Outcry in Kerala: SBI Employees Stage Beef Protest Against Manager's Alleged Casteist Slurs

A highly unusual and potent form of protest recently erupted in Thrissur, Kerala, capturing national attention. Employees of the State Bank of India (SBI) took to the streets outside their branch, not with picket signs alone, but by publicly serving beef, a powerful symbolic gesture directed squarely at their Assistant General Manager, P.R.

Rajesh.

The catalyst for this extraordinary demonstration was a deeply disturbing allegation: that Manager Rajesh had hurled casteist abuses at one of his subordinates. According to the protesting employees and their supporting unions, the manager’s derogatory remarks were made against an employee who had brought lunch from home, allegedly invoking caste-based slurs in a clear act of discrimination.

In a bold and public display of their outrage, bank employees, backed by prominent unions like the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), organized a unique ‘beef festival’ outside the SBI branch.

Cooked beef was prepared and served to both employees and members of the public, turning a workplace grievance into a potent cultural statement. This act carries significant weight in India, where beef consumption can be a contentious issue, often intertwined with caste and religious politics, though Kerala has a strong tradition of beef consumption across various communities.

The unions unequivocally condemned the alleged casteist remarks, demanding immediate and decisive action against Assistant General Manager P.R.

Rajesh. Their stance highlights a broader commitment to ensuring a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. The protest served as a stark reminder that issues of caste discrimination, despite legal prohibitions, regrettably persist in modern workplaces and that employees are increasingly willing to use innovative means to challenge such injustices.

This incident underscores the deep-seated anger and frustration over alleged discriminatory practices within institutions.

By choosing to serve beef, the employees not only protested their manager's alleged actions but also challenged the underlying prejudices, making their stand loud, clear, and culturally significant in the vibrant, diverse landscape of Kerala.