Aarakshan

In 2008, Deepak Kumar attends a job interview for a teaching position at a prestigious school. Unfortunately, his low-caste background is discovered, leading to his candidacy being terminated abruptly, leaving him feeling defeated and hopeless.

Distressed by his interview experience, Deepak seeks guidance from his mentor, Dr. Prabhakar Anand, the respected principal of STM college. In a moment of compassion, Dr. Anand offers him a temporary teaching position, rekindling Deepak's hopes for a brighter future.

As the political climate heats up, state minister Baburam seeks to enroll his nephew at STM, a move Dr. Anand strongly opposes. This resistance leads to Baburam placing his ally Mithilesh Singh on the college board, sparking concerns over impending challenges.

A significant turning point occurs when the Supreme Court mandates reservations for Other Backward Classes. This ruling sparks a volatile celebration among STM students, which causes friction between Deepak and his upper-caste friend Sushant.

In a dramatic confrontation, Deepak criticizes Dr. Anand, who he previously supported. This unexpected rift causes a significant strain in his relationship with Poorbi, leading to an emotional breakup after she demands he apologize to her father.

Deepak and Sushant symbolize the divide between upper and lower castes in the heated debates surrounding educational reservations. As tensions escalate, the moderate administrators at STM worry about the potential unrest that might arise from the new policies.

Dr. Anand publicly articulates his belief in the need for educational reservations free from political motives. This declaration ignites outrage among the STM board, who worry that his views might lead to his dismissal and reflect the institution’s official stance.

Faced with mounting pressure from the STM board and the political fallout from his statements, Dr. Anand ultimately resigns from his position. Mithilesh Singh is then appointed as the new principal, marking a significant shift in the school’s leadership.

Before his resignation, Dr. Anand had taken in the sons of his deceased ex-vice principal, allowing them to stay in his home. Following Mithilesh's promotion, these young men begin a legal arrangement to run coaching classes from his residence, creating further complications.

Returning from his PhD studies in the US, Deepak attempts to leverage his connections and evict Mithilesh from Dr. Anand's house. However, he quickly learns that Mithilesh's political influence is formidable, rendering his efforts ineffective.

In a moment of sheer desperation, Deepak storms Mithilesh's coaching center, leading to a chaotic scene that gets broadcast live on television. This impulsive act results in Deepak and Dr. Anand's arrest, further complicating their already precarious situations.

To challenge Mithilesh's authority, Dr. Anand retreats to a cowshed with his friend Shambhu to create a makeshift school for underprivileged children. His dedicated teaching leads to early successes, including Muniya, Shambhu's daughter, excelling in her exams.

As the cowshed school gains traction and begins attracting students away from Mithilesh's coaching class, Mithilesh retaliates by securing a permit to demolish the cowshed. His efforts threaten to dismantle Dr. Anand’s fledgling educational initiative.

Just as Mithilesh's plans are about to succeed, the reclusive magnate Shakuntala Tai intercedes. She contacts the chief minister, who intervenes and halts the demolition plans, saving Dr. Anand's school and changing the course of events.

With Mithilesh's fall from power, Dr. Anand rises to become the chief trustee of STM and also takes on the role of principal at the newly established STM Remedial Center. This shift not only cements his legacy in education but also reinforces his commitment to underprivileged students.