Sahil Wakode’s death can’t be seen in isolation, IIT Bombay alumni write to Director

The death by suicide of Sahil Wakode cannot be viewed in isolation, alumni of Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IITB) said on Sunday (September 27, 2026). The incident pointed to a deeper problem within the academic environment, they said. In a letter written to the Director of the institute, a group of alumni have also expressed concerns over the increasingly “militarised campus” during exams. Calling for immediate, comprehensive reforms, they sought a survey of the students’ mental health and a humane approach to deal with instances of misconduct.

In the three-page letter, the alumni expressed deep anguish about a series of deaths by suicide at the institute. The 10 demands put forth by the past students include a call for an immediate and impartial investigation into specific allegations of caste-based harassment and improved mental health support, including diverse counselling and mandatory faculty sensitisation.