Talking to ... Suraj Yengde

If the term Caste has recently entered the Human Sciences, this
may be taken as evidence that European-style universalism has
lost its appeal, and even as evidence that the idea has spread
that here we’re dealing with an injustice that’s only been
cloaked in a human, universalistic guise. When Indian theorist
B.R. Ambedkar, ranked as the greatest Indian after Mahatma Gandhi
in surveys, described the Indian caste system as »unknown to
humanity in other parts of the world,« this finding becomes even
more puzzling. This observation has given us the opportunity to
speak with Suraj Yengde, who has not only addressed the caste
system in two books but also experienced it firsthand as a member
of the untouchable Dalit community—despite its prohibition under
Indian law. Making this conversation even more interesting is his
critical stance towards today’s culture of outrage, identifying
Victim Olympics as a discipline that downplays or denies actual
discrimination for its own benefit.


Suraj Yengde received the 2019 Canadian Dr. Ambedkar Social
Justice Award and is a fellow at Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du
Bois Center, where he teaches and serves as a research associate
in its Department of African and African American Studies. He was
named one of the 25 Most Influential Young Indians of 2021 by GQ
India.


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