September 23, 10:06Aaj Tak

IIT Bombay students demand resignation of Director Shirish Kedare following suicide tragedy

Following the death of student Sahil Wakode at IIT Bombay, two professors are drawing the most attention: IIT Bombay Director Shirish Kedare and Professor Suryanarayan Dula. Sahil's parents and students are demanding the resignation of both faculty members.

Professor Shirish has long ties to the institute, having known the campus for 41 years. He himself received an engineering degree from IIT Bombay and now heads the institution. Furthermore, he has worked in various capacities.

Professor Shirish's connection to IIT Bombay is very deep. He has been familiar with the institute for 41 years. In 1985, he obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, and later in 1992, he earned a Ph.D. there. In May 2024, he was offered the position of director.

Before becoming director, he held academic and administrative posts. His responsibilities included membership in the Indian IIT Council appointed by the Ministry of Education, as well as participation in the IIT Madras Board of Governors, and work as a former independent director of ONGC.

According to the IIT Bombay profile, Shirish Kedare has published 57 international and 10 national articles. Additionally, 44 international and 7 national papers have been published in conferences and proceedings. His research interests differed from traditional engineering fields; he focused his research on the reciprocal wind mechanism, which converts wind energy into useful power.

After completing his postgraduate studies, while most students dream of careers in large corporations, Professor Shirish Kedare decided to work on rural development. From 1992 to 1995, he was involved in rural development projects.

Professor Shirish Kedare also spoke about the culture of tutoring. He believes that excessive reliance on tutors can negatively affect students' ability to understand and deeply study material. In one interview, he noted that coaching centers often focus on exam passing strategies, which can harm conceptual understanding.

Professor Shirish Kedare also performed various duties in corporate and government institutions. He served as an independent director at ONGC, a Maharatna company. Additionally, he was part of the Research Advisory Council (RAC) of NTPC and the Board of Governors of IIT Madras.

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 22, 14:57

IIT Bombay students change stance on suicide case, dropping caste discrimination accusations; Faculty Forum presents counterarguments

Following the discovery of the body of second-year B.Tech student Sahil Vakode in Hostel No. 16 at IIT Bombay on September 18, anger within the institute reached a new level. Initially, the main focus of protests and family statements was centered on 'caste oppression,' but over time, the narrative within the campus began to shift.

Sahil's family initially leveled a direct accusation against faculty member Professor Suryanarayan Dulla for exerting psychological pressure. Based on this statement, the Mumbai Police registered a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act and transferred the investigation to the Criminal Department. Nevertheless, several days after the incident, the issue of 'caste discrimination,' which was the center of the initial outrage, receded from official student demands and statements.

The anger that immediately followed Sahil's death on campus regarding 'caste bias' and harassment has now transformed into more diplomatic phrasing such as 'institutional reforms,' 'academic pressure,' and 'systemic changes' in official student representative statements. In recent statements released by students, an extremely balanced and cautious position was adopted regarding Professor Dulla. Students stated that their goal is not to assign blame before the investigation is complete, but merely to have the professor relieved of administrative duties (Dean of Administration) pending an impartial inquiry.
A natural question arises: why has the students' position become so 'soft' compared to the initial allegations recorded in the family's FIR? Is this due to some institutional pressure, or is it influenced by facts emerging during the investigation compared to the initial claims?

On the other hand, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum firmly defended Professor Dulla. The Forum refuted media reports, clarifying that the professor was not suspended, but only had his administrative powers removed to ensure the impartiality of the investigation process. The Chairman of the Faculty Forum, Professor Dr. Rajkumar Pant, countered the caste allegations by presenting official institute records. Professor Pant explained that, like any institution, they have a specialized cell for the welfare of SC/ST caste students. According to information received from Deputy Director Professor Ravindra Ghudi, this cell officially confirmed that Sahil had not filed any complaints or had any contact with it in the last three or four months.
Professor Pant added that preventing the use of malpractice (cheating) during exams is a mandatory requirement for a faculty member. He noted that Professor Dulla was simply fulfilling his assigned duties to protect the rights of the majority of students taking exams honestly.

While the Faculty Forum asserts that there were no prior complaints to the SC/ST cell, external student organizations (such as AISA) continue to insist on full administrative accountability and resignation. However, this entire incident raises several fundamental and sensitive questions: does the absence of a complaint mean the absence of harassment? Can the fact that the student did not approach the SC/ST cell be considered conclusive proof of the absence of isolation or pressure? There is also the question of whether SC/ST cells in elite educational institutions can gain enough trust among students for them to report their problems without fear?
Currently, the Mumbai Police Criminal Department is examining CCTV footage from the examination hall to the hostel from September 18, as well as other technical evidence. The true truth about Sahil's tragic death will only be known after the legal procedure is completed. Nevertheless, this case has once again sparked a serious discussion about student mental health, institutional pressure, and caste sensitivities in the country's leading institutions.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comSeptember 21, 15:55

IIT Bombay faculty support Professor Dulla following student's suicide

The IIT Bombay faculty forum spoke in support of Professor Suryanarayana Dulla on Monday after the institute removed him from his position as Dean of Administration amid protests related to the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode.

Faculty Forum Expresses Support

The chairman of the faculty forum, Professor Rajkumar S Pant, stated in an official declaration that, contrary to reports from some media outlets, Professor Suryanarayana Dulla was not suspended from service at IIT Bombay and remains a member of the institute's faculty in good standing.

Dulla Mentioned in Incident Report

IIT-Bombay immediately removed Dulla from the position of Dean of Administration after the protests began following Wakode's death. Professor Dulla is mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) filed based on the student's family complaint.

The student's death triggered a wave of protests on the IIT-Bombay campus. Students accused the institution of academic pressure, caste discrimination, and institutional harassment. On Monday, police detained members of the Youth Congress who were demonstrating near the gates of IIT-Bombay. Furthermore, security was increased within and around the campus due to the protests.

IIT-Bombay Apologizes for Previous Statement

The institute issued a public apology after students accused it of 'defaming' Wakode without conducting a detailed investigation. As part of the protests, IIT-Bombay announced an Open Day with student participation on Monday in the Ceremony Hall. Students were invited to submit their questions through a special form, which will be discussed during a moderated session. This interaction is expected to give students an opportunity to voice their demands and concerns directly to the institute's management.