CasteFiles celebrates and applauds Rutgers University's mature and well-thought-through decision to reject the addition of caste as a protected category under its anti-discrimination policies. This decision underscores Rutgers' commitment to maintaining a balanced, inclusive environment while adhering to the principles of fairness outlined in Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
CasteFiles has been at the forefront of advocacy, legal challenges, and academic analysis against the inclusion of caste in university policies across the United States. We believe this decision reflects the effectiveness of our persistent efforts in protecting students and faculty from divisive and potentially discriminatory categorizations.
In a statement, Richa Gautam, Founder of CasteFiles, said:
“The uphill battle against caste policy has been a lesson in achieving moral victories. We have always stood firmly against discrimination, but adding caste as a policy category amounts to profiling Indian American students—a move that is unacceptable in the USA. I am glad to see Rutgers University acknowledge this and affirm that caste is already covered under existing laws. Adding caste as a separate category would only harm students through unnecessary and discriminatory profiling.”
Gautam also urged caution regarding future university practices, stating:
“I strongly urge Rutgers to avoid including ambiguous and divisive terms like caste in DEI surveys. Such surveys inherently profile individuals and can lead to discriminatory outcomes. We have successfully stopped similar caste surveys at other universities and will remain vigilant in countering any such attempts at Rutgers.”
Abhijit Bagal, Legal Director at CasteFiles, praised Rutgers’ decision while addressing concerns:
“In our legal notice and press interviews, we highlighted the critical issue of Prof. Audrey Truschke’s shifting and inconsistent definitions of caste. Unfortunately, instead of addressing our valid concerns, we have been unfairly labeled as a ‘far-right group.’ Let me clarify—CasteFiles is not a political entity. We are a policy think tank dedicated to challenging discriminatory and harmful policies, and we will continue to advocate for fairness and equity.”
Rutgers’ Position on Caste
In its statement, Rutgers University clarified:
“After careful review, the university has determined that current university policy and protected class categories provide protections against caste discrimination. Because caste is already covered by the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment, the university will not be taking steps to amend this policy at this time.”
Rutgers' policy interprets caste as already being encompassed within existing protected classes such as religion, ancestry, national origin, and race. This comprehensive approach ensures protections for all individuals without introducing redundant or ideologically biased classifications.
Concerns with Caste as a Framework
CasteFiles strongly believes that caste is a sensitive and divisive topic, particularly for Indian Americans and the broader South Asian community. Its inclusion as a standalone category in university policies perpetuates colonial frameworks and impedes post-colonial and decolonial discourse. Furthermore, caste-based surveys, as demonstrated by flawed studies like those by Equality Labs, are prone to unscientific methodologies, leading questions, and biased conclusions.
CasteFiles calls upon Rutgers to assess the discriminatory implications of caste surveys, which may contravene Title VI by targeting specific ethnic and religious groups. Surveys conducted under the guise of diversity and inclusion must be scrutinized for their fairness and adherence to civil rights protections.
CasteFiles’ Concerns Regarding the Rutgers Caste Task Force
We express concern over the composition and conduct of the Rutgers Caste Task Force, chaired by Prof. Audrey Truschke, whose work has faced criticism for its ideological bias. Prof. Truschke has inconsistently defined caste as both a Hindu religious construct and a generic, all-encompassing term. This ambiguity fosters legal and academic challenges and unfairly stereotypes Indian and Hindu Americans.
Additionally, Rutgers has not sufficiently incorporated findings from its own Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), which has demonstrated the harmful psychological impacts of DEI workshops and caste surveys modeled on the Equality Labs framework. The lack of engagement with NCRI experts during the Task Force’s deliberations raises serious questions about the objectivity and inclusivity of the policy-making process.