DSN UK Hosts Anti-Caste Briefing at House of Lords

18th November 2025

On 15 September 2025, DSN UK gathered a group of committed activists, scholars, and policymakers to address the urgent need to add caste as a separate protected category within the United Kingdom’s Equality Act 2010. The briefing was hosted by The Rt Rev. the Lord Harries of Pentregarth DD, a current member of the House of Lords.

Following an opening address from Mr Bala Gnanapragasam, Chair of DSN UK’s Board of Trustees, Warinder Juss MP shared a note on the anti-caste advocacy he is involved in as a Member of Parliament. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Thol Thirumavalavan, Leader and President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi in Tamil Nadu, India. Dr Thirumavalavan discussed the crucial connections between the fight against caste discrimination in India and the UK.

Rt Rev Dr Anderson Jeremiah from the Church of England provided a response to Dr Thirumavalavan’s address, highlighting the systemic means through which caste manifests in the UK, including in higher education and healthcare. Ms Santosh Dass MBE from the Anti-Caste Discrimination Alliance also shared a response, through which she emphasised the important work being done by anti-caste activists and collectives in the UK.

During the briefing, Dr Gowthama Sanna, Author and General Secretary, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, released his newest publications, People at Bay and Letters of Revolutionary, translated and compiled from Dr B R Ambedkar’s unpublished works.

Finally, Dr Asang Wankhede introduced the relaunched Everyday Casteism Project form, encouraging individuals to report their experiences of everyday caste discrimination in order to advocate for the inclusion of caste as a separate protected category within the Equality Act 2010. The briefing was followed by an energetic and lively discussion amongst those who joined the event.