I used to believe we were growing as a nation—becoming more open, more inclusive. But that belief was shaken recently. I applied for a role at Avataar (the startup featured on Shark Tank). My CV was rejected without even a basic screening. Later, I found out why. The HR told the person who referred me that they don’t consider candidates whose names start with "Mohd" or "Khan"—claiming that “people like them take more leaves.” It’s 2025, and this is still happening. No matter your skills, experience, or qualifications—your name can still hold you back. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s wrong. Bias like this has no place in a modern, growing India. We need to call it out. We need to do better.