Caste discrimination has once again surfaced as the subject of debate in the British Indian society following accusations against the country’s largest matrimonial platform for British Indians. A recent report noted that Shaadi.com re-inforces caste discrimination amongst singles when it asks them to state their caste whilst creating their profile. Now, some members of the community have echoed their concerns around this report. But does caste really play a factor in the British Asian community?
“Over the years caste has become much less of an issue for the Asian community in the UK. In fact, we arrange and have arranged many inter-religion marriages (Hindu-Sikh) as well as cross-community (Hindu Punjabi-Hindu Gujarati, etc) where caste is not even a question.
“There is some misrepresentation in the press currently that this problem is more of an issue in the Hindu community. In my view it seems to be more of an issue within the Sikh community if we are looking exclusively at British Asians,” said Parag Bhargava, Managing Partner of Suman Marriage Bureau.
However, some leaders emphasise that caste is a way of identification for an individual within the community based on a group of social ideas. They argue that cultural and social differences separate the communities but in no way is this reflective of any kind of discrimination. Refuting claims made by marriage bureaus, Satish Sharma, General Secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples said,
“This notion that no society can categorise itself in any form else it is engaged in discrimination is inflammatory. I am absolutely clear that there should be no grounds for discrimination but that doesn’t mean there are not differences in cultural and social ideologies.
“Anecdotal stories do not present as evidence for discrimination. In the absence of evidence, it is the denigration of the entire community. The vast majority of people have no idea that caste is defined in law and it is the existence of a hereditary, hierarchical social structure.”
The government had initially committed to making caste discrimination illegal in the UK after activists campaigned for caste discrimination to be included in the amendment of Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010. This would effectively allow caste discrimination to be interpreted as a form of racial discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 prevents discrimination on the grounds of race and other protected characteristics, and experts consider caste an aspect of the race. Although, they failed to pass separate legislation around the subject. Now many activists have especially campaigned for caste legislation owing to inter-caste marriages and the building differences. Satpal Muman, Co-Founder of Caste Watch UK however, highlighted the need for separate legislation to oversee caste. He said,
“Marriages are not covered under the Equality legislation and are seen to fall into the ambit of the personal choices made by the individual and his/her family. In case of marriages against choice, they fall under the Forced Marriage Act.
“It is arguable that if a person has been subject to harassment or violence then they can approach the police. However, a person who is victimised emotionally or mentally based on caste may not be served by these authorities as the police do not have legislation to follow and take an action against.”
But some community leaders emphasise that “caste discrimination” is used to vilify the Hindu community in the UK. Anil Bhanot, Interfaith Director, Hindu Council UK said,
“People always seek commonalities when marrying and Indians marry traditionally into extended families living harmoniously with the added benefits of community support.
“A Catholic prefers to marry a Catholic but that does not mean a Catholic discriminates against an Anglican. Moreover, caste does not mean people are insular and do not support other communities cross-caste, they do, and that is the benign aspect of caste communities”
Caste is not included in the UK Census. So there are no precise figures available around the population of these groups but Dalits in the UK are estimated to be some 5,00,000. Now, the Sunday Times report notes that platforms like Shaadi.com are not offering individuals from scheduled caste as potential matches unless preferences are adjusted to include all other castes. Shaadi.com remained unavailable for comment. However, Parag Bhargav of Suman Marriage Bureau concluded,
“The main reason why caste even comes into the equation leads me to your second question. Most requests for similar castes are driven by the older generation. Where grandparents are still living with the family or even if not living with the family, but are alive), the parents will often try to first push for someone of similar caste. However, as time moves on, and people are finding it harder and harder to find the same caste, minds are starting to open up.
“As an agency, we come across the caste issue mainly within the Jat Sikh community, which sad to say, is leaving many boys and girls single at the age of late 30's and early 40's in UK.”
