Sanjana Choudhary, a 23-year-old scholar from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, arrived at Oxford University with hopes of leaving caste prejudice behind. Having secured a prestigious open-merit scholarship for a master's degree in South Asian History, she believed elite international institutions would offer an equal playing field. However, her experience at Oxford revealed that caste discrimination follows Indian students across international borders. Instead of finding complete academic freedom, she experienced social exclusion once her caste identity became known to dominant-caste peers.

What Happened?

Sanjana grew up on the periphery of Bhopal, where her family struggled for generations against deep-rooted social inequalities. During her undergraduate studies at Delhi University, she encountered systemic invisibilisation, where her academic merit was frequently questioned and dismissed by peers who attributed her presence solely to affirmative action quotas. To combat this hostility, Sanjana turned to the anti-caste writings of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, reclaiming her identity and rights. Her hard work eventually earned her a fully funded open-merit scholarship to Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

At Oxford, Sanjana expected a fresh start away from the social divisions of home. However, she soon noticed that many dominant-caste Indian students at the university came from families with generations of socioeconomic capital. When she shared her Dalit background, the social behavior of her peers changed noticeably, leading to alienation within mainstream Indian student groups. To build a safe community, Sanjana connected with other Dalit scholars and co-convened the Oxford South Asia Ambedkar Forum, a student-led initiative aimed at raising awareness about anti-caste struggles, providing support to marginalized students, and advocating for caste to be included under U.K. anti-discrimination laws.

This struggle is not isolated to foreign universities but reflects a deep-rooted issue back in India. Recently, the tragic death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay who was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, ignited intense public debate. Sahil's family alleged that he suffered severe caste-based harassment, while institutional voices often dismiss such claims as mere academic stress. These contrasting narratives show the stark reality Dalit students face, where discrimination remains a constant shadow throughout their academic journeys.

Key Highlights

Sanjana Choudhary, a 23-year-old Dalit scholar from Bhopal, earned an open-merit scholarship to pursue South Asian History at Oxford University.
Despite moving abroad, Sanjana experienced social exclusion from upper-caste Indian peers after disclosing her Dalit identity.
At Delhi University, she faced caste bias where peers dismissed her academic performance and reduced her identity to reservation quotas.
Sanjana co-convened the Oxford South Asia Ambedkar Forum to support marginalized students and advocate for U.K. anti-discrimination law changes.
Upper-caste Indian families have built decades of socioeconomic capital abroad, which often perpetuates traditional caste hierarchies on foreign campuses.
The recent death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode highlights ongoing allegations of caste-based harassment in top Indian educational institutes.

Why Does This Matter?

This issue matters because higher education should be a safe space where talent and hard work determine success, rather than social background. When students from marginalized communities suffer discrimination in top institutions like Oxford and IIT Bombay, it shows that global migration and academic success do not automatically erase centuries-old social biases. Understanding these struggles helps public institutions create better support networks, legal protections, and inclusive campus policies for all students.

Furthermore, acknowledging caste discrimination in international spaces encourages global universities to update their anti-discrimination policies. By recognizing caste as a protected category under equality laws, foreign universities can ensure equal treatment for students from the South Asian diaspora. Protecting marginalized students allows them to focus on their education without fear of isolation or prejudice.