Dalit - Dalits and International Comparative Sociology - Dalits in The United Kingdom

Dalits in The United Kingdom

After the second world war substantial immigration took place from nations and countries of the former British Empire largely including the Indian Subcontinent, which now consists of modern day Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. These immigrations were largely driven by post world war II labor shortages. Among the South Asian immigrants were Dalits, and like the rest of the Sub continent dispora, they settled and established their own communities. With the influx of South Asian immigrants into Britain, came too their customs and norms including the caste system and the notion of "untouchability".

Caste discrimination is rife in the United Kingdom. British Asians, secularists, Liberal Democrat and Labour Party politicians have been trying for a number of years to convince the government to tackle caste discrimination. However they continue to face opposition from the Hindu lobby in Britain mainly The Hindu Forum of Britain and Hindu Council UK. who even questioned the existence of caste discrimination in Britain One such example of the existence of Caste hatred against British Dalits was a hate mail sent to CasteWatch UK (An anti Caste organisation). The mail read,

"Chhoti jaat chhoti hi rahegi. Kauve ko tilak lane se vo hans nahin banta…kutte the, kutte ho, kutte hi rahoge” (Low castes will remain low. Putting a tilak on a crow does not turn him into a swan … You were dogs, you are dogs, you will remain dogs)".

The other main form of opposition dalits face are that of politicians themselves who do not wish to interfere with ethnic affairs; meaning that "...the treatment of untouchables is one of the great unmentionables of British politics." A survey was conducted in which a report was filed in collaboration with focus groups and academics from the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University who aimed to provide a snapshot of caste discrimination in 21st century Britain. The report concluded:

"There is clear evidence from the survey and the focus groups that the caste system has been imported into the UK with the Asian diaspora and that the associated caste discrimination affects citizens in ways beyond personal choices and social interaction. There is a danger that if the UK government does not effectively accept and deal with the issue of caste discrimination the problem will grow unchecked."

It has been found that the Caste system is wide spread and affects tens of thousands of people at work, at schools within the National Health Service and even at the doctors surgery. Out of a survey of 300 people, 58% reported that they had experienced caste discrimination 79% felt that if they reported a caste related hate crime, the police just simply would not understand. Almost half of the respondents (45%) reported that they had been treated negatively by co workers or had comments made about their caste. 9% felt that they had been passed over for promotion because of their caste and 10% reported that they had been paid less because of their caste. A further 5% reported that they had experienced threatening behaviour because of their caste.

One bus company decided to reorganise shifts so that a "higher caste" inspector would not have to work alongside a "lower caste" bus driver. Severe discrimination is reported against vulnerably young children. The report found that the classroom also appears to be subject to caste divides. 7% of those surveyed said they had been the victims of threatening behaviour while aged under 12 at school, with another 16% suffering verbal caste abuse. According to the study, 10% of those responsible for caste discrimination against under-12s were teachers, and 42% fellow pupils One of the most commonly reported forms of discrimination is caste-related name-calling. Almost three quarters (71%) of those questioned in the survey identified themselves as members of the Dalit community. Dalits, who were formerly known as Untouchables because of their low caste status, are sometimes referred to abusively as Chura and Chamar.

A number of respondents also reported being asked – directly or indirectly – about their caste background by their family doctor, nurse or a community nurse. One elderly woman felt her care worker had discriminated against her on caste grounds, while a physiotherapist was also alleged to have refused to treat someone of low caste.