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IIT Bombay Students Seek Reforms After Sahil Wakode Death
Sahil Wakode was a 22-year-old student at IIT Bombay who was found dead in his hostel room on September 18.
His death led students to organize protests.
The students said they want the institute to improve its systems and protect student well-being.
They also said they do not support cheating.
An earlier institute statement said Wakode had been caught cheating and had used ChatGPT during an exam, but the institute later apologized for that statement.
Students asked that Professor Suryanarayana Doolla temporarily stop serving as dean while the investigation continues.
They said this request was meant to protect the investigation, not to declare him guilty.
Some students rejected claims of caste discrimination, while others raised concerns about the professor’s disciplinary record.
Student protests followed the death of 22-year-old BTech student Sahil Wakode in his hostel room on September 18.
Student representatives said their demonstrations seek systemic reforms and do not condone cheating or other academic misconduct.
They requested that Professor Suryanarayana Doolla be relieved as Dean of Administrative Affairs during the investigation, while saying they do not presume his guilt.
The institute acknowledged a charter containing more than 18 demands but rejected immediate action against Doolla, according to the statement.
Students disagreed over allegations of caste discrimination and whether targeting Doolla was justified, while some alleged he had previously taken overly harsh disciplinary action.
- Who
- IIT Bombay student representatives, students, Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, and the family of deceased student Sahil Wakode.
- What
- Students issued a statement clarifying that their protests seek systemic reforms, oppose academic misconduct, and call for safeguards during the investigation into Wakode’s death.
- Where
- The events occurred at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay’s Powai campus in Mumbai.
- When
- The statement was issued on a Tuesday; Wakode was found dead on September 18.
- Why
- Students said the protests arose from concerns about institutional systems, student welfare, alleged caste discrimination and harassment, and the handling of the circumstances preceding Wakode’s death.
Calls for Institutional Reform
Concerns About Targeting Professor Doolla
Temporary removal during investigation
Calls for Institutional Reform
Student representatives said Doolla should be relieved of his dean duties as a precaution to ensure an independent investigation.
Concerns About Targeting Professor Doolla
Some students said removing him from the post was wrong because he was carrying out his job.
Caste discrimination allegations
Calls for Institutional Reform
Wakode’s parents’ complaint alleged caste discrimination and harassment, and students cited these concerns while demanding reforms.
Concerns About Targeting Professor Doolla
Some IIT Bombay students said caste discrimination does not exist at the institute and described media reports about caste bias as wrong.
Disciplinary record and academic misconduct
Calls for Institutional Reform
Some students alleged that Doolla had suspended students and removed them from hostels for reasons they considered trivial; representatives said the protests were about systemic concerns, not justification of cheating.
Concerns About Targeting Professor Doolla
Other students and the representatives stressed that cheating should not be condoned and that Doolla should not be presumed guilty before the investigation concludes.
Key facts
- Student
- Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering
- Incident
- Wakode was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room on September 18
- Student position
- Representatives said they do not condone cheating or academic misconduct
- Demands
- Students presented a charter containing more than 18 demands and sought systemic reforms
- Professor named
- Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the exam invigilator and Dean of Administrative Affairs
- Administrative request
- Students asked that Doolla be relieved of his dean duties while the investigation continued
- Institute response
- The administration said it would review the demands but rejected calls for immediate action against Doolla
- Legal action
- A police case was filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on Wakode’s parents’ complaint
Quotes
IIT Bombay Student Representatives
Student representatives who issued the official statement about the protests
“With respect to Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, we would like to clarify that our position has never been one of presuming guilt or prejudging the ongoing investigation. We stand with Professor Doolla as a member of our faculty community and believe that the investigation must be allowed to proceed fairly and impartially.”
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businesstoday.in
“We do not stand for or condone cheating or any form of academic misconduct. At the same time the loss of our fellow student, Sahil (Wakode), is a deeply tragic event that has compelled us to reflect on the systems and processes within our institute.”
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businesstoday.in
Sources
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