2. The Inequality of Heat

Sudharshana, 19, a Dalit woman and farm labourer toiling the land in over 50 degrees celsius (122 degrees fahrenheit) temperatures, protects herself from the scorching heat in India that kills hundreds every year. The winter gloves act as a reminder that we fail to provide our own “low caste” communities with safety gears, or early warning signals, because some lives (especially those of the “untouchable” women) are more disposable than others.

In South Asian academia, where the discussions on environmental sustainability echo, there exists a curious reluctance—a hesitancy to peel back the layers of complexity and acknowledge the stark reality of caste dynamics. Perhaps it stems from discomfort, a fear of stirring the hornet’s nest of social hierarchy, or a misconception that environmentalism is a neutral ground untouched by the tendrils of caste and indigeneity.

However, as we delve into the depths of environmental issues plaguing the Indian subcontinent, it becomes increasingly evident that omitting the discourse on caste is akin to trying to understand a puzzle with a crucial piece missing.

Caste, deeply entrenched in the social fabric of India for centuries, is not merely a relic of the past but a living, breathing entity that permeates every aspect of society, including its environmental landscape. From access to resources to patterns of land use, caste influences every step of the environmental journey, often silently dictating who benefits and who bears the brunt of ecological degradation. To truly unravel the complexities of environmental challenges in India, we must confront this reluctance head-on.