans have made major strides in contributing to the betterment of their communities. Yet the progress is not without its challenges, as evidenced by the heated debate that is now raging over the attempts by some Democratic lawmakers to outlaw caste discrimination in the United States.
The controversy began earlier this year with a proposed bill in the House of Representatives, backed by civil rights groups, that would outlaw discrimination based on a person’s caste (defined as the heritable social class from which someone comes). Many Indian Americans, however, feel that such a bill is unnecessary and could be used to encourage a “victim mentality” among communities of color.
The fear of a “victim mentality” stems from the concern that the bill could be used to limit opportunities for individuals within certain caste communities by emphasizing the importance of their traditional social standing.
In addition to the issue of “victim mentality,” some Indian Americans are also worried that such a bill could lead to an erroneous association between social class and race. They argue, for instance, that nondiscrimination laws already exist which prohibit discrimination based on race, which should be sufficient to cover caste.
Other Indian Americans are raising a different concern, namely that the legislation could put Indian-American organizations on uncertain legal footing should they decide to organize events based around caste.
Despite the vocal opposition from certain members of the Indian-American community, proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect those from the Dalit community, who are often victims of the worst forms of systemic discrimination.
Ultimately, both sides in this debate find common ground in the fact that the caste system in India is an antiquated practice that should not be allowed in any form in the U.S. However, they will have to resolve their disagreements if meaningful progress is to be made, and the Indian American community can hope that such progress is right around the corner.