A Dalit assistant professor at the SV Veterinary University’s Dairy Technology College in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, has alleged caste-based discrimination after his office chair was removed, forcing him to work seated on the floor.
Dr. Ravi, who holds a faculty position in the Dairy Technology department, said he returned to his office on Friday after a day’s leave to find his chair missing. He alleged that Associate Dean Ravindra Reddy removed it during a visit to test milk using departmental equipment.
Viral images circulating online show Dr. Ravi sitting cross-legged on a white sheet on the floor, working on a computer with wires and documents spread around him. The photos sparked sharp criticism online, with users calling the incident “ridiculous,” “disgusting,” and an example of India’s deep-rooted caste discrimination.
When contacted by local Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi, University Dean Nageswara Rao stated that the chair had been reclaimed because it belonged to the DBM (Department of Business Management) section. “Two chairs had been purchased for the DBM department as needed, and since one of them was found in the Dairy Technology department, it was replaced,” Rao said. He added that steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
However, the explanation has done little to quell outrage.
The ruling YSR Congress Party criticized Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of remaining silent on the alleged humiliation of a Dalit professor. “Why is he just watching without taking action?” a party spokesperson asked.
On social media, many users condemned the incident as another reminder of caste inequality in educational institutions. “People want to abolish reservations but not casteism,” one post read.
The incident also renewed debate about the treatment of Dalit faculty and students in Indian universities, especially in the wake of other cases highlighting systemic discrimination in faculty hiring and workplace dynamics.
So far, Dr. Ravi has not said whether he plans to file an official complaint. The university has not announced any inquiry into the matter.
