Neo-Vedanta’s core insight—that every soul shares in the same ultimate reality—naturally undercuts rigid gender and caste barriers. By stressing inner divinity over birth-based status, figures like Vivekananda, Aurobindo and Radhakrishnan sowed seeds for a more inclusive society.

Vivekananda famously declared, “No real progress apart from women’s emancipation.” He set up women’s centres and urged Hindu reformers to treat daughters as equally sacred. That was revolutionary at a time when female education barely scraped by. Aurobindo’s integral yoga went further, insisting that spiritual practice must transform social life—from the drawing rooms of Calcutta to the slums of Pondicherry. His ashram welcomed seekers without asking about caste.

Radhakrishnan’s lectures in Oxford and Cambridge put Vedanta on the global map, but they also hammered home that universal consciousness transcends social labels. In his view, true knowledge “levels the playing field” between landlord and laborer, man and woman.

Modern heirs of this lineage carry the torch. The Art of Living Foundation and Isha Outreach run rural-development and women’s empowerment programs in Dalit communities. Yoga for All campaigns invite transgender participants alongside village elders. Even India’s booming startup scene—with initiatives like Sakhi Online—draws inspiration from Neo-Vedantic ethics, promoting mentorship across caste lines.

That said, critics point out a classic “spiritual bypass”: lofty proclamations of unity can sometimes paper over economic inequalities. Neo-Vedanta activists are learning to pair inner work with grassroots action—think skill-training centers in Uttar Pradesh or leadership seminars for young Dalit women in Mumbai.

Today’s Neo-Vedanta doesn’t just preach universal oneness. It stitches together philosophy and practice, crafting tools that break the shackles of gender and caste—one mindful breath, one community program at a time.