Indian-Americans protested Democratic senator Aisha Wahab’s measure to expressly bar caste-based discrimination in California with a peaceful gathering. Protesters displayed placards and banners against the measure, urging California politicians not to outrightly target Hindus or assume they are repressive due to their birth.
The first Muslim and Afghan American state senator, Aisha Wahab, introduced the measure in the California Senate on March 22. The bill might make California the first state to ban caste-based racism.
At Wednesday’s Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) peace demonstration, activists stated Senator Wahab’s proposal violates equity and justice for all, regardless of colour, religion, or background. This bill presumes guilt, caricatures Hindus and Asians, and incites hatred.
IT giants are based in California. Many South Asian-dominated firms are concerned about caste-based discrimination. The Bill seeks to include caste in state anti-discrimination statutes. It protects workers against caste-based harassment in housing, education, and employment. It intends to make it obvious that caste discrimination is illegal to prevent organisations and enterprises from institutionalising it.
Indian-Americans Protest Against Caste-Based Discrimination Legislation in California and the Misconception of Innate Repression.
Despite being the sociological characteristic of the Indian subcontinent, the caste system narrative blames Hindus and Religion for all atrocities. Indian diasporas are widespread. This argument that Indians are innately repressive underpins US caste oppression legislation and judicial actions.
Class, feudalism, communism, racism, slavery, Nazism, fascism, Girmitiya (indentured) labour, and others exploit and discriminate. No ethnic, religious, or racial group is blamed for their misdeeds. Despite being the sociological characteristic of the Indian subcontinent, the caste system narrative blames Hindus and Religion for all atrocities. It surpasses all local religions. This narrative also ignores Hindu society’s long history of fighting prejudice and injustice via its indigenous social reforms.
Caste and jāti are distinct. Their histories, societies, and cultures differ. Yet, academics, media, and the caste system interpret the Indian jāti system incorrectly. British, French, and Portuguese colonists established an Orientalist discourse about India. Othering Indians created this discourse. It enabled political power, dominance, bigotry, and colonialism.
In their literature, the British represented Hindu civilization as afflicted with disease. In addition, they falsely asserted that so-called societal problems, such as Sati and the Brahmanical, had long been a part of Hindu culture and Hinduism. When the British imperialists strengthened their dominance over India, their misinformation and hatred for Hindus acquired a footing in scholastic circles and the collective consciousness.
The peaceful gathering outside Senator Wahab’s office argued SB-403 will defend caste in California. They stated it targets South Asians, Japanese, African, and South American people of colour based on unverified and biassed statistics. The law denies South Asians and other minorities equal protection and due process if approved.
The measure was filed exactly one month after Seattle became the first US city to abolish caste discrimination after its municipal council accepted a resolution by an Indian-American politician and economist. Kshama Sawant, an upper-caste Hindu, proposed the motion, which the Seattle City Council passed 6–1.
SB 403 perpetuates the deadly Hindu-only caste system. It supports SB 403’s discrimination. Despite not knowing, children and their offspring will be castes. They ignore the thousands of subaltern-led temples and try to reshape our sacred spaces to meet monotheistic beliefs.
Over 100 individuals voiced their concerns at Fremont City Hall after the peace event. Wahab told reporters that the historic law is about workers’, women’s, gay, and civil rights after proposing it last month. Indian Americans worry that codifying caste in public policy will increase Hinduphobia. For the past three years, eleven Hindu temples and five sculptures, including Mahatma Gandhi and Maratha monarch Shivaji, have been vandalised throughout the US to intimidate Hindus.
Indian Americans are the second-largest U.S. immigration community. The 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) by the U.S. Census Bureau found 4.2 million Indian-Americans.
Between 1948 and 1950, India outlawed caste discrimination.
