Rutgers report claims caste discrimination on campus but lacks data

A recent report by a task force at Rutgers University recommended adding “caste” as a protected category under the university’s discrimination policy. The report titled — Caste-based discrimination in US higher education and at Rutgers — was prepared by the task force co-chaired by a professor Audrey Truschke. The report relies on five anecdotal testimonies rather than substantial evidence.

Audrey Truschke has also written some books including, Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth, The Ramayana of Hamida Banu Begum, Queen Mother of Mughal India, Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India’s Most Controversial King.

Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, is one of America’s leading public research universities.

The report claims that “discrimination based on caste” is widespread on campus, affecting students, faculty, and staff.

The report cited five personal testimonies, including instances where students experienced discrimination due to their caste.

For example, one student mentioned facing bias after revealing his Brahmin identity in class, while another Dalit student recounted being advised by her family not to disclose her caste at the university.

“In class discussion, a student stated that they were Brahmin and that their parents would never let them marry a Dalit,” according to the report.

An undergrad student who “identifies as chamar” was told by her family that “it is better not to tell people what caste I belong to”, the report stated.

Despite these examples, the task force acknowledged a lack of systematic data supporting widespread caste discrimination on campus.

The report admitted that the Office of Employment Equity (OEE) had reviewed no specific complaints related to caste discrimination.

“A review of OEE’s records showed no complaints that pertained to caste specifically. This absence of data is inconsistent with the “Testimonies about casteism and caste-based discrimination at Rutgers”. This underscores the report’s recommendations to enhance Rutgers policies against caste-based discrimination and provide education to all members of the Rutgers community on the harms of casteism,” the report stated.

CRITICISM OVER LACK OF EVIDENCE ON CASTE BIAS

The report’s heavy reliance on anecdotal testimonies rather than concrete evidence has drawn significant criticism.

Many have questioned the objectivity of the report, particularly due to the involvement of Audrey Truschke, a professor with a history of controversial views on Hinduism.

This involvement has raised concerns about the potential ideological bias behind the report.

“A university task force (which Professor Truschke co-chaired), has released a report ominously titled “Caste Based Discrimination in US Higher Education at Rutgers”. To cut to the chase, like every report of its kind, this one is a breathless denouement of a problem for which there is no evidence,” CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) wrote on X.

“As the report admits (although buried on page 20), there is no systematic data. We will say that again for those who wish to save time -NO SYSTEMATIC DATA, just some personal anecdotes on varying issues,” the post added.

COMPARISON TO CALIFORNIA’S SB-403 LEGISLATION

The Rutgers report follows California’s SB403 legislation, which aimed to add caste as a protected category under state law.

However, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill, saying existing laws already cover discrimination, including caste, under broader categories like race, religion, and national origin.

With SB-403’s failure, some believe the Rutgers task force is pushing the same narrative at the university, despite a lack of strong evidence.

The report’s call for policy changes, despite admitting limited data, has raised concerns that the issue of caste discrimination is being overstated for ideological reasons.

“We predicted after the SB-403 veto – the “caste” warriors would be back… And, as expected our favourite serial prevaricator, “Prof” Audrey Truschke is at it- pushing out her latest salvo to her echo chamber of devotees. Currently she is pretending that she had nothing to do with this and is tweeting out some “third-party” work, so we thought we’d share this with the real world,” CoHNA posted on X.