IIT Mandi Probes 'Shudras Serve Higher Classes' Poster; Director Blames some Students' Interpretation

IIT Mandi probes casteist 'Shudras serve higher classes' poster

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has ordered an inquiry into a controversial Bhagavad Gita-themed poster on its campus that said Shudras should “serve higher classes,” with Director Laxmidhar Behera attributing it to students’ interpretation of the scripture and distancing the institute from its contents. Behera himself has a longstanding association with the … Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Enter…

IIT Mandi probes 'Shudras serve higher classes' poster; director blames some students' interpretation

IIT Mandi has ordered an inquiry into a controversial Bhagavad Gita poster. The poster suggested Shudras should serve higher classes, sparking outrage. Director Laxmidhar Behera distanced the institute from the poster's contents. He stated the institute strongly condemns all forms of caste discrimination. An inquiry committee is investigating the student-led event's origins.

IIT Mandi probes ‘Shudras serve higher classes’ poster; director blames some students’ interpretation

“The institute strongly condemns any form of caste-based discrimination,” IIT Mandi Director Laxmidhar Behera said in the email, seeking cooperation from the campus community to “stand together against such biases/discrimination in any form”

IIT Mandi orders inquiry after poster says Shudras should ‘serve higher classes’

For Shudras, however, the poster listed their role as "serve higher classes", which became the focus of the controversy. The poster also quoted a Bhagavad Gita verse stating that the four divisions of human society were created according to the "three modes of material nature and the work associated with them". Behera said he had been away from IIT Mandi and returned on Saturday.

IIT Mandi investigates ‘Shudras serve higher classes’ poster; director says students misinterpreted

"Some students have interpreted the Gita in some way. I have instituted an enquiry committee. It was a student-based event," Behera told on Sunday, asserting that he and the institute stood against caste discrimination.

IIT Mandi faces backlash over caste hierarchy poster

A row erupted on Saturday after a poster depicting caste-based social hierarchy was displayed at IIT-Mandi during an event, drawing sharp criticism on social media