IIT Bombay Students Call for Mental Health Reforms Following Tragic Incident

Demand for Change in Student Welfare

Mumbai: Following the tragic suicide of Sahil Wakode, students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay are advocating for significant reforms in the student welfare system, emphasizing the need for enhanced mental health support.

The students expressed their discontent with the focus on a single professor in the aftermath of the incident, labeling it as 'entirely unjustified.'

Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was discovered hanging in his hostel room on the evening of September 18, shortly after being allegedly caught using a mobile device to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester exam.

This incident has ignited protests among the student body.

The Mumbai Police have filed charges against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who has been dismissed from his role as Dean of Administrative Affairs, under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following a complaint from Sahil's family.

"Regardless of differing opinions, we unanimously agree that reforms are essential in student welfare, particularly in areas like the wellness cell and psychiatric support. Students' perspectives should be prioritized in decision-making," stated a student on Monday.

"However, there is disagreement regarding the treatment of Professor Doolla. The caste narrative presented in the media is misleading and unfounded," he added.

The student argued that Professor Doolla's removal from his position was unjust, as he was merely fulfilling his responsibilities.

Another student echoed this sentiment, asserting that claims of caste discrimination are inaccurate.

"There is no caste-based discrimination at the institute. Thus, media reports alleging caste bias at IIT Bombay are entirely incorrect," he remarked.

Another peer suggested that stress might have driven Sahil Wakode to his tragic decision.

"I believe stress was a factor; otherwise, there would be no other explanation for Wakode's actions. The rigorous courses contribute to this stress, which is part of the engineering learning process," he explained.

Conversely, some students accused Professor Doolla of having a history of suspending students for what they deemed trivial reasons and evicting them from hostels.

They claimed that measures implemented during Doolla's tenure as Dean of Students Affairs fostered an atmosphere of fear, leading them to believe he might have ordered suspensions had they spoken out after the incident.

In response to the protests, IIT Bombay removed Professor Doolla from his administrative role, although he remains on the faculty.

The institute also issued a public apology for its previous communication that characterized the events leading to the student's death before a thorough investigation was conducted.

"Given the ongoing inquiry, it was inappropriate to outline or characterize details regarding the events preceding Sahil's death before they were properly established through the investigative process," the statement read, retracting earlier claims that Sahil was caught cheating but faced no disciplinary action.

Despite this, student groups expressed their dissatisfaction, demanding Doolla's suspension from faculty duties.

On Monday evening, faculty members organized a march on campus to show their support for Doolla. The Faculty Forum stated that he adhered to the 'Senate-approved exam procedure' when he reported the student for alleged phone usage on September 18.

Sahil's father, Ravindra Wakode, however, alleged that his son faced mockery, torture, and caste-based discrimination, calling for an investigation into the IIT Bombay administration's role in his son's death.

In light of the protests, security measures around the institute have been heightened.