AGRA: Thrust into an uncomfortable debate about casteism by the alleged suicide of a dalit PhD scholar in Hyderabad, Indians will find themselves further red-faced by the story of an aspiring engineer from IIT-BHU making ends meet as a sweeper.Mahesh Balmiki, a second-year student of mining, mulled some desperate measures to pay off a Rs 2.7-lakh loan he had taken for his studies. "There was a lot of pressure. Due to my prolonged illness, I had to incur expenses for my treatment and couldn't give back the loan I took for my studies," he told TOI.Short of options, Mahesh even began a search for a buyer for one of his kidneys.But he later told some friends that in the thriving black market for kidneys, people first asked a donor's caste.Mahesh added, "I visited around five hospitals in Varanasi and Alwar. The doctors there informed me that no one would take my kidney as I am a dalit."It proved a dead-end for Mahesh, and the 19-year-old, who some teachers describe as "very bright", had to the leave his studies mid-way and take up a sweeper's job back at his village in Rajasthan's Alwar, for just Rs 4,000 a month. Tired and frustrated, he often spoke with his friends about ending his life.Sensing trouble, a few of his friends approached Magsaysay award winning activist Sandeep Pandey, who took to Mahesh's cause immediately and reached out to BHU alumni for funds to pay off his loan. He succeeded, and just a few days ago, paid off Mahesh's loan. But Mahesh, whose father is paralysed and mother earns her living as a domestic help in several houses, still works as a cleaner to survive.The brightest among his parents' three sons, Mahesh scored 85% in Class X. Despite working part-time as a cleaner during his exams and frequent bouts of illnesses, he still managed 70% in Class XII. Better results were in store for the diligent teen who did exceedingly well in the IIT entrance test and got a seat at BHU."I have no option other than to clean and sweep," he said. For him, Pandey, a former contractual teacher at BHU, literally came as a godsend. "Sandeep sir helped me get rid of the loan through funds he collected from former IIT-BHU students. I have paid everything back. I believe there are hundreds like Rohith Vemula (the University of Hyderabad PhD scholar) studying at prestigious institutions in our country. Some are forced to end their lives. A few lucky ones get people like Sandeep sir," he said.