THE Poetic Justice Foundation is presenting Overcaste – an exhibit debuting at the Burnaby Village Museum this spring. Visitors to the Burnaby Village Museum will have the opportunity to experience this new exhibition that features the stories of young Canadians and their struggles against caste discrimination.
The foundation says that the Overcaste exhibit sheds light on the pervasive existence of caste discrimination in Canada, challenging the myth that it doesn’t exist in the country. Through personal anecdotes, historical context, and community narratives, it honors the Dalit experience, exposes the manifestations of caste-based prejudice in various spheres such as education, work, media, and relationships, and emphasizes the resilience and collective struggle of the community against systemic inequality.
“The caste system is a system of oppression based on class and the family you were born into that we must collectively and actively dismantle. It’s a form of violence and discrimination which is often hard to see which makes it particularly insidious. Even here in Canada, caste discrimination has kept some people in our communities marginalized and excluded — simply for the family they were born into,” says Jagmeet Singh, federal NDP Leader. “Dismantling inequality is core to my own values and as Canadians, it’s necessary that we eradicate inequality and injustice wherever we encounter it, and that includes casteism.”
The foundation says that through a series of firsthand stories, captivating photographs capturing moments of struggle and resilience, engaging timelines illustrating historical milestones, and interactive displays inviting participation, the exhibit offers a visual journey into the Dalit experience in BC. Visitors can expect to immerse themselves in the personal narratives shared by individuals, witnessing the challenges encountered in every aspect of their lives. With each display, the exhibit contextualizes these experiences within the broader framework of caste-based prejudice and inequality, encouraging visitors to actively engage with the material, gain insights, and reflect on their own roles in fostering change.
“In 1906, my great-grandfather Maya Ram Mahmi became the first recorded Dalit immigrant to Canada, seeking a brighter future and escape from the social and economic oppressions he faced in India. Yet, he and his descendants, including myself, have faced ongoing caste discrimination, an issue that persists over a century later. Through the Overcaste exhibit, we aim to highlight the often-ignored problem of caste bias in Canada. This initiative seeks to amplify the Dalit Canadian narrative, which has been historically sidelined and ignored,” says Anita Lal, co-curator of the exhibit and co-founder of the Poetic Justice Foundation. “Overcaste is designed to foster solidarity within the Punjabi community, encouraging self-reflection, listening to Dalit Canadians, and sparking meaningful dialogue to address caste-based prejudice locally.”
Overcaste will be open to the public during the spring break season at Burnaby Village Museum, which runs from March 18 to 28, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.
Following its debut at the Burnaby Village Museum, Overcaste will become a travelling exhibit intended to spread awareness about the Dalit Canadian experience internationally.
