SILENT STRUGGLE: CASTE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN EDUCATION

Written by: Shreeyanshi (3rd year) Department Of Applied Psychology

“Caste is a very important element of Indian society. As soon as a person is born, caste determines his or her destiny. We were determined to break free from the shackles of our caste identity and assert our worth as human beings".
                                                        -Omprakash Valmiki

India has had a social structure based on caste since time immemorial .In many fields including education, caste-based biases persist despite laws and affirmative action guidelines intended to prevent discrimination. Students from underprivileged areas and backgrounds experience fear and exclusion in the academic environment, a place that should be a temple for learning. Academic institutions, teachers, administration, and other students often turn a blind eye toward the presence of such biases, claiming that the caste of a student no longer matters. However this dismal not only overlooks caste but perpetuates caste biases which makes marginalized students even more vulnerable. Our ignorance of its prevalence might just be one of the things keeping it alive and even thriving.

UNDERSTANG CASTE: A SYSTEM OF CONTROL

“Caste is another name for control. Caste puts a limit on enjoyment. Caste does not allow a person to transgress caste limits in pursuit of his enjoyment. That is the meaning of such caste restrictions as inter-dining and inter-marriage.” 
		                      ― D.R. B.R. Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste

The caste system in India is a deeply ingrained social hierarchy that classifies people into four primary castes—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, along with thousands of sub-castes. Dalits, or "untouchables," exist outside this system and are victims of systemic discrimination and exclusion. Traditionally, caste determined one’s occupation, social status, and even personal relationships including restricting mobility across caste lines.

Caste discrimination is often dismissed as a relic of the past yet it remains pervasive. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 57,582 crimes against Scheduled Castes in 2022, a 13.1% increase from 2021. From inter-caste violence to social exclusion, caste-based oppression continues to shape lives, thriving on ignorance and denial.

CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Caste-based discrimination amongst students is practiced in many forms including segregation, harassment, ragging, humiliation, and violence. The result of such acts forces students to drop out or worse, commit acts of self-harm. In 2023, the Indian government accepted in the Parliament that in the span of five years, more than 19,000 students from marginalised communities had dropped out of central varsities and other elite public institutions, with many taking the step due to caste-based discrimination. A survey by TISS, Mumbai reported that 60% of Dalit students felt socially excluded in their college environment, leading to feelings of isolation and deteriorating mental health.

The financial stress is a cherry on top. According to a 2018 UGC report, only 10% of SC/ST students can afford private coaching for competitive exams, compared to 50% of general category students. While others casually discuss expensive coaching classes or unpaid internships, these students are forced to work side jobs, skip meals, and stretch every penny just to make it through the semester. This entire ordeal can exhaust a student both physically and mentally.

Caste-based discrimination takes a serious toll on students' mental health, sometimes with devastating consequences.

REPERCUSSIONS OF CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION

Studies have shown that lower-caste individuals have lower mental health than upper-caste individuals and report social isolation, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, withdrawal, and anger (Pal, 2015). Higher levels of depression have been found in individuals from lower castes and have the highest odds of hypertension compared to privileged upper caste members. In terms of life satisfaction, the castes at the top are more satisfied than the lower and middle castes (Fontaine & Yamada, 2014; Landeghem & Vandeplas, 2018).

The suicide rate of ST and SC students in reputed universities from IITs to government colleges has risen at a concerning rate. The Mooknayak publication spoke to a student associated with the student outlet Ambedkar Phule Periyar Study Circle; he said that if we extrapolate based on the number of suicides committed in IIT in the past few years, we can say that more than 50% of the students belong to the SC/ST category. In December 2021, the government told Lok Sabha that 122 students enrolled in higher educational institutes of the central government had committed suicide between 2014 and 2021, of which 24 belonged to the SC community, three were STs, and 41 were OBCs, meaning that more than 50% of the students belonged to marginalized communities.

REAL LIFE ACCOUNTS OF CASTE -BASED DISCRIMINATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Caste-based discrimination in Indian higher education institutions has led to several tragic incidents across the country. Despite strict anti-ragging laws and institutional guidelines, students from marginalized communities continue to face harassment, sometimes leading to severe consequences, including suicides.

One of the most well-known cases is that of Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, who died by suicide on January 17, 2016. Vemula and four other students were suspended, allegedly due to their involvement in the Ambedkar Students' Association and their activism on campus. His death sparked national outrage, leading to protests demanding justice and discussions on the systemic caste discrimination prevalent in academic institutions.

