a dalit, i faced discrimination because of my caste all the time."r. so, yes, caste blindness is not yet an option for those in india who suffer discrimination. but dr ambedkar wrote in the world's first and farthest—reaching affirmative action programme, "we guarantee spots in governmentjobs, in universities and medical colleges, and even in parliament and the state assemblies, for people from the dalit community and the aboriginal community," the adivasis, the scheduled castes and tribes, as they're called, and that's something which has enabled them to achieve opportunities in power. now, another perspective you have is that of a former senior un official. you worked for the un the best part of what, two decades? three, 29 years. wow! so what do you think it is doing to india's international standing, the way in which the modi government is continuing to insist on a very warm relationship with russia despite the invasion of ukraine, and actually deepening trade and economic ties to the point where india is now being accused of essentially using it