‘Our generation was mentally strong’: Congress leader on IIT-B suicide case
A Congress spokesperson sparked controversy by defending an IIT Bombay professor accused of harassment following a student's suicide. The debate centers on academic discipline versus mental health support and allegations of caste-based discrimination.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intense pressure within elite Indian educational institutions and the ongoing discourse regarding student mental health and caste sensitivity.
NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Monday expressed solidarity with an IIT Bombay professor accused by the father of a second-year BTech student of harassing his son, saying that students in her generation were “mentally strong”.The student, from IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering, allegedly died by suicide on Friday evening after he was found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.The Mumbai Police has transferred the case to the Crime Branch after the student’s father filed a complaint alleging that IIT Bombay professor and exam invigilator Suryanarayana Doolla had hurled casteist slurs at his son over the past three months. An FIR has been registered against Doolla.Reacting to the controversy, Mohamed wrote: “In this suicide, I stand with Professor Doolla. If a student is caught cheating, it is normal to admonish him & ask him to leave the room.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in