In the wake of the tragic demise of Sahil Wakode, a second-year undergraduate pursuing BTech at IIT Bombay, elected student representatives have issued an exhaustive clarification addressing the unrest on campus. The representative body explicitly stated that their ongoing advocacy should not be conflated with endorsing academic malpractice or exam misconduct. Instead, their central grievance focuses on the manner in which accused students are handled and the broader systemic pressures embedded within the premier technological institute.
Challenging Longstanding Administrative Practices
The student delegates explained that their formal appeal to relieve Professor Suryanarayan Doolla from the portfolio of Dean of Administrative Affairs was not an emotional or spontaneous outburst. Rather, it represents a unified voice against prolonged procedural deficits and unresolved mental health concerns that have burdened students over several academic sessions. Representatives noted that the unsettling sequence of occurrences leading up to the young student's death shook the entire student body, demonstrating an urgent need for institutional safeguards that shield individuals from overwhelming psychological distress.
According to the official position, the demonstrations were never intended to challenge academic discipline or protect wrongdoing. The student collective asserted that campus environments must cultivate empathy and safeguard individual dignity so that no learner feels driven to despair when confronting disciplinary actions. The core argument rests on separating fair disciplinary enforcement from punitive humiliation, urging the governing administration to construct a safe and supportive learning atmosphere.
Direct Dialogue and Commitments from the Director
Addressing the campus distress, student delegates compiled a structured set of actionable demands after wide consultation among peers. These institutional expectations were formally submitted to the Director of IIT Bombay. The administration acknowledged the gravity of the concerns, with the Director signing off on the charter and agreeing to enact necessary reforms within an agreed timeline.
A public interactive session was also organized, allowing students to articulate their fears and procedural grievances directly in front of the top leadership. During this collective meeting, the Director offered extensive clarifications on institutional protocols and welfare initiatives. The student council recognized this open dialogue as a constructive step toward systematically rebuilding institutional trust and repairing student-administration relations.
Objective Inquiries and Standing of Faculty
Regarding Professor Suryanarayan Doolla, the representatives were unequivocal in noting that their posture has never been to prematurely assign culpability or prejudge findings before due process concludes. They emphasized their continued recognition of him as a valued member of the academic faculty, maintaining that the formal inquiry must be conducted with absolute impartiality and independence.
Their request for his recusal from administrative responsibilities was designed purely to protect the integrity of the investigation. By stepping aside from the Dean's administrative post while deliberations remain active, the process remains free from perceptions of conflict of interest or institutional interference. The representative council reiterated that subsequent administrative steps should strictly reflect the factual findings generated through standard grievance channels.
Guarding Against External Political Exploitation
The representatives also cautioned against external groups attempting to repurpose this campus tragedy for broader political goals or divisive rhetoric. They maintained that challenges emerging from internal student realities must remain guided by the student collective and resolved within the boundaries of the institute itself.
Insisting that true campus reform relies on organic collaboration between enrolled scholars and administrative bodies, the representatives reaffirmed their dedication to enduring accountability and transparency. They reiterated their collective strength and resolve to work constructively with institute authorities to create a compassionate, student-centered educational environment for everyone.