In Rajasthan, Delta Meghwal, a 17-year-old Dalit student at Jain Adarsh Teacher Training Institute for Girls in Nokha, was found dead in a water tank on March 29, 2016. Before her death, she had informed her father about being raped by a teacher, Vijendra Singh. The case highlighted serious institutional failures in protecting students from caste-based violence and discrimination.

A few years later, in Mumbai, Dr. Payal Tadvi, a 26-year-old resident doctor at BYL Nair Hospital, died by suicide on May 22, 2019. Dr. Tadvi, belonging to the Tadvi Bhil Muslim community, had faced persistent caste-based harassment and derogatory remarks from three senior colleagues. Her death resulted in legal action against the accused, sparking debates about casteism in medical institutions.

A similar incident occurred in Chennai when Fathima Latheef, a first-year student at IIT Madras, died by suicide in November 2019. Her family alleged that she faced religious and caste-based discrimination from faculty members, which contributed to her tragic decision. The incident led to protests and demands for an impartial investigation into the institute's environment.

These incidents account only to a few of the most discussed and reported cases from the large number of incidents that happened and still happening in the country. There are many such incidents which actually led to questioning the legal system of the country even. This clearly shows the never ending discrimination and dejection towards lower-caste sections of the society too, in general.

HEALING BEYOND POLICIES

While proper enforcement of laws and policies is crucial, it is not enough. The mental health of Dalit students needs to be addressed and action must be taken to minimize damage. Various modern therapeutic approaches like queer-affirmative therapy or art therapy are now being taught and practiced globally, so why is there still a lack of caste-affirmative therapy? Divya Kandukuri, the co-founder of The Blue Dawn, a supportive group that facilitates affordable mental healthcare for Bahujan individuals, stated that Indian therapists are often ignorant of the impact of generational caste-related trauma and socio-political conditions.

The Multicultural Orientation Model is a framework presented by Davis in 2018 that talks about how upper-caste therapists should be aware of their own casteist biases and blind spots, acknowledge them, and work on them actively. Cultural humility should be practiced by a psychologist who is conscious of their ‘upper-caste-ness’. Cultural comfort is an important part of the MCO framework where upper-caste therapists are aware of their internal response to the presence of lower-caste clients or conversations initiated around caste discrimination in therapy.

Caste-based trauma is not just a statistic—it’s a lived reality for countless students who struggle with exclusion, self-doubt, and isolation. Mental health support cannot be one-size-fits-all; it must recognize the deep scars of caste discrimination. Caste-affirming therapy isn’t just an academic concept, it’s a necessity. As young psychologists and educators, we have a duty to create spaces where every student feels seen, heard, and supported. Healing begins when we stop dismissing caste as a relic of the past and start acknowledging its present-day impact. It is high time the institutions take note of dear matters regarding establishing caste-free environments for the learners. Only then can he be assured that no student has to plead for his or her right to an inclusive environment.

REFERENCES

Ahmed, S. (2017, March 29). A year after Delta Meghwal's death, family 'allergic' to education. Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/a-year-after-delta-meghwal-s-death-family- allergic-to education/story-UU1c2S7YGI9Kw61EXkUScJ.html

Fontaine, P., & Yamada, K. (2014). Caste, well-being, and life satisfaction: A comparative study of social hierarchy and mental health in India. Social Indicators Research, 118(3), 981-1005.

Government of India. (2023). Student dropouts in central universities and elite public institutions over five years. Ministry of Education. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:81dd0298-1936-40c6-8687-d0a973a40425

Government of India. (2021, December). Suicide statistics in central government educational institutions (2014–2021). Lok Sabha.

Landeghem, B. V., & Vandeplas, A. (2018). Caste and psychological distress: Evidence from India. World Development, 110, 289-303.

National Crime Records Bureau. (2022). Crime in India 2022. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/library/resource/crime-in-india-2022-volume-ii/

Pal, M. (2015). Caste and mental health: The role of social exclusion and psychological distress. Indian Journal of Social Psychology, 25(2), 114-126. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0971333615593446

Rohith Vemula - an unfinished portrait. (n.d.). Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/rohith-vemula-an-unfinished-portrait/

Written by: Shreeyanshi

Reviwed by:

Kaashvi Magan (Deputy Senior Content Team Coordinator)

Patmateertha (Associate Editor)

Mansha Kapoor (Junior Content Team Coordinator)

Vasudha Sharma ( Deputy Junior Content Team Coordinator)