NEW DELHI: The Indian caste system, once rooted in ancient religious hierarchy, has now become a global social issue as it continues to shape identity, opportunity and discrimination across diaspora communities, according to caste scholar Suraj Yengde.
Speaking with host Marco Werman, Yengde said caste remains difficult to understand because it does not operate only as a religious practice. In the modern world, he argued, it has become a secular social institution that cuts across race, gender, sexuality and class.
The earliest form of caste was created in ancient India, where social groups were organised through rigid structures of hierarchy and inherited status. But Yengde said caste has survived into the 21st century by adapting itself to new settings, including universities, workplaces, political networks and migrant communities.
For many Indians living abroad, caste may not always be openly discussed, but it can still influence marriage choices, social circles, professional networks and community leadership.
This makes caste discrimination harder to identify, especially in countries where race and class are more commonly used to explain inequality.
Yengde said caste reproduces itself because it is carried through family systems, cultural practices and community expectations. Even when people migrate, old hierarchies can travel with them and reappear in new forms.
The issue has gained wider attention as Indian diaspora communities expand in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and other regions. Rights advocates say caste discrimination is no longer only an Indian domestic issue but a global human rights concern.
The discussion highlights how an ancient system continues to influence modern societies, raising new questions about equality, migration and social justice.
