Recently, I came across a news item about a politician in British Columbia pushing for legislation to make discrimination based on caste illegal in Canada and to add caste as an official form of discrimination. This really got me thinking about all the different initiatives we see across Canada and the United States, all aimed at promoting equity. While I have mixed feelings about both the need and the intent of something like this in Canada—especially when we have more complex and urgent issues clamoring for our collective attention, coupled with a cultural and social context that is often not well understood—I have to give credit where it’s due. These efforts are shining a light on the need to ensure that no two people are treated differently based on their identity. The social justice movement has rightly brought attention to the fact that every human being deserves equitable access to opportunities, resources, growth, respect, dignity, food security, and the ability to unleash their potential.

However, there’s a glaring omission in these conversations. No one seems to be talking about the inequities created by money. The recent case of WestJet announcing its ultra-basic fare really drove this point home for me. It highlighted the biggest class and caste barrier in contemporary society: economic inequality. The dollar, I would contend, is your modern-day ticket to a higher class and caste. It is the modern caste, so blatant in its exclusionary power but so tolerated.

Let’s take a more detailed look at the experience of air travel. From the moment you check in, the disparities begin. If you have the means, you can skip the long lines with priority check-in. You are formally told you belong to a different, if not inferior, class. Without the extra cash, you must wait in the queue. Once through security, the experience diverges even more. Premium passengers relax in luxury lounges, enjoying complimentary food and drinks, high-speed internet, and comfortable seating. Meanwhile, those flying economy are left to find a seat in crowded terminals, paying for overpriced food and struggling with unreliable Wi-Fi. Boarding is another moment where economic status is on full display. First-class passengers board first, often through a separate jet bridge, ensuring they avoid the crowd. Economy passengers, on the other hand, wait until last, shuffling through the plane to find their seats. Onboard, the divide continues to be stark. First-class cabins boast spacious seats that recline into beds, gourmet meals, and personalized service. In economy, passengers are crammed into narrow seats with limited legroom, receiving basic meals that pale in comparison.

Every step of the travel experience is stratified based on how much money you can spend. Those who can afford to pay more enjoy a vastly different experience compared to those who fly economy—an experience that is often disdainfully referred to in India as the “cattle class.” This, to me, is a modern-day caste system, driven by access to money. What’s striking is how we’ve come to accept these restrictions as normal, rarely questioning the fairness of a system that privileges the wealthy so blatantly.

Think about it. Money, much like traditional caste systems, often isn’t something people earn solely through hard work. It’s frequently inherited, passed down from one generation to another, perpetuating economic divides. This inheritance of wealth creates a barrier similar to caste, where being born into a wealthy family grants you access to better education, healthcare, and opportunities—advantages that are largely out of reach for those from less affluent backgrounds; advantages that these modern western social crusaders contend to have such a huge issue with only when it comes to their judgments about the Hindu caste system.

This dynamic, and the associated inequity, is evident in so many other aspects of life. Money affords access to exclusive experiences and services that are unattainable for the economically disadvantaged. For example, elite educational institutions, which often serve as gatekeepers to high-paying jobs, require significant financial investment. Similarly, in many countries, the quality of healthcare you receive is directly tied to your economic status, with those who can afford private healthcare enjoying better services and outcomes. Ironically, and rightfully, the examples often quoted to highlight the experiences of the lower castes to explain the humongous challenges introduced by caste are almost always an exact replication of the above quoted instances.

As a society, we moved away from hereditary kings and queens for a reason. They represented a class where power and privilege came from birth. But now, it seems we’ve just replaced them with new-age royalty: the wealthy, the famous, the glamorous, and the glitzy. These modern-day Maharajas and Maharanis step out from their palaces and exclusive abodes to briefly engage with the rest of us, only to remind us that their endorsements and appearances hold significance. At the end of the day, money is the bond and the bridge, and that’s about it.

The promise of meritocracy—that anyone can rise to the top through hard work—is undermined by these structural barriers. The wealthy can leverage their resources to maintain their status, while the economically disadvantaged struggle to break free from the cycle of poverty. This lack of social mobility mirrors the rigidity of traditional caste systems, where one’s social standing is predetermined by birth.

Despite the pervasiveness of this economic inequality, it remains under-discussed in our social justice discourses. The focus is often on more visible forms of discrimination, such as race, gender, and sexuality, because these can yield quicker, more tangible results for affected groups. Long-term strategies to tackle economic inequality require sustained effort and systemic change, which can be politically challenging.

So, one may ask, what can we do about this modern caste system? Here are some humble ideas from my end:

• Progressive Taxation: We need tax policies that ensure the wealthy contribute a fair share to society. This can help redistribute wealth and fund public services.
• Universal Basic Services: Providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and housing as universal rights can reduce dependency on individual financial capacity.
• Living Wage Policies: Ensuring that all workers earn a living wage can help reduce income inequality and provide everyone with a basic standard of living.

Economic inequality acts as a modern caste system, creating significant barriers to equitable access to resources and opportunities. While it’s crucial to address all forms of discrimination, a more focused effort on economic justice is essential to create a more equitable society. We need to raise awareness and advocate for policies that reduce economic disparities, mitigating the deeply entrenched advantages that money confers.

Let’s broaden our conversation to include economic justice. Only by addressing the inequities created by money can we hope to achieve true equity and ensure everyone, regardless of their financial status, has the chance to thrive. The conversation around social justice is incomplete without addressing economic inequality. This modern caste system affects millions and perpetuates a cycle of privilege and disadvantage. By recognizing and tackling this issue head-on, we can work towards a more just and equitable society for all.

Together, let’s strive for a future where financial status does not dictate one’s opportunities or quality of life. Let’s champion economic justice and ensure that everyone, regardless of their economic background, has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. While this blog is not intended to detract from the very real and pressing issues of caste-based divisions and discrimination within the South Asian community, my intent is to ensure that we bring the same focus and energy to addressing the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots that stems from economic inequality. I would also humbly question the rationale behind the thought that the Hindu society somehow cannot be trusted with its own ability to bring through the necessary social reform. If not that understanding, I would atleast request that the Western society not go about these proposed changes with the indignation and ridicule that is so openly on display – especially considering that it is so smug, snug and comfortable in its own casteist reality.

#SocialJustice #EconomicInequality #Equity #EconomicJustice #InclusiveGrowth #SocialChange