CALIFORNIA: In a groundbreaking move, the California legislature has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of caste discrimination by approving a bill aimed at banning such practices.
If signed into law, this would mark a pivotal moment as California would become the first state in the United States to have explicit legal provisions against caste-based discrimination. The bill is not only a testament to the state’s commitment to social justice but also a reflection of changing attitudes towards discrimination in our increasingly diverse society.
The proposed legislation garnered widespread support from lawmakers who emphasized the importance of protecting people of South Asian descent from unfair treatment. Caste discrimination, deeply rooted in the Indian subcontinent for over 3,000 years, has long been a contentious issue. It involves the rigid division of Hindu society into hierarchical groups, often resulting in discrimination against those considered to be in lower castes.
The bill, which passed by an overwhelming vote of 31-5, was sponsored by Democratic State Senator Aisha Wahab. She emphasized that adding caste as a protected category in California’s anti-discrimination laws, alongside gender, race, religion, and disability, is a crucial step towards eliminating a form of discrimination that has persisted for centuries. Senator Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan-American woman elected to the state legislature, described the legislation as shining a light on a “long-hidden form of discrimination” that has affected millions of people.
However, not all legislators were in favour of the bill. Five Republican state senators voted against it, arguing that discrimination was already illegal under existing state law. This opposition highlights the ongoing debate around the necessity of explicit legal measures to address caste discrimination.
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, now holds the power to determine whether this historic bill becomes law. His office has stated that the governor will evaluate the legislation when it reaches his desk, emphasizing the gravity of this decision.
Critics of the bill, including some Hindu groups, have argued that the caste system is not a significant issue in North America. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed concerns that the bill could unfairly single out South Asians and called for its veto. On the other hand, some Dalit activists, who have historically faced discrimination due to their lower caste status, dismiss these claims, citing their personal experiences of discrimination from individuals belonging to higher castes.
One notable case that drew attention to caste discrimination in the corporate world involved the technology company Cisco in 2020. The state of California filed a lawsuit against Cisco after two high-caste Indian managers were accused of discriminating against a Dalit engineer, paying him a lower salary. This case underscored the need for legal protections against caste discrimination in the state.
