Fresno doctor: I’m on a hunger strike until California ends caste discrimination | Opinion

As a doctor and father of two wonderful girls, I write to encourage Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign Senate Bill 403, the civil rights bill to end caste discrimination in California. Authored by Sen. Aisha Wahab, SB 403 is an important milestone that clarifies and makes explicit that caste-oppressed families like mine are protected from caste violence, and deters those that would discriminate on the basis of caste.

Caste systems exist globally and often utilize social categorization systems on the basis of inherited status. Caste discrimination occurs across industries, technology, education, domestic work, medicine and more. Caste discrimination includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination and hate crimes. Caste hierarchies are found throughout the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. This is why the UN Convention on Racism and Discrimination recognizes caste as a form of racial discrimination.

This bill is an opportunity to explore and treat the mental trauma of caste, and most importantly an opportunity to heal. That is why I have been hunger striking since Sept. 5 until Newsom signs SB 403. Fasting as a cultural tradition is rooted in healing, and through this hunger strike I hope to inspire my community to reach across the long-standing divide that caste has created and start anew.

Opinion

I have seen professionals at all levels of medicine suffer from caste. I am a Dalit. In India, Dalits are in the very lowest rank of Hindu society and are subject to extraordinary discrimination and marginalization. Some of my experiences as a Dalit doctor include people commenting about my competence because I am a caste oppressed. These same folks also diminish the impact of caste and shame anyone who received caste-based affirmative action in our homelands.

I am proud to serve my patients as my experiences of caste are a foundation of empathy for patients of all backgrounds. I don’t think anyone should be attacked for having availed themselves of affirmative action, and I am disgusted when our opponents attack me or celebrate the end of affirmative action in the U.S. out of sheer bigotry.

I have heard of other horror stories from nurses and home health care aides who are turned away from patients. They do not want to receive care from a Dalit because they are worried about being “polluted.” Some workers have even lost their jobs as a result.

Caste discrimination contributes to hostile workplaces in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Caste discrimination is not limited to medical staff, as patients have shared heartbreaking stories of being inappropriately asked their caste and facing discriminatory comments throughout the arc of the care. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for patients to endure such treatment.

As a health care professional treating sick patients, my focus is to also address the psycho-social consequences emanating from the underlying disease process. Similarly, communities impacted by caste suffer from historical trauma that has divided and harmed us. SB 403 does not divide the community, discrimination divides us.

I joined this movement because of my two daughters. I don’t want my kids to be exposed to caste discrimination or bullying at school. I am haunted by the testimonies from our coalition by children who have been bullied in California schools. I worry at night what might happen to them if we don’t stop the scourge of caste discrimination. As a father, I want to do everything I can to make sure California schools and institutions are safe from caste, and this bill gives me and my family hope.

I strongly urge Newsom to support this Civil Rights bill. We need safe workplaces, housing and educational institutions. Let’s stand on the right side of history.

Dr. Nirmal Singh is founder of the California Coalition for Caste Equity. He is a proud community member of the Sri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara in Fresno and a part of the largest Dalit community in California.