As ‘The Caste Rush’ questions caste discrimination claims, Muslim and Dalit leaders condemn the film for whitewashing harsh realities, calling it a politically motivated attempt by RSS-linked groups to undermine centuries-old social injustices affecting India’s most vulnerable communities.
NEW DELHI — A new documentary titled The Caste Rush, produced by a US-based organisation with close ties to Hindutva ideologies, has reignited the fierce debate over caste discrimination in India. The film, promoted by groups affiliated with the BJP and RSS, controversially denies widespread caste inequality, sparking strong criticism from Indian social activists and minority leaders.
The documentary, produced by Indic Dialogue and backed by the Centre for Social Development (CSD), aims to challenge the global narrative on caste discrimination. It features interviews with temple priests from across India, suggesting that the reality of caste-based oppression has been distorted abroad and in media coverage.
However, the timing and background of the documentary raise serious concerns. Indic Dialogue was founded by Vijay Simha, a former RSS member, and the CSD is led by BJP spokesperson Rajkumar Falwaria, who openly dismisses the existence of caste as a social problem in India. Falwaria claims that caste is an “artificial narrative” invented to divide society and insists there is no racism in India comparable to Western countries.
Falwaria said, “There is no such thing as caste system in India. It is an artificial narrative that has been created to break the society. There is no racism in India like in Western countries. Now efforts are being made to establish this narrative globally, which we want to expose.”
Indian Muslim voices and Dalit rights groups have sharply rejected this stance. They argue that the documentary is part of a political agenda to downplay real and ongoing discrimination faced by millions in the country. Farhan Ahmed, a Delhi-based human rights activist, said, “Denying caste discrimination is dangerous. It ignores decades of evidence and the lived experiences of Dalits and Muslims who continue to face exclusion and violence daily.”
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, has consistently highlighted the marginalisation of lower caste groups and minorities. During a US visit in 2023, he stated, “90% of India’s population — OBCs, Dalits and Adivasis — have not been included in sports… These classes have no share in the top 200 companies of India. Their participation in the judiciary is also almost zero. The participation of lower castes in the media is also negligible.”
The documentary’s director, Nikhil Singh, an IIT alumnus, says his motivation came from media reports about caste discrimination in the United States, particularly involving the Swaminarayan temple in New Jersey. Singh claims the American media exaggerated these issues and that temples in India are more inclusive than often portrayed.
Singh said, “The way the American media was showing caste discrimination in India shocked me. It was claimed that Dalits build temples but they are not allowed entry. But our experiences were different from this. Not all priests are Brahmins, and many temples today have become more inclusive than before.”
Yet this perspective fails to account for systemic discrimination. The 2021 New Jersey Swaminarayan temple controversy revealed harsh working conditions targeting Dalit workers, echoing caste-based exploitation outside India. The US has also begun legislating against caste discrimination, with Seattle passing the first city law banning it in 2023, followed by a similar but vetoed bill in California. These measures reflect genuine concerns over caste bias, particularly within the Indian diaspora.
Muslim community leaders also warn that such documentaries fuel Hindutva’s attempts to suppress minority voices and social justice movements. Ayesha Malik, a social commentator in Hyderabad, stated, “This film tries to rewrite history and silence those fighting caste and religious discrimination. It’s a clear effort to whitewash the agenda of Hindu supremacist groups, which harms not just Dalits but Muslims and other minorities as well.”
Caste discrimination remains deeply entrenched in India’s social fabric, this debate shows no sign of abating. The release of The Caste Rush at a time when discussions on social justice and minority rights are intensifying reflects the ongoing struggle between voices seeking equality and those attempting to maintain divisive hierarchies.
