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

INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FORMATION OF IIT MANDI, Laxmidhar Behera, the school's director, has launched an investigation into a Bhagavad Gita-themed poster that circulated on campus, depicting Shudras serving higher classes. Behera attributes the poster to a student's interpretation of the scripture, distancing the institution from its content.

Behera, a devoted follower of Bhagavad Gita and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, teaches the scripture to students and is the founder of the proposed Bhaktivedanta University, which is an ISKCON initiative.

The poster, displayed during Janmashtami celebrations on September 4, divided society into four classes: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, with Shudras designated to serve higher classes. Behera has instituted an enquiry committee to address the incident, expressing shock and asserting the institute's commitment to equality, social justice, and scientific temper.

He emphasized that the poster was a student-led event and that the institute had not endorsed it in any way. Behera, who has a background in robotics and artificial intelligence, has faced controversy over his views in the past, including a pledge to abstain from meat and claims to have exorcised evil spirits.