Our guest for this episode, Complexities of South Asian Identity and Politics, is Prachi Patanker. Our conversation with Prachi gives us an opportunity to extend our discussion about an allied community, South Asians. Previously, we recorded our first episode of getting to know Asian allies. Today, there are two South Asians running for the Republican nomination for president. And, in the UK, Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman are in the ultimate positions of power. But, they are clearly not allies to marginalized communities. This is a good time to get some greater understanding of why these brown people are representing platforms that are hostile to us.
Prachi describes herself as an anti-caste, feminist activist and writer. Born in rural India by a freedom-fighter grandmother and parents deeply involved in anti-caste, feminist, and peasant movement. She’s been an activist, educator, grantmaker, and writer involved in social justice movements. Her work links local and the global issues. For example: police brutality and war; migration and marginalization; race and caste; feminism and global gender justice. She’s worked with organizations such as Afghan’s Women’s Mission, CAAAV (an anti-Asian violence organization) and the Palestine Education Project. She believes in intersectional and international visions and strategies. And that these strategies will resonate across Dalit rights and many domestic movements like #BLM.
In this episode Prachi explains the caste South Asian caste system and talks about its relationship to supremacist ideology. Understanding the caste system helps explain why some brown Asians feel comfortable representing hard core right ideology. It is a fascinating discussion. At the end she gives some insight into how South Asians and African Americans can work together to counter the the regressive and oppressive policies represented by those brown people who are NOT our allies.