Indian diaspora and caste: Policy responses to transnational hegemonies

Diverse methodological positions situate caste as a system of social stratification within the Indian subcontinent. However, with the burgeoning of the Indian diaspora and multiple instances of caste discrimination being reported globally, its ‘transnational’ presence, persistence and durability have become disquieting. The doggedness of caste in influencing social dynamics, identity and interactions within the Indian diaspora and its spillage in structuring relationships in the public domain becomes an issue of concern for nations, wherein existing anti-discriminatory laws do not adequately address the issue of caste discrimination. Analysing patterns of caste discrimination within the Indian diaspora, this article examines policy, legal and anti-discriminatory responses promulgated by multilateral organizations and selected nations. To understand the operationalization of caste within the Indian diaspora, aspects of negotiation by traditional caste identities in new cultural contexts, social and political implications of caste, interconnections between caste and identity and advocacy efforts among the Dalit diaspora are also explored. Adopting an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, the article utilizes policy and juridical analysis as a methodological tool to scrutinize measures for addressing caste-based discrimination. By situating caste as a dynamic and transnational phenomenon, the article advances critical reflections on the confluence of caste, diaspora, identity and human rights and assesses the extent to which existing juridical structures redress the issue of caste in its international context.