IIT-Bombay yields to protester demands after student’s death
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Students at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) ended a three-day protest after the institute’s director, Prof Shireesh Kedare, signed an 18-point charter addressing their concerns.
The protests began following the suicide of 20-year-old student Sahil Wakode, and students sought an investigation into his death, alleging possible caste-based discrimination and issues with how the institute handled an accusation of academic dishonesty. Students also requested sweeping reforms to the campus’s academic, disciplinary, and mental-health systems.
The agreement came after discussions between protesters and administrators. While IIT-B has not released an official statement, a livestream showed the director signing the charter, which includes demands for the immediate suspension of a professor who was invigilating Wakode’s exam. Students are seeking an independent investigation into Wakode’s death with interim findings by September 30 and a final report by October 15.
Beyond the immediate case, students requested a code of conduct for professors, mental-health training for staff, improved counseling services, and a task force to address student distress. They also asked for greater administrative accountability and a 24/7 on-call psychiatrist. The Faculty Forum of IIT-Bombay supported the professor named in the complaint, stating he was following institute procedure when he reported a possible violation during the exam.
Students will decide whether to end their protest fully after an open house on Monday where the details of the agreement will be formally presented.
