Melbourne – The symposium Understanding Caste Discrimination in Diaspora: Building Dialogues and Allyship, held on November 3, was organised by the University of Nottingham, co-partnered with the Asian Media and Cultures Network, Deakin University, and was held at Deakin Downtown - Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. It brought together academics, community leaders, journalists, and activists to discuss caste discrimination in diasporic settings.

This symposium was organized by the Digital Heritage Centre, Institute of Asia and Pacific Studies, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, in collaboration with the Asian Media and Culture Society, Deakin University, Australia, and supported by Hindus for Human Rights (Australia), The Humanism Project, PATCA, The Navayana Buddhist Charitable Trust, and The Global Ambedkarite Federation.

As convener, the organizer established an environment encouraging reflection, honesty, and mutual respect. The event served as a space for exchange and an opportunity to build collaborations linking academic research, creative practice, and social engagement.

The day began with the convener's welcome address, inviting participants to view caste as a social condition extending beyond the Indian subcontinent into diasporic realities. The address noted that caste discrimination remains embedded in communities across Australia, shaping access, belonging, and social interaction. The symposium was described as a collective space of recognition and responsibility – recognition that caste continues to shape lives across continents, and responsibility to respond with awareness, solidarity, and action. It brought together scholars, activists, and community leaders who share a belief in equality and human dignity.

The session acknowledged that caste has travelled in silence, limiting opportunities and participation within Australian social and institutional life. The Australian Human Rights Commission’s inclusion of caste within its National Anti-Racism Framework was highlighted as an important impetus to discuss caste discrimination and shape policies to address it. The symposium extended that conversation by creating a shared space for reflection, understanding rather than division, and dialogue rather than confrontation – to explore how caste operates in workplaces, communities, and institutions, and how alliances across social, cultural, and faith boundaries can challenge discrimination.

Professor Hari Bapuji from the University of Melbourne delivered the keynote address titled Invisibility of Caste in the Australian Diaspora. He examined how caste continues to function as a system of inequality that persists largely because of its invisibility, not only due to the absence of physiological markers but also because of its amorphous and socially embedded nature. Drawing from his research on the intersection of business and society, Professor Bapuji presented a framework to understand caste and render it visible within contexts where it is often denied or ignored.

He discussed how caste manifests within Australian diasporic settings, influencing social interactions, workplace hierarchies, and access to opportunities, and outlined the challenges this invisibility poses for achieving equitable social outcomes. He emphasized that caste should not be seen as the concern of a single community but as a collective social issue, urging that recognition and responsibility must underpin efforts to address it. His keynote grounded the symposium in a shared understanding that equality cannot be realized without confronting exclusion in all its subtle and structural forms.

The first panel, Breaking Barriers: Humanism, Self-Respect, and Social Cohesion in the Fight Against Caste, featured Hon’ble Rajathi Salma, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha, India), and Advocate Arulmozhi from the Dravidar Kazhagam, India. Rajathi Salma MP opened with a self-composed poem reflecting on women’s marginalization, discrimination, and subjugation, setting an introspective tone. She reflected on how religion, caste, and patriarchy sustain one another, and how writing can become a means of assertion.

Advocate Arulmozhi expanded the discussion through examples of how discriminatory religious texts are cited in contemporary contexts to justify social hierarchies and judicial reasoning. She warned of the increasing normalization of regressive ideas in public life. Both speakers affirmed that the response to casteism must draw from humanist thought and collective action rather than symbolic gestures.

The second panel, Intersections of Caste, Class, and Identity in Womxn’s Liberation Movements, was moderated by Nandini Sen Mehra of Hindus for Human Rights ANZ. Nandini moderated with thoughtfulness, weaving her observations as an ally into the dialogue and reflecting on how allies from different backgrounds could collaborate to address discrimination.

The panelists, Dr. Ali Saha (University of Melbourne), Madhu Kishore, and Minakshi Salave, explored how caste and class intersect in shaping women’s experiences in India and Australia. Dr. Saha examined the limited visibility of Dalit voices in media spaces. Madhu Kishore discussed the intergenerational consequences of caste-based trauma within families and institutions. Minakshi Salave shared her personal account of facing exclusion in education and professional life and her ongoing assertion of Dalit identity. The discussion reminded participants that the question of equality must be addressed collectively and intersectionally.

The third panel, Living Caste in the Diaspora: Everyday Experiences and Institutional Barriers, brought together Dr. Rupali S. Bhamare (Monash University, Australia), Parag Bhagat, Sanchi Meshram, and Sushant Wanjari. Their testimonies offered a grounded account of how caste discrimination continues to shape the experiences of South Asians in Australia. The panelists explained that caste surfaces through questions about surnames, family backgrounds, and occupations, or through exclusionary behavior in workplaces and social circles. Dr. Rupali Bhamare observed that caste prejudice is frequently dismissed as a cultural difference, allowing discrimination to persist unacknowledged within institutions.

