<div><font color="Navy">August 18, 2011
Special to the Tribune
Indian couple in UK alleges caste discrimination
Shyam Bhatia in London
The UK society has learned to its dismay this week that there is a darker side to the Indian connection that surpasses the stories of holidays in Kerala, tigers, Bollywood and joyful investors prepared to pour buckets of money into ailing British companies.
In the first-ever case of its kind, a young Indian-origin couple has testified before an employment tribunal in Birmingham about how they were allegedly discriminated against on caste grounds before they resigned or were dismissed from their jobs.
Their former employers, Heer Manak, a group of mostly Indian-origin solicitors based in the city of Coventry, are understood to regard the allegations as outrageous.
Whatever the final outcome of the employment tribunal hearing, there is no denying the dented image of India as a progressive society where all are deemed equal, regardless of race, religion, gender or any personal factor.
Amardeep Begraj, 33-year-old Sikh Jat woman, told the tribunal that her employers tried to discourage her from marrying the love of her life, Vijay, a practice manager at the same company because he was a Dalit.
In her testimony, Amardeep is quoted as telling how one of her senior colleagues warned of future difficulties.
More...
Special to the Tribune
Indian couple in UK alleges caste discrimination
Shyam Bhatia in London
The UK society has learned to its dismay this week that there is a darker side to the Indian connection that surpasses the stories of holidays in Kerala, tigers, Bollywood and joyful investors prepared to pour buckets of money into ailing British companies.
In the first-ever case of its kind, a young Indian-origin couple has testified before an employment tribunal in Birmingham about how they were allegedly discriminated against on caste grounds before they resigned or were dismissed from their jobs.
Their former employers, Heer Manak, a group of mostly Indian-origin solicitors based in the city of Coventry, are understood to regard the allegations as outrageous.
Whatever the final outcome of the employment tribunal hearing, there is no denying the dented image of India as a progressive society where all are deemed equal, regardless of race, religion, gender or any personal factor.
Amardeep Begraj, 33-year-old Sikh Jat woman, told the tribunal that her employers tried to discourage her from marrying the love of her life, Vijay, a practice manager at the same company because he was a Dalit.
In her testimony, Amardeep is quoted as telling how one of her senior colleagues warned of future difficulties.
More...