In a groundbreaking initiative, the OVERCASTE exhibit has emerged as a beacon shedding light on the pervasive existence of caste discrimination in Canada, challenging the prevailing myth that it doesn’t exist within the country’s borders. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing personal anecdotes, historical context, and community narratives, the exhibit aims to honor the Dalit experience while exposing the insidious manifestations of caste-based prejudice across various spheres. Led by Jagmeet Singh, MP and Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, the exhibit underscores the urgent need to dismantle the caste system, labeling it as a form of violence and discrimination deeply ingrained in societal structures. Singh emphasizes the necessity for Canadians to confront inequality and injustice wherever they arise, including within the realm of casteism.
Anita Lal, Co-Curator of the exhibit and Co-Founder of the Poetic Justice Foundation, shares her family’s journey, tracing back to her great-grandfather’s arrival in Canada in 1906. Despite seeking refuge from social and economic oppressions in India, generations of Dalit immigrants have encountered ongoing caste discrimination in Canada. Lal emphasizes the exhibit’s role in amplifying the Dalit Canadian narrative, historically sidelined and ignored, while fostering solidarity within the Punjabi community and sparking meaningful dialogue to address caste-based prejudice locally. Through firsthand stories, captivating photographs, interactive displays, and engaging timelines, the OVERCASTE exhibit offers visitors a poignant visual journey into the Dalit experience in British Columbia. Each display contextualizes the challenges faced by individuals within the broader framework of caste-based prejudice, encouraging active engagement, introspection, and dialogue aimed at fostering positive change. As the exhibit unfolds, it serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and collective struggle of the Dalit community against systemic inequality, urging all Canadians to confront and dismantle the pervasive grip of caste discrimination within the nation’s borders.