Caste in Australia: Lived experiences and the struggle for dignity, equality and respect

Caste discrimination is an emerging but often poorly understood issue in contemporary Australia. This panel brings together researchers and community advocates to examine how caste operates within the Australian context, drawing particularly on findings and lived experiences documented through the National Community Consultation on Caste Discrimination (NCCCD).

The discussion will explore how caste discrimination manifests across education, workplaces and community life, the experiences of caste-affected communities, and the challenges of recognition and response within Australian institutions. It will also consider what the growing evidence means for Australia’s broader commitments to equality, dignity, anti-discrimination and social inclusion.

About the speakers

Dr Ajay Niranjane is President of BODHI Australia and a founding member of Ambedkar International Mission (AIM) Australia. He co-led and co-authored the National Community Consultation on Caste Discrimination (NCCCD) project and report, which documented the experiences of caste-affected communities across Australia through a national survey, focus groups and interviews. His community and advocacy work focuses on caste discrimination, social justice, equality, and advancing Dr BR Ambedkar’s vision of dignity and human rights. He has contributed to national policy and community discussions on caste discrimination and represented these issues in Australian and international forums, including the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues.

Dr Vaibhav Gaikwad is a community advocate who has worked extensively on caste discrimination, social justice and equality in Australia, with a particular focus on advancing Ambedkarite perspectives on dignity and human rights. He was also a co-lead and co-author of the National Community Consultation on Caste Discrimination (NCCCD) report. Alongside his community advocacy, Vaibhav has worked in climate-related financial risk, sustainability, and emerging technology sectors. He is a published author, holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, has authored more than 30 research publications and is an inventor on a US patent.

Discussant/Moderator

Dr Nisha Thapliyal is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle. Her research engages with education, social justice, democracy, and community-based movements. She is the editor of Caste, Country, and Creed: Remaking Caste in the Indian Diaspora, which examines the changing manifestations of caste within diasporic contexts. Her scholarship brings a decolonial and intersectional perspective to questions of identity, representation and inequality in the Indian diaspora.

Agenda

Light refreshments: 3-3.30pm
Panel time: 3.30-5pm

This event is a collaboration between the ANU South Asian Research Institute (SARI) and the ANU Australia South Asia Research Centre.

Image: Ambedkar Jayanti Celebration in 2016 at the Australian Parliament. Supplied by speakers.

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