From Awareness to Action: A University-Wide Framework to eradicate Caste-Based Discrimination, advance EDI and Uphold Student welfare.

Introduction

“Pirappokkum ella uyirkkum” which translates to “Every being is of equal value” wrote by the ancient Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar over 2,000 years ago. This principle remains deeply relevant today as we confront the ongoing reality of caste-based discrimination, a system of graded inequality affecting more than 1.9 billion people worldwide. It persists across South Asia and its variations across east Asia, Africa, and global diaspora communities – many of whom make up a significant portion of our international and immigrant student population here at Dundee.

Increasingly, leading international and national institutions including the University of London (SOAS), University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, Harvard University, and Stanford University have set a critical precedent by formally recognising and addressing caste-based discrimination within their equality policies and monitoring frameworks. This aligns with broader international human rights mandates, including the UN Human Rights Council’s attention to caste-based discrimination as a global concern, and the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) guidance that treats caste as an aspect of protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. For the University of Dundee to remain aligned with sector leadership and meet its stated commitment to equity and global justice, it is both a necessary step and an institutional responsibility to implement parallel measures, ensuring our policies reflect contemporary, evidence-based understandings of inclusion and human rights.

This proposal aims to strengthen awareness of caste-based discrimination in student community and beyond, create a visible and accessible platform for students and staff seeking support, and formally embed caste as protected characteristics in the DUSA and the University’s EDI structures. Looking ahead, it positions the University of Dundee as a forerunner in equality and human rights and brings our institutional values in line with global human rights standards. Above all, it affirms that both the University of Dundee and DUSA stand firmly against caste discrimination and the caste system itself, in solidarity with all oppressed communities worldwide.

General information

Caste-Based Discrimination: Caste is a social construct with no biological or scientific basis. It is an imaginary yet powerful birth-ascribed group membership that governs choice of marriage partners, typical occupations, and access to education, housing, resources, and places. The Caste system is a vertical organisation and categorisation of communities and social groups, ranked according to birth‑ascribed status. Between the most elevated and most denigrated groups, each group considers some above it and others below it. As the Father of India’s Constitution and a global symbol of resistance to caste apartheid, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar described, caste is a graded inequality that cuts across religions, nations, and communities. This struggle for caste annihilation has been advanced by diverse social, political, and philosophical movements across South Asia and beyond, all uniting on the principle of absolute human equality.

Caste-based discrimination refers to subordination, exclusion, and differential or discriminatory behaviour towards an individual based on their caste, clan belonging, ascribed social status, or community of origin and occupation. This discrimination is profoundly intersectional, compounding with other forms of prejudice based on religion, gender, sexual orientation, food preference, class, disability, and one’s position within social, geographic, and occupational hierarchies. Such behaviour can be alienating, dominating, humiliating, and derogatory. Belief in the ideology of this graded inequality is termed “casteism.”

Within our own University community and larger Dundee community, many students especially those from South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and whose diaspora forms a major part of our international student community, continue to face caste-related sensitivities. For Example, Students and even staff carry surnames that are identifiable with specific caste backgrounds which can inadvertently expose them to stereotyping, social exclusion, or subtle discrimination within their peers. This not only affects their sense of belonging and well-being on campus but also mirrors broader global patterns where caste continues to dictate opportunity, mobility, and dignity.

The University of Dundee and Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA) must stand firmly against caste discrimination in all its forms, anywhere in the world. We must oppose any theological basis and scriptures, traditional practices, or social structures that sustain and legitimise caste hierarchy and affirm that the caste system must end entirely through the principles of “educate, organise, and agitate.” This proposal is designed not only to address current gaps in our equality framework but also to lay a solid, expandable foundation for future policies, including advocating for caste to be recognised as a protected characteristic under the Equality Act in future legislative amendments.

Conclusion + Motion

This proposal aims to ensure that caste inclusion becomes an integral and recognised part of the University of Dundee’s and DUSA’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) commitments. By strengthening awareness, creating accessible support pathways, and embedding caste within monitoring, training, and reporting frameworks, the University can proactively safeguard student and staff wellbeing, bridge critical gaps in our human-rights alignment, and position Dundee as a sector leader in global equality standards.

Especially those from major diaspora communities represented on our campus—this proposal ensures dignity, belonging, and proactive protection for all.

Ultimately, it affirms that the University of Dundee and DUSA stand firmly against caste discrimination and the caste system itself, in line with our shared values of equity, justice, and global human rights.

Guiding Principles

1. Equality: We uphold the full equality and dignity of every person, rejecting all forms of birth-based hierarchy.
2. Protection: We commit to a campus free from caste discrimination, where everyone is safe and respected.
3. Solidarity: We affirm our responsibility to protect those affected by caste oppression and to stand in solidarity with marginalised communities worldwide.
4. Education: We will use awareness and evidence-based policy and practice to drive change.
5. Future Commitment: We will embed this commitment in all our policies and practices for generations to come.

The SRC resolves to:

1. Recognise caste-based discrimination as a serious form of harassment and inequality affecting students and staff and affirm DUSA’s and the University’s stance against caste discrimination and caste structures. And advocate for its recognition as a protected characteristic in law and demonstrating solidarity with affected communities worldwide.
2. Request the University and DUSA to include caste in monitoring category and/or optional protected characteristic in their equality (EDI) monitoring, with clear communication on the purpose (to measure and address inequality) and robust data protection assurances to build community trust, aligned with best practice at SOAS, Manchester, and Edinburgh Universities.
3. Request the EDI Team to produce clear, stand-alone guidance on caste-based discrimination within the Dignity at Work and Study Policy.
4. Recommend the creation of awareness and educational initiatives, including an annual observance month in April (aligning with global Equality Movements), featuring events, workshops, and resources on caste, equality, and human rights.
5. Request the inclusion of caste as a reporting category within the Report & Support tool, ensuring safe and confidential disclosure pathways.
6. Recommend integration of caste-awareness training, developed in consultation with affected communities and academic experts, in student induction, staff training, and ongoing EDI development modules.
7. Propose addition of library books and cultural representation, including works, teachings of equality leaders like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Mr. Nelson Mandela, display visual tributes across campus, and consider commemorative installations of them to affirm our commitment to justice and inclusion. As well as including works by anti-caste authors, Dalit activists, leaders, and movements from South Asia and its diasporas.
8. Commit to Institutional Commitment and Collaborative Action: This motion commits the University and DUSA to establish partnerships with expert organisations, academic institutions and representative bodies to facilitate educational engagement, such as guest speakers and knowledge exchange. It further mandates a public affirmation of the University’s stance against caste discrimination, active advocacy for its legal recognition as a protected characteristic, and a visible demonstration of solidarity with affected communities worldwide.

Legacy Timeline

Dec’25–Mar 2026 → Initial consultations with EDI Team, DUSA Exec, and affected student groups, academic experts in caste studies and EDI practitioners; draft guidance and set up an advisory group.

Apr 2026 → Launch the First Caste Awareness Month, including events, workshops, and observance activities.

Jun–Sept 2026 → Introduce caste monitoring options, update reporting tools, begin induction/ staff training, and host the first invited speaker session.

Dec 2026 → Publish a joint DUSA–University public stance against caste discrimination and begin engagement toward future legislative recognition.

2027 → Integrate caste-inclusion provisions into the University’s next formal EDI Policy update, ensuring permanent structural change.

Ongoing → Publish an annual report summary to ensure accountability, continued awareness work, community partnerships, and sector-wide advocacy.