Sanchi Meshram reflected that silence is not a form of survival, stating that if friendships are lost over caste, “then it is better that way.” She described how displaying Ambedkar’s photograph or attending Ambedkarite events can provoke discomfort among others. Sushant Wanjari spoke of the intersection of caste, class, gender, and migration status, calling such discrimination “an extreme form that must be resisted.” Parag Bhagat noted that the Australian Human Rights Commission’s inclusion of caste within the National Anti-Racism Framework marks a necessary step, but more work is required to ensure accountability within workplaces, universities, and community organizations.

The afternoon began with a plenary by Professor Catherine Gomes of RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, titled Creating Spaces: Why Empowerment of Migrant People Matters in Research. Professor Gomes addressed the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment across the world, observing how xenophobic and racist expressions inflict physical and psychological harm and influence policy decisions. She noted that this global hostility is particularly painful for individuals who have faced cultural and generational prejudice, often leading to their portrayal as vulnerable within academic writing. She raised the question of whether framing migrant communities primarily through vulnerability risks reinforcing their marginalization. Drawing on her collaborative projects with migrant communities, Professor Gomes discussed the value of research practices that treat migrants as equal contributors in the creation of knowledge. Her address reaffirmed the importance of inclusive and participatory scholarship that encourages representation, respect, and agency in studies of migration and diversity.

The fourth panel, Caste Allyship and Anti-Caste Solidarity in Transnational Settings, opened with Digvijay Bagade’s presentation titled Born Equal, Treated Unequally: The Casteist Mindset That We Must Break. His observations addressed how caste-based attitudes travel across borders, drawing attention to the mindset that sustains social division. Giribala Thomas discussed the ethical dimensions of allyship and the necessity of empathy in sustaining partnerships across caste lines.

Vastav Pradeep Bhagat reflected on generational change within Ambedkarite communities and the need to continue dialogues that engage younger audiences. Sandhya Ambade spoke about her work in maintaining the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, describing it as an essential space for education and remembrance. She reflected on how such memorials can serve as shared grounds for conversation on discrimination, inviting participation from Indian and diasporic communities alike. Together, the speakers observed that casteism in Australia has moved from indirect to overt expression, making it impossible to ignore. The session called for increased awareness within institutions and for allyship grounded in ethics and mutual accountability.

The final panel, Media, Identity, and Representation in Australia’s South Asian Communities, featured Neeraj Nanda (South Asia Times), Deepak Joshi (NRI Affairs), and Dr. Fotis Kapetopoulos (Neos Kosmos). The discussion examined how ethnic media can address caste and related social hierarchies more responsibly, and the role of journalism in advancing equity and inclusion within diasporic settings. Deepak Joshi remarked that caste discrimination has long been disregarded by diaspora media, noting that conversations around equality and justice often exclude caste as a structural concern. He argued that responsible journalism must confront caste directly and consistently, rather than treating it as a peripheral or uncomfortable issue. Drawing from his experience as the founder of NRI Affairs and as a community advocate, Joshi observed that independent media outlets have a vital role in providing space for marginalized voices and shaping informed dialogue across the Indian diaspora.

Neeraj Nanda shared his personal challenges in covering Dalit-related stories, recounting how he is often questioned by members of the community whenever he raises caste issues or attends Ambedkarite events. He noted that people sometimes advise him not to “mingle with the Bheemis,” a slang term for Ambedkarites, which reflects how caste bias and social exclusion continue to operate within diasporic circles. Nanda also expressed concern about the casual use of caste-based slurs within the Indian-Australian community, which he has witnessed firsthand. His reflections reaffirmed that caste prejudice persists in new and subtle ways in the diaspora, highlighting the continuing need for ethical journalism and media accountability.

Dr. Fotis Kapetopoulos expanded the discussion by drawing parallels between caste-based exclusion and class-based inequality within Greek and other migrant communities in Australia. He discussed how Neos Kosmos seeks to address such structural disparities and promote intercultural understanding through its reporting. His observations brought the conversation into a comparative framework, illustrating how ethnic media can challenge social hierarchies and contribute to inclusive public discourse across communities.

The symposium concluded with the screening of the convener's documentary Resisting Cast(e)ism in Australia, described as a personal ballad of resistance. The film examines how caste operates within Australia through first-hand interviews with individuals from Melbourne, Sydney, and Coffs Harbour. It documents the experiences of those who have encountered caste discrimination while raising questions about belonging, dignity, and justice. Conceived as a reflective piece, the film brings together personal and collective narratives of assertion and resilience. Its screening acted as both a creative expression and an extension of the symposium’s dialogue, prompting a collective pause for reflection and empathy.