Caste and Continuing Foreign Interference in India’s Internal Affairs

Abstract

Chapter 5 exposes the transnational dimensions of the caste question, including the role played by the caste provision in international relations and law. It examines how transnational activism for proselytism is a key reason why caste has emerged in the discourse of the Churches, Dalit organizations, and Parliament. The UK legislation is part of a wider campaign going back at least to the 2001 World Conference against Racism where an attempt was made to bring caste and race together in international law. This chapter shows how the European Parliament and UN human rights organs have been brought into play to highlight caste discrimination, to pressure India to amend its laws to enable Christians to gain more access to caste-based reservations.