Do you remember this poster, or have you forgotten, Manuwadis? It was displayed at IIT Mandi, stating that a Shudra’s duty is to serve the “upper castes.” Do you understand what this means? Casteism is deeply rooted in the mindset of those who uphold Caste-based ideas. Its primary source is often the environment where children are taught verses from religious texts that justify the caste system. These children can later carry such beliefs into educational institutions, developing a mindset that asks: “What will a Dalit engineer do? According to these scriptures, they were meant to serve us.” IIT Bombay has reportedly had overwhelming representation of upper-caste(98%) faculty. Imagine how such deeply entrenched caste attitudes can affect the careers and experiences of Dalit students.