Caste-Based Harassment Claims Spark Crisis at IIT-Bombay

The news from Powai has sent shockwaves through India’s academic circles: a professor from IIT-Bombay, Suryanarayana Doolla, has been named in an FIR related to the death by suicide of 20-year-old Sahil Wakode, a second-year student in the energy science section. The case is particularly notable for its alleged connection to caste-based harassment claims that have long plagued India’s top institutions.

Wakode was caught using his phone during an exam on Friday and found dead in his hostel room shortly after. According to some students, Doolla, who was the invigilator at the time, took Wakode out of the exam hall and threatened him with suspension. IIT-Bombay disputes this narrative, claiming that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student.

The incident highlights a broader systemic problem that India’s premier institutions have struggled to address for years: caste-based discrimination. Despite repeated promises to tackle this issue, incidents like Wakode’s death continue to plague IIT-Bombay and other top academic outfits. In fact, three students have taken their own lives on the IIT-Bombay campus this year alone.

The lack of accountability in these cases is a symptom of a deeper rot that affects not just IIT-Bombay but India’s entire education system. IIT-Bombay has maintained a reputation for tackling caste-based issues within its ranks, with Director Prof Shireesh Kedare denying any existence of caste-based discrimination on campus. However, if caste-based information is indeed hidden as claimed by the institute, it raises more questions than answers.

For instance, how do we explain incidents like Wakode’s? It’s possible that IIT-Bombay is grappling with its own contradictions – a progressive facade masking an outdated, discriminatory system. The aftermath of Wakode’s death has seen protests and demonstrations on campus, with his parents refusing to claim their son’s body until the accused are arrested.

This high-profile case has put pressure on authorities to take swift action. Advocate Nikhil Kamble, representing Wakode’s family, pointed out that the state should provide a special public prosecutor and conduct a speedy trial. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of India’s ongoing struggle with caste-based harassment in its elite institutions.

Until meaningful reforms are implemented and accountability is ensured, cases like Wakode’s will continue to plague our nation’s top academies.