A fresh controversy has erupted at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi in Himachal Pradesh after a poster detailing the caste-based Varna system was displayed during a Janmashtami event on campus. The poster outlined four social classes and described the role of the Shudra community as serving the upper classes, drawing widespread criticism and questioning from various quarters. Following the public outcry, the institute administration promptly formed a committee to investigate the entire sequence of events. The contentious poster was put up outside the main auditorium of the institute and carried the heading 'Bhagavad Gita – The Timeleess Wisdom'.
Details on the Poster Content and Discovery
The poster utilized visual elements and written material to delineate the distinct responsibilities attributed to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. According to the displayed material, the role of Brahmins was linked to spreading divine messages, Kshatriyas to protecting society and spirituality, and Vaishyas to running the economy and assisting others. In contrast, the role of Shudras was defined as serving the upper classes, which quickly generated significant uproar. The display also referenced two specific shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita to support its assertions, further fueling the debate.
Student-Led Event and Institute Clarification
The institute formally clarified that the Janmashtami celebration was not an official event organized by IIT Mandi itself. Instead, it was organized entirely by the students, and the institute did not officially sponsor or endorse it. Once the controversy came to light, the newly formed committee was tasked with determining who prepared the poster and under whose permission it was placed on campus. Furthermore, the panel will investigate the underlying intent behind the creation of the poster and all connected aspects of the incident. Future actions by the institute will depend strictly on the findings of this inquiry report.
Composition of the Inquiry Committee
To ensure a thorough and balanced review, the institute included various social category representatives within the probe committee alongside regular faculty members. Specifically, representatives from the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes have been accommodated in the panel. Based on the report submitted by this committee, appropriate institutional steps will be initiated. The administration reiterated its stance against any form of activities that promote divisive narratives on campus.
Administrative Stance and Director Remarks
IIT Mandi Registrar Dr. KS Pandey stated firmly that the institute does not support such posters or activities under any circumstances, and appropriate actions will be taken in line with established policies. Meanwhile, IIT Mandi Director Prof. Laxmidhar Behera stated that the poster was part of a student-organized event and suggested that some students had interpreted the Bhagavad Gita in their own way. He emphasized that IIT Mandi remains firmly committed to upholding equality, social justice, scientific temper, and the core values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Previous Controversies Involving the Director
Prof. Laxmidhar Behera has previously drawn public attention due to various statements and activities. In the year 2023, he publicly urged students to take a pledge against consuming meat. During the same period, he made claims linking natural disasters such as cloudbursts and landslides in Himachal Pradesh to cruelty against animals. Following his appointment as the director of IIT Mandi, an older video surfaced showing him claiming that he helped rid a friend's family of evil spirits through the chanting of mantras. Prof. Behera has a long-standing association with ISKCON and the Bhagavad Gita, having spent nearly 27 years teaching peace and life values to youth through its teachings. A three-credit course based on the Bhagavad Gita is also taught as part of the academic curriculum at IIT Mandi.
