Working actively to create inclusive environment on campus, says IIT Bombay Director

IIT Bombay Director said the institute is working towards changing its undergraduate curriculum, starting with the batch of 2022, to make it more relevant and motivating to students and to reduce stress. 

After the death of Darshan Solanki, a student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay who allegedly died by jumping off the seventh floor of his hostel building on the campus, institute Director Subhasis Chaudhuri has shot yet another email to all students of the institute saying that the institute is working actively to create an inclusive campus where all students feel at home. 

Here is the full memo from IIT Bombay Director to students 

According to an email sent by the IIT Bombay Director to all students of the institute, “The Mumbai police and IIT Bombay are actively investigating into the environment/incidents/reasons for the tragic death of Darshan. The police has interviewed a large number of people, and has taken Darshan's phone and laptop for forensic analysis. We are waiting for updates from the police on the cause.” 

Reach out to in-house panel in case of relevant information: IITB Director 

He said, “In parallel, we have started our own investigation headed by Prof Nand Kishore, who till recently was our Chief Vigilance Officer, and is experienced in these matters. The committee includes SC/ST student cell members, including both faculty and students, some of the student mentor coordinators and the In-charge Chief Medical Officer of our hospital. The committee is actively meeting everyone who might have relevant information. If you have any information that you believe may be relevant, please reach out to the committee by either meeting any of the committee members, or by emailing Prof Nand Kishore (nandk@chem.iitb.ac.in) or to Powai Police.” 

In addition, the Director said there are some news articles in the media about the tragic death which are premature. Please note that the matter is sub-judice so we cannot comment on the causes until either police report or our inquiry committee report is ready. 

'Approach SC/ST students' cell in case of discimination'

Giving details of the existing support mechanisms, Subhasis Chaudhuri said they have an SC/ST students' cell where students can reach in case of any issues, including discrimination. Information about the cell is presented as part of the new student orientation to both students and their parents. 

“We are working actively to create an inclusive campus where all students feel at home. On the first day when students enter IIT, during their formal orientation, we give strong warnings against any discrimination. We also sensitise all students to not seek proxy information such as ranks in entrance exams. We have a very strict policy on discrimination by faculty, he said. 

He went on to add, “We have been taking multiple steps over the years to support and protect the mental health of our students. We have an active student mentor programme, which reaches out to all new students. Right from the orientation programme onwards, we encourage students to seek support from student counsellors at our Student Wellness Centre, which is now headed by Anisha Mathews, or from our hospital, whenever they need it.” 

The Director also wrote about bringing changes in UG curriculum. He said, “We are also working towards changes in our UG curriculum, starting with the batch of 2022, to make it more relevant and motivating to students, and to reduce some of the stress. 

Meanwhile, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study (APPSC), a student group within the IIT Bombay, issued a statement on the inconvenience they faced wihile submitting collective demands to the IIT Bombay administration to ensure justice for Solanki. They alleged that they were welcomed with hostility with an unusual deployment of security in every nook and corner of the building. They further alleged that the Chief Security Officer shouted at them and made incongruous statements, saying the space does not belong to students as it is a protected area by virtue of the space belonging to a central government institute.

Read more: 

• IITs face the heat as protest over student deaths grows 
• Student group wants details of committee set up to probe IIT Bombay student’s death  
• It was not a suicide, my brother was killed, says IIT Bombay student’s sister  
• IITB student who ended life had spoken of caste discrimination on campus: Student group