3 hrs ago
IIT Bombay Faces Protest After Student’s Death by Suicide
Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old student at IIT Bombay, was found dead in his hostel room.
This happened after he was allegedly caught using a phone and ChatGPT during an examination.
His family and protesting students say he faced harassment and caste discrimination.
They believe these problems may have contributed to his death.
IIT Bombay’s faculty forum says the teacher involved was following the institute’s rules.
The institute met students to discuss their 18 demands.
These demands include more student participation and investigations into four earlier suicide cases.
Protests were expected to continue under the slogan “We are not here to die.”
Twenty-two-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode was found dead in his hostel room on Friday.
He was allegedly caught using a smartphone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination hours earlier.
Protesters and Wakode’s family allege institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination contributed to his death.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum said the invigilator followed institutional procedure after discovering unauthorized smartphone use.
The administration met protesters over 18 demands, including student representation, independent investigations, and faculty mental-health workshops.
- Who
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, his family, protesting students, IIT Bombay administrators, and faculty member Suryanarayana Doolla.
- What
- A student’s death by suicide has led to protests, allegations of caste discrimination, and discussions over 18 demands.
- Where
- IIT Bombay’s campus in Maharashtra, including Wakode’s hostel room and the institute’s main gate.
- When
- Wakode was found dead on Friday; the administration met protesters on Sunday night, with further protests expected the following day.
- Why
- Protesters and the family allege institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, while faculty members say examination procedures were followed.
Protesters and Family
IIT Bombay Faculty and Administration
Cause of the death
Protesters and Family
They allege Wakode experienced institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination, which contributed to his death.
IIT Bombay Faculty and Administration
The faculty forum expressed grief but did not accept responsibility, saying the examination-related procedure was properly followed.
Examination incident
Protesters and Family
Protesters are challenging the circumstances and broader institutional treatment surrounding the incident.
IIT Bombay Faculty and Administration
The faculty forum said Suryanarayana Doolla acted according to protocol after finding Wakode in unauthorized possession and use of a smartphone.
Campus reforms
Protesters and Family
Protesters want student representation, independent investigations into four suicide cases, and stronger action on casteism and mental health.
IIT Bombay Faculty and Administration
The administration met students to consider their 18 demands and was expected to issue a formal response.
Key facts
- Student
- Sahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student
- Institute
- IIT Bombay
- Reported incident
- Wakode was allegedly caught using a smartphone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination
- Demands
- Protesters presented 18 demands to the administration
- Key demands
- Student representation on academic committees, an independent investigation into four campus suicide cases, and mental-health workshops for professors
- Legal action
- Wakode’s parents filed a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Further protest
- Students planned a gathering at the IIT Bombay main gate under the banner “India Against Casteism”
Quotes
The protesters
Students protesting at IIT Bombay over Wakode’s death and alleged caste-based discrimination
“We are not here to die”
NDTV
Sources
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