{
  "id": 6126710,
  "title": "IIT Mandi Bhagavad Gita Poster Controversy: Director Orders Probe Over 'Serve Higher Classes' Remark, Condemns Caste Discrimination",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/iit-mandi-bhagavad-gita-poster-controversy-director-orders-probe-over",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T09:57:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/iit-mandi-bhagavad-gita-poster-controversy-director-orders-probe-over-serve-higher-classes-remark-condemns-caste-discrimination"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "IIT Mandi has launched an investigation into a Bhagavad Gita-themed poster displayed on campus that suggested Shudras should serve higher classes. Director Laxmidhar Behera attributes the poster to students' interpretation of the scripture and distances the institute from its contents. Behera, who has a long-standing association with teaching Bhagavad Gita and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), stated that he and the institute are against caste discrimination. The institute has formed an enquiry committee to examine the matter. The controversial poster, displayed during Janmashtami celebrations, categorised the four divisions of human society - Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras - and assigned roles to each.",
  "summary": "New Delhi: 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. It's shameful to see casteist ideas being openly displayed within an educational campus. Is this how…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}