How the Indian caste system affects me in Canada

People migrate to new countries and takes their narrow minds thinking with them very sad!

eye opening, can do more segments like this on different cultures

This was a brilliant interview, show casing something that is often considered taboo to even talk about. My Family lived in the Middle East for a long time, and when I was in high school, returned to South India where my parents were from. The first day of school, a lady from the office came and called out my name. She was holding a register, and asked what caste I was, as my parents didn't fill it in the form. I said, 'I don't know my caste'. Almost 35 years later, I can still hear the loud gasp that came from my classmates....in shock that I didn't know what my caste was. Till then, it didn't matter and my parents didn't feel the need to tell me about that. The lady holding the register looked at me in shock. She said, 'You don't know what caste you are? Go home and ask your Father!' LOL now....but at the time, I was made to feel so bad. When it comes time for marriage, is when the caste system is mentioned the most. I also have to add, that we are Christians. So it doesn't matter what religion you are in India, the original caste that your ancestors were, carries on with you generations later. So happy to see this segment.

I read about the Untouchables. Really sad how we as humans treat each other. The ignorance is astounding.

So glad you spoke out!

I’ve heard of the Indian Caste system through the years but didn’t realize that it was impacting Indians this way outside of India (though it’s not surprising unfortunately, it was surprising that it’s this blatant). THANK YOU SO MUCH for this segment - please continue to have conversations like this about culture!!! 💛

I watched the series called Daughers of Destiny which was such an eye opener as I am not Indian. What a fantastic series. Good luck with your endeavors, courageous lady.

Good for her for opening her mouth. Hatred is learnt. Such a shame to keep teaching this in a new, adopted country. Mindless

I’ve had Indian friends growing up tell their parents hate me because of their ways back home also on the TTC a lot of East Asians have the odd idea to invade my space and even tell me a black Canadian man that although I’m already sitting down on the train, I need to immediately get up and give my seat over to them ( usually Indian people that seem to be newcomers). One fellow man even tried to berate me because I should know to give up my seat. I told him “ this is Canada, don’t bring that caste system bs over here, assuming because I’m black I’m supposed to make way for you is comedy at best buddy”. If I was born with my brown skin in India I would be considered untouchable, would have no rights snd would permanently be stuck under everyone else in perpetuity.

My God!! This is absolutely disgusting and evil !!

It's so painful that human beings continue this & other detrimental treatment of other human beings. We will never reach our full potential as a species with this nonsense. Patriarchy, caste, class or skin color it's wrong. I cannot imagine looking down at a new born baby & limiting their life in such a manner.

The story she told about her daughter brought me to tears.

If they do this to each other, imagine how they treat Black Canadians???

First learnt about this caste system in my literature class from a book called "A House for Mr. Biswas". At the time it never impacted me. Now, several years later, I am realizing this is a problem. Funny, today a relative of mine and I were talking and this very subject came up. It was the first time I had ever discussed it and here you are educating us further about it.

Glad to see that someone is talking about this. I have seen this type of treatment with my own eyes and even have that hatred projected to me here in Canada. I was so shock by it all and still cannot believe that this is happening here in Canada.

I’m an Indian from a metro . People here are so delusional, they think the caste system is long gone. But the truth is that it’s rampant in the non urban parts of the country , which is the most part. Especially given the political leadership of current India, it’s only getting worse.

Important and urgent topic. It's about 3,000 years past due for a change. Brava for your fight and call to action!

She should have mentioned that caste is associated with surname, so it's not 'racially'-marked like it is in North America, although there is bigotry against darker-skinned people--especially women--and a preference for lighter or 'wheaten' complexions.

I love this show. The host is amazing 🤩🤩🤩

Caste is one thing, but every south asian I meet only hang out or marry or doing business with their community. So its just a huge downfall and continous plague of being competitive, merely judge on your creed than personality