The fight against caste discrimination in the United States has hit a significant milestone with California’s Senate Judiciary Committee approving the SB 403 bill on 25 April to ban caste bias and overcoming a major legislative hurdle in the larger fight. This development is a testament to the growing momentum of the anti-caste movement in the US and the critical role that California is playing in it.
In this article, I explore the role of women leaders in America’s anti-caste movement and how their contributions have helped to raise awareness about this issue and push for change. These leaders are facing flak and getting accolades at the same time.
The face of SB 403
State Senator Aisha Wahab, the SB403 bill’s author, has played a pivotal role by introducing the bill and passionately advocating for it. In her statement before the Judiciary Committee, Wahab emphasised the insidious nature of caste discrimination and the generational trauma it causes. Wahab represents several Californian cities, including Hayward and Fremont.
In 2018, she became the first Afghan-American woman to be elected to public office in the US. Wahab has personal experience with foster care and housing insecurity and advocates for affordable housing, focusing on issues such as civic engagement, education, and economic inequality.
Also read: Seattle, California caste ban votes same as BJP’s Project Pasmanda. For US ‘model minority’
At the heart of caste bias in California
In the anti-caste movement in the US, we see Thenmozhi Soundararajan almost everywhere. Soundararajan is a prominent Dalit rights activist and the executive director of Equality Labs, a civil rights organisation that works on issues of caste in the tech industry. She was at the forefront of advocating and supporting California’s anti-caste bill’s drafting.
In her 2022 book The Trauma of Caste, Soundararajan shares her personal experience of growing up in California and the continuing violence under the caste system. Her work with Equality Labs includes a 2016 survey of 1,500 South Asians in the US, which showed that 67 per cent of Dalits reported being treated unfairly. Her advocacy has triggered support for anti-caste legislation across US cities, including Seattle.
Behind the Seattle law
Kshama Sawant, another prominent face of America’s anti-caste movement, is a part of the Socialist Alternative and the only Indian-American member of the Seattle City Council. She proposed the ordinance that led to the passing of the groundbreaking law to ban caste discrimination in Seattle in February 2023. This law prohibits caste discrimination in various areas, including employment, housing, public accommodations, and allows caste-oppressed people in the city to file complaints of discrimination.
Also read: Georgia, California, Seattle—Any criticism of caste in America is being fought as Hinduphobia
No thank you, Google
Tanuja Jain Gupta made headlines when she resigned from her senior manager position at Google after the tech company cancelled a talk on caste discrimination that she had organised. Google employees felt “threatened” by the talk and branded Soundararajan (who was supposed to be an invitee) as “anti-Hindu” and “Hinduphobic”. Gupta’s resignation drew attention to the issue of caste discrimination in the tech industry, particularly toward South Asian employees. She now works independently for the causes of equity and social justice.
Ambedkar in New Jersey
Swati Sawant is a New Jersey-based lawyer who represents several low-caste Indian men allegedly lured to work at the BAPS temple in the state and subjected to forced labour. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the temple in July 2021 following the allegations. Sawant’s work in the case earned her recognition and respect within the legal community. She is seen as a fierce and dedicated advocate for justice, and her efforts have been crucial in bringing attention to this important issue.
Recently, her advocacy resulted in New Jersey declaring 14 April (B R Ambedkar’s birth anniversary) as Equality Day and the unfurling of the Ambedkarite blue flag with the Ashoka Chakra on the City Council building.
While most Indians were fast asleep, Jersey City in the US made history on Ambedkar Jayanti. A blue flag with the Ashoka Chakra and the American flag was raised at the City Council Hall, in the presence of council officials and a representative from the Indian consulate. #Jaibhim pic.twitter.com/r4clPLBSB0
— Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) April 14, 2023
The pillars of the movement
The president of the Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) is another figure who has made powerful contributions to the anti-caste movement in the US. She goes by an alias due to fear of harm — including physical assault — if her identity is revealed. She plays an important role in organising support from communities, especially women. AANA also organises cultural retreats to build solidarity.
In addition to activism and direct interventions, the fight against caste in the US has also been strengthened by the scholarly works of Isabel Wilkerson, Ajantha Subrahmanian, and Yashica Dutta. Additionally, prominent figures such as TV personality Oprah Winfrey and filmmaker Ava DuVernay have also addressed the issue of caste. Besides these, numerous Ravidassia and Ambedkarite women activists are contributing to the movement, which is now bearing tangible results. Twenty-four universities in the US now have anti-caste regulations, with Massachusetts-based Brandeis University being the first to prohibit caste-based discrimination on campus.
Also read: Seattle caste ban not historic, it’s self-goal. After cows, curry, Indians will face this
Why women?
Women’s leadership in the anti-caste movement in the US can be attributed to their unique experience of caste discrimination, which is compounded in a patriarchal society. Owing to their doubly marginalised status, they are more motivated to fight against discrimination. Such a position allows them to recognise the intersectional nature of discrimination, bridge different movements, and promote inclusivity and justice. The shared experience fosters a sense of solidarity among different communities and helps establish coalitions that are crucial for achieving meaningful change.
Indian figures such as Savitribai Phule, Pandita Ramabai, Tarabai Shinde, and Mayawati have paved the way for women’s leadership in the anti-caste movement. Today’s women leaders carry that great legacy. In the US, the Ambedkarite and Ravidassia communities are especially open to women leaders.
The factors contributing to women’s prominence in the anti-caste movement are multifaceted and complex. Young researchers can explore these factors further, including the role of empathy, the shared experience of marginalisation, and women’s ability to form alliances across social justice movements.
Dilip Mandal is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine, and has authored books on media and sociology. He tweets @Profdilipmandal. Views are personal.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)