Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Barnie Choudhury: 'Time to end racism of caste system in Britain'

by BARNIE CHOUDHURY

Former BBC journalist


WHEN my father died 19 years ago, I was in a shop buying a traditional white Punjabi kurta. My face and name were known at the time because, as a BBC correspondent, I was on TV most evenings reporting on issues affecting our communities.

On this occasion, I wished I was not so prominent because when I asked for help from a shop assistant, I could see her confusion.

“But you’re a Muslim,” she stammered. With a surname like Choudhury it is easy to make this mistake, and usually I do not pay any attention. But this time, and perhaps it was be-

cause of my sadness, I reacted. “No, I’ve been a Brahmin all my life, and you’ll know that as a son I have certain rituals I need to perform.”

The moment the words left my mouth I regretted them because I saw the assistant visibly shrink, and she excused herself. The next moment the owner arrived and was profusely

apologetic. It was now my turn to be confused. Why was he apologising? Then it struck me – they assumed that they had insulted me by thinking I was a Muslim, and as the ‘business caste’ they felt they had offended my ‘priestly sensitivities’ It was then that I realised the pernicious Hindu caste system was alive and well in Britain.

I left the store and went elsewhere. The insult for me was that because of my birth I was

being treated differently, albeit more respectfully, when my core belief is that everyone is equal regardless of their race, colour or creed.

I did not realise how much this episode had affected me until I watched a fascinating

BBC programme Hindus: Do we have a caste problem? last week. The reporter, YouTuber Parle Patel, explored whether the caste system existed here and, if so, the impact it was having on the 817,000-plus followers of the religion.

Anyone watching would have discovered that a surname can identify a person’s status in Hindu society. My antecedents, for example, would let you know that not only am I a Brahmin, but I am descended from a sub-caste from the highest echelon. In his case, Patel explained that his surname lets us know he is from the farmer or merchant class.

But it was his visit to Leicester which confirmed my worst fears. Patel met some Hindus

from a low caste and heard about their experiences of negative discrimination. What

made this programme disturbing is the smugness of the National Council of Hindu Temples, which rejected the notion of a problem with the caste system in the UK. Its spokesman

quite rightly asked if there was a problem, why have they never come to the council?

Let me explain why. Like most religious organisations, the council does not represent every Hindu in the UK, no matter how much it wants to pretend otherwise to politicians who

fawn to get its support. Second, why should low-caste Hindus have faith in the council

when it was instrumental in stopping plans to outlaw the caste system in the UK? According to academic Prakash Shah, in 2013, parliament inserted a clause against caste discrimination into the Equality Act 2010. But after a two-year consultation, the plans were shelved in 2018. The council was among the opponents who accused campaigners of having a ‘Hinduphobic’ agenda.

No. No. No. The caste system thrives sub-rosa. Ask those who live in fear of being shunned, refused work or treated with contempt every day of their lives. And for those who want proof, think back to the case of Permila Tirkey, from Bihar in India. She was paid as little as 11p an hour, forced to work 18-hour days and prevented from bringing her Bible into the UK by her employers. In 2015, the courts awarded her £184,000 compensation

in what was considered to be the UK’s first caste discrimination case.

Hindus need to acknowledge that this form of racism is happening under their noses.

If we continue to deny its existence, we actively promote injustice. We remain a society where the conspiracy of silence suits those who benefit from the virtue of their birth to the detriment of the majority. In doing this, it shames us.

More For You

Showing up with purpose: Lessons in leadership and legacy

Leadership and legacy are not separate tracks

iStock

Showing up with purpose: Lessons in leadership and legacy

Hatul Shah

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Circles of Connections event hosted by the Society of Jainism and Entrepreneurship at Imperial College London. The event was organised by Yash Shah and Hrutika S., and generously sponsored by Koolesh Shah and the London Town Group, with support from Nikhil Shah, Priyanka Mehta, and Ambika Mehta.

The experience reminded me that leadership isn’t just about vision or results — it’s about how you show up, and why you do what you do.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aspirations ignited following Leicester schools Parliament visit

Aspirations ignited following Leicester schools Parliament visit

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL

Delighted to pause and look back on a pioneering partnership project, which saw our Randal Charitable Foundation, Leicestershire Police and the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) support pupils, from 5 Leicester schools, tour London and the Houses of Parliament with the aim to help raise aspirations and demonstrate possible future career paths.

With more young people than ever struggling to stay in education, find employment and track down career opportunities, I’ve reflected on the importance of collaborations like this one, which model just one way in that small interventions could reap rewards in the life course of youngsters.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chelsea Flower Show highlights Royal-inspired roses and eco-friendly innovation

King Charles III, patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, walks through the RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden during a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea on May 20, 2025 in London, England.

Getty Images

Chelsea Flower Show highlights Royal-inspired roses and eco-friendly innovation

Rashmita Solanki

This particular year at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, there have been two members of the Royal Family who have had roses named after them.

‘The King’s Rose’, named after King Charles III, and ‘Catherine’s Rose’, named after Catherine, Princess of Wales. Both roses have been grown by two of the most well-known rose growers in the United Kingdom.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Going Dutch may be a solution to get the UK’s jobless into work’

The growing number of working-age adults not in jobs places a huge financial burden on Britain, according to recent reports

‘Going Dutch may be a solution to get the UK’s jobless into work’

Dr Nik Kotecha

ECONOMIC inactivity is a major obstacle to the UK’s productivity and competitiveness.

As a business owner and employer with over 30 years of experience, I have seen firsthand how this challenge has intensified as the economically inactive population approaches 10 million nationally - almost one million more than pre-pandemic.

Keep ReadingShow less
Understanding the Hindu Psyche: Averse to Confrontation?

Artistic depiction of Arjuna and Krishna with the chariot

Is Hindu psyche averse to confrontation?

Nitin Mehta

Over 5,000 years ago, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, two armies comprising tens of thousands of men were ready to begin a war. The Pandavs were led by Arjuna, a warrior whose archery skills were unbeatable. At the last minute, before the war was to commence, Arjuna put down his weapons and declared to Krishna his decision not to fight. He reasoned that the war would kill tens of thousands of people all for a kingdom. It took the whole of the Bhagavad Gita to convince Arjuna to fight.

Even after Krishna destroyed all his doubts, Arjuna asked to see Krishna in his form as a supreme God. In short, Arjuna wanted to avoid confrontation at any cost.

Keep ReadingShow less