Unrest continues at the prestigious IIT Bombay institution in Powai, Mumbai, following the death of student Sahil. Protests are taking place both inside and outside the campus, marking the fourth day of the movement. Student organizations are leveling serious accusations against the administration, demanding the resignation of the director and professors, as the situation begins to attract political attention.
Student organizations, including AISA, are holding continuous demonstrations outside the campus. Students and female students are demanding not just apologies, but the resignation of the director. Sana Salim, an English Literature student at the University of Mumbai and an AISA activist, emphasized that social media apologies are insufficient. She stated that apologies are meaningless until a firm statement is issued. Their demand is for the protests to continue until full accountability and transparency are established, and they insist on the immediate resignation of the director and all involved professors.
Protesters claim that Sahil's tragedy is not an isolated incident. According to student organizations, this is the second death in the last two months and the fourth in the last year. Aksha from AISA reported that three out of the four cases in the past year involved students from the Jat community. She noted that the student had previously informed his parents about discrimination and caste humiliation related to his background.
Other students argue that when cheating or using ChatGPT in class is discovered, measures such as grade reduction or warnings are usually applied. However, the threat of immediate one-year suspension is considered excessively harsh and exerts significant psychological pressure.
Key Demands of the Students
Among the main demands of the students are the immediate resignation of the Dean and the Director of IIT Bombay. They also insist on implementing specific measures to improve mental health on campus and reduce academic pressure. Another demand is the creation of an independent student body that could directly discuss students' rights and issues.
Videos have emerged from the protests on campus. One video shows the IIT Director sitting among students, listening to their demands, and signing documents. Another video, shot inside the campus, shows students asking representatives of the SFI organization to leave the campus premises.
Political Reaction and Calls for Neutrality
The escalating tension at IIT Bombay has led to political statements. Anand Dubey, a representative of Shiv Sena (UBT), stated that IIT Bombay should not turn into a political arena. He noted the need to improve the country's education system, expressing sympathy for the deceased student's family. At the same time, he also stressed the need to consider the condition of the faculty and the director who are under pressure to resign.
Dubey added that preventing cheating is the responsibility of teachers and management, just as saving students from suicide is. He called for an impartial investigation into this matter by the SIT, Criminal Department, or the police. In his view, before the full truth of the investigation is known, unilateral pressure should not be exerted, nor should political motives be sought.
