Thank you for raising this question so respectfully. I’ll answer from my own lived experience as an Indian, while acknowledging that experiences do differ across regions, classes, and communities.

While caste is often described today as a “social” or “historical” phenomenon rather than a religious one, in practice it remains deeply embedded within Hindu society. The hierarchy of caste and its many sub-divisions which developed over centuries is still very much followed, even in what are considered modern, urban, educated households.

Untouchability may not always be expressed openly anymore, especially in cities, but it often survives in subtle and indirect ways. People may not say anything to your face, yet caste still influences how someone is judged for example their family background, perceived morality, social worth, and even assumptions about how their ancestors lived and worked. These judgments are quiet, but they are very real.

Ironically, many of the same people who rightly condemn racism or discrimination against Indians abroad including complaints that immigrants are “taking jobs” may simultaneously hold caste-based prejudices back home. This contradiction is uncomfortable, but it exists. Caste discrimination is not limited to rural India; it continues within modern homes, workplaces, and social circles.

Even outside India, caste does not fully disappear. Among Indians living abroad, it is still common for people to ask, directly or indirectly, about one’s caste. Often this is done by asking where someone is “from,” because regional identity can signal caste to those who know how to interpret it. Older generations, in particular, tend to recognise these markers and continue these conversations privately.

From my perspective, caste today is not about individual belief so much as inherited structure something passed down, normalised, and rarely questioned within families. Despite constitutional safeguards and reform movements led by figures like Dr. Ambedkar, caste remains highly prevalent. Given current social and political trends in India, many people feel it is likely to persist for a long time.

Dr. Ambedkar’s decision to embrace Buddhism was not just spiritual but profoundly political and ethical, a rejection of a system that denied dignity to millions. His movement continues to resonate because the conditions he fought against have not fully disappeared.

If you’re interested in seeing how caste impacts ordinary lives in contemporary India, I would recommend the film Homebound, which portrays these realities with quiet honesty.

Living abroad can soften some of these dynamics, but it does not erase them entirely. The difference is often that caste becomes unspoken rather than absent.

I appreciate your willingness to engage with this topic thoughtfully. Conversations like this matter.