Students protesting at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay over the September 18 death of a second year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, have initiated a hunger strike at the protest site named ‘Justice Corner,’ intensifying their calls for an independent probe and accountability from the institute administration.
The agitators have been protesting for the past 15 days following Wakode’s death by suicide, who was discovered dead inside his hostel room after allegedly being caught using a cell phone during a mid-semester examination. The stir has been focusing on the circumstances surrounding his death, the institute’s disciplinary procedures and allegations of caste-based discrimination levelled by his parents.
Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide
Students put forth 18-point charter
The protestors marched towards the institute’s main gate and raised a string of demands, including the resignation of the director of the institute, Shireesh Kedare and the suspension of professor Suryanarayanan Doolla. The students alleged Kedare did not meet them at the main gate to pay heed to their concerns.
The 18-point charter put forth by the students calls for an independent, transparent and a fair probe into Wakode’s death and changes to the inquiry committee constituted by IIT Bombay. They have also sought greater accountability from the administration and demanded that Doolla be suspended while the probe is in progress.
Moreover, the agitators have also questioned the independence of the institute-appointed inquiry panel. Earlier, protestors had demanded that the existing committee be dissolved and be replaced with an independent external panel.
As per the students, meaningful change can come to pass only when the institute acknowledges its shortcomings and assumes responsibility. They have alleged that although the director assured them of meeting their demands during initial meetings, the administration has not responded to all their demands formally.
Protest expands beyond the recent case
Sahil Wakode's students on hunger strike
During the course of the stir, students also held discussions on mental health, student-teacher relationships, placement pressure, examination and evaluation systems and how students deal with loss on campus.
They said the protest has also created a platform for students from different batches, departments and academic programmes to discuss wider concerns affecting campus life.
Wakode’s parents continue hunger strike
Meanwhile, Wakode’s parents have also been observing a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan and are voicing demands for the arrest of Kedare and Doolla. Their advocate, Nikhil Kamble, said the family would continue the agitation after securing the necessary permission required from the police.
A still from the protests at IIT Bombay
To add to the institute’s pressure, more than 20 Ambedkarite organisations from India and abroad, including the Ambedkar Association of North America, have also chipped into the protests, calling for an independent investigation. In a letter written to IIT Bombay, the organisations sought an apology over the institute’s initial statement released just after Wakode’s death and questioned references to his conduct during the examination.
Moreover, they have demanded an inquiry involving independent members, including SC/ST students and faculty members and external experts.