"Castelessness Only An Upper Caste Privilege": Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
NDTV
"Members of the lower caste have to hold on to their caste identity to avail the protection of laws such as reservation," he said.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud today highlighted the need for ending caste discrimination and said that we must use the ideas of Dr. B.R Ambedkar to transform society. "The process of othering and exclusion must be put an end to," he said, adding that privileged members of society must "break free from the shackles of the past" and confer recognition and respect to members of marginalised communities.
Highlighting the stigma attached to a marginalised caste identity, he said that while the professional achievements of upper caste individuals are enough to wash away their caste identity, it will never be true for a lower caste individual.
Justice Chandrachud made these remarks while delivering the 13th B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture on "Conceptualising Marginalisation: Agency, Assertion, and Personhood". The event was organised by the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi & Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung South Asia.
Castelessness is a privilege that only the upper caste can afford, he said about not letting caste define one's identity. "Members of the lower caste have to hold on to their caste identity to avail the protection of laws such as reservation," he said.
