In the tapestry of contemporary Indian democracy, the call for the ‘annihilation of caste’ has seemingly stalled, giving rise to celebrations of ethnic and social belongingness. Despite acknowledgments in academic circles about the difficulty of erasing differences based on gender, race, nationalities, and languages, the secularization of identities remains an elusive goal. However, the discussion around caste identities in India continues to evoke anxiety and paranoia, particularly among groups associated with ‘low...