I’ve been hiding my caste for 8-9 years. Should I confront my friends or leave India?

For the past 8-9 years, I’ve hidden the fact that I belong to the SC community. I’ve pretended to be from a general caste, even going along with conversations where caste-based slurs or stereotypes are used. I regret this deeply now. Hearing stories about the historical struggles of my community—like how women were forced to endure unimaginable humiliation , needed to keep their breast open —made me cry. It made me question why I’ve been hiding my identity. Now that I’m at the age of considering marriage, the topic of caste has come up more often. I earn well, and my friends are like family to me—I trust them deeply. But I’ve also heard them and their parents say things like, “Don’t ever marry someone from the SC/ST community.” It hurts because I know how caste still plays a huge role in society. I’ve never taken any reservation benefits. Everything I’ve achieved has been on my own. Yet, in relationships, if I disclose my caste, girls often back out. Given all this, I’m struggling with what to do. Should I tell my friends about my caste and risk the fallout? Or should I consider leaving India altogether? How do I confront this situation?