Campus split over caste allegations

Mumbai: The ongoing controversy surrounding the suicide of an IIT-Bombay student and the caste-related allegations in the case has raised questions among students and faculty on the campus. While the parents of the deceased have alleged that their child faced caste-based discrimination, differing views have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

To understand the perspective of Gen Z on the matter, ‘The Perfect Voice’ spoke to several college students.

A second-year student, Divyansh Ojha, said that the professor should not be held responsible for the suicide. “The professor has not done anything wrong. I support Professor Surya in this case. If any other teacher had been in the professor’s place and caught a student cheating in an examination, he or she would have done the same thing. He cannot be held at fault for that,” Ojha said.

Speaking about the B Tech student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide, Ojha said the student may have been experiencing mental-health difficulties that led to the extreme step. “His parents are misusing the SC/ST Act. I understand that the issue of caste discrimination can be genuine, but you cannot blame the entire incident on the professor. Having the SC/ST Act does not mean that one can blame anyone and ruin their life. I am clearly supporting the professor here,” he added.

Another student, who requested anonymity, said that, based on the information available about the case, the professor was being treated unfairly. “We are literally trying to justify cheating here,” the student said.

Commenting on the protests, the student added, “I do not even know the purpose behind their protest.”

A third-year student, Aamna, said she saw arguments on both sides of the controversy but raised questions about the role of caste in the public discussion surrounding the case. “I am on both sides, but I have a simple question: if the student had not belonged to the SC or ST category but had been from the general category, would this case have become a headline in the media?” she asked.

She added, “I do not think that he would have committed suicide just because he was accused of cheating. We only know the tip of the iceberg. So, surely, this is more than just a case of suicide.”

Another female student, who requested anonymity, alleged that the SC/ST Act was being misused against the professor. “The case tells us how the SC/ST Act is getting misused against such an intellectual professor who has been successful as a teacher as well,” she said.

She further said, “Today, everyone talks about India’s youth producing semiconductor chips, working with Qualcomm and advancing quantum computing. How will we do it if we do injustice to professors like these?”

The students’ responses reflect the differing opinions on campus, with some questioning the allegations against the professor and others highlighting the broader issue of caste and discrimination in educational institutions. However, the students believe the circumstances surrounding the fellow student’s death and the claims of caste-based discrimination need to be assessed on the basis of verified evidence.