Asang Wankhede Leads Study on Caste Discrimination in Australia

Asang Wankhede, a DPhil Law candidate at the Faculty of Law, has detailed findings from his pioneering research on caste discrimination in Australia in a recent opinion piece for The Guardian. The article outlines his work leading the ‘Caste in Australia: A phenomenology of casteism’ project, which revealed concerning levels of caste-based discrimination within Australia's South Asian diaspora. The groundbreaking study, funded by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA), gathered extensive evidence on emerging forms of discrimination in multicultural societies. Through in-depth interviews with 146 participants from caste-oppressed communities, the project documented 600 pages of evidence, presenting compelling grounds for legislative reform.

Wankhede's research reveals that caste oppression extends beyond interpersonal conflicts, manifesting as a complex form of intersectional racial discrimination in educational institutions, workplaces, and social settings. ‘The experience of caste-oppressed groups begins well before their arrival in Australia,’ notes Wankhede. ‘Many resort to concealing their identity by changing surnames or abandoning cultural practices that might reveal their caste position.’ The study uncovered distressing instances of discrimination, including physical assault, treatment of children as 'untouchables', and socioeconomic boycotts targeting businesses owned by individuals from historically oppressed castes. Participants reported significant impacts on their psychological well-being, with one noting, ‘It erodes the inherent belief you have in your own capacities that tends to affect you more in the long term rather than an immediate loss of opportunities.’

The project, led by caste-oppressed groups Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha and Ambedkar International Mission, advocates for a multi-pronged approach to addressing caste discrimination. This includes formal recognition of the issue, prohibition under existing anti-discrimination laws, and fostering an anti-caste culture across Australian society.

Building on the comprehensive dataset, Wankhede is now supporting caste-oppressed communities in their advocacy efforts to incorporate caste discrimination into Australian anti-discrimination law. The evidence gathered through this project aims to contribute to the Australian National Anti-Racism Framework, working towards establishing caste discrimination as a recognised form of intersectional racial discrimination.