Kanpur’s HDFC Bank Panki branch became a flashpoint for a viral video showing a female employee’s explosive outburst: ‘Main Thakur hoon.’ The clip, now circulating wildly online, has prompted ex-staffer Ritu Tripathi and husband Rishi Mishra to detail their traumatic experience.
Ritu, a Brahmin, visited the branch on January 6 to resign, fasting for religious observances. Accompanied by her sister-in-law, a simple washroom mishap ignited fury from colleague Aastha Singh. The unlocked door led to Aastha’s denial of fault, followed by relentless snide remarks and calls to eject the visitor.
Tensions peaked when Ritu summoned Rishi. Aastha allegedly accosted him with invectives, boasting her Thakur identity as a threat. Ritu rejected the intimidation tactic: ‘Thakur pride isn’t about violence.’ She refrained from countering with her own caste to avoid escalation but stood firm against harassment.
Rishi described a day of systematic belittling against his wife, from derogatory taunts to withholding her exit post-resignation. With 14 branch heads present, he merely sought clarity on the feud. Aastha alone dragged caste into it, he claims, narrowly avoiding injury from her flung laptop. The cluster head’s delayed response only fueled accusations of complicity.
This isn’t just a spat; it’s a window into deeper issues of hierarchy, bias, and aggression in banking environments. Public backlash demands accountability, with calls for HR probes and sensitivity training. As the video amasses views, it challenges India’s push for professional equity.