Ambedkar King Study Circle Urges U.S. Companies to be Vigilant About Caste Discrimination Among Their Employees
- Speakers at its third annual conference highlight the need for creating alternative anti-caste, democratic and gender-sensitive spaces.
Anti-caste activists gathered in Cupertino, Calif., on Aug. 27 to attend the 3rd annual conference hosted by the Ambedkar King Study Circle. Under the theme to resist Brahminism and Hindutva, they urged U.S.-based companies to include caste discrimination in their policy documents and best practices and to be vigilant about caste discrimination among their employees.
According to a resolution adopted during the daylong event: âCompanies should be mindful of the fact that caste practices often manifest around the celebration of rituals, festivals, social events and food sharing among employees.â
Dr. Gajendran Ayyathurai from Göttingen, Germany, in his presentation on Brahminical sciolism and caste oppression, appealed to the audience to create alternative anti-caste, democratic and gender-sensitive spaces.
Attendees also appreciated Apple Inc., for being the first company in the U.S. to include caste-based discrimination in its policy document., an AKSC press release said.
Dr. Gajendran Ayyathurai from Göttingen, Germany, in his presentation on Brahminical sciolism and caste oppression, appealed to the audience to create alternative anti-caste, democratic and gender-sensitive spaces. Crystal Calhoun of San José Unified Equity Coalition narrated the story of her life in the more racist south and her struggle in California, where she moved at the age of 14.
Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, who delivered his talk on âCaste and Workplace Hostility,â said that caste functions to monopolize status and economic power. He added that caste-based discrimination has devastating impacts on dignity and opportunity etc in the workplace.
Dr. Samina Salim, who heads AligsCare, a non-profit organization that supports cancer-affected people from underserved communities in India, appealed to the audience to stop the Hindutva hatred at its source. She expressed shock that dehumanization is normalized in India with the penetration of Hindutva at all levels.
Volunteers also presented a portal with Ambedkarâs work which enables users to search his work.