Awards-winning Instagram singer and activist Chinmayi Sripada made some important contributions to discussions around caste-based discrimination with her recent candid testimonial about her own experiences. The statement where Chinmayi Sripada speaks out on the long-standing plight of people belonging to marginalised communities, emphasizing an endemic problem that tends to be overlooked.

Chinmayi Sripada Speaks Out

For the first time when she was growing up, she was discriminated against on grounds of caste. When she was brought to a temple in her own village by escort. She would recall how she used to get refused prasad by the pujari face-to-face. Because she happened to be in a Scheduled Tribe, an episode which had permanently imprinted a mark on her life. This is a reflection of the overall tendency towards prejudiced thought on the basis of caste even by temples, which are places of spirituality and equality.

Overcoming Prejudice in Education

Her struggle persisted until college days when lecturers would indulge in insulting comments on reservations. Chinmayi remembered how “people use reservation and sit on our heads” type comments were directed against her, spreading ill stories linking social justice movements with privilege misuse. Such prejudice, she lamented, inflicted a colossus-sized damage on her state of mind and sense of belongingness.

A Harsh Comparison

In her powerful speech, Chinmayi equated terror with caste discrimination and brought to the center its crippling effect on the mind. She argued that religious extremism receives attention but caste domination in a subtle manner inflicts as much harm, destroying people’s ego and reinforcing structural discrimination.

Shortage of Representation in Cinema

Chinmayi also criticized the lack of caste-based movies in Indian cinema. The industry never shied away from taking up social causes earlier but caste discrimination-based films are very rare. She stated that though movies sometimes take up religion and conflict as their respective backdrops. The psychological and emotional weight of living in the shadow of caste is never brought up, thus missing a vital debate.

A Plea to Challenge the Status Quo

Headlined “Truth that we refuse to acknowledge or question,” Chinmayi called upon society to accept these bitter realities. Her assertion is a call for the immediacy of inclusivity, empathy. And systemic transformation to put the caste hierarchies on hold.

Chinmayi’s throws light on the need to combat casteist discrimination. At a personal level through such narratives and through increased awareness generation through education, media, and policy formulation. It’s time we hear, see, and do something about it.

ALSO READ: Chinmayi Sripaada Calls Out Kapil Sharma for Racist Remarks on Atlee

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