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 adonor'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