Mumbai – The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay is under scrutiny as a cloud of apprehension hovers over the department of Humanities and Social Science (HSS), following the abrupt cancellation of a scheduled lecture by Professor Achin Vanaik on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Nearly 50 students from the HSS department have taken a stand against what they perceive as a deteriorating state of academic freedom within their academic realm.
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the Head of the Department (HOD), these students express their collective disquiet about the stifling of their academic autonomy. The missive unequivocally posits, “To restrict us from engaging with eminent academicians or to subject us to the specter of administrative intimidation through the recording of our intellectual pursuits is tantamount to the annihilation of our cherished academic liberty.”
In an open challenge to this curtailment, the students assert that their research endeavors often involve the critical analysis of government policies. They delve into the subtleties of Indian society, grappling with multifaceted issues such as caste, class, and gender, which remain paramount for comprehensive understanding. Furthermore, their explorations encompass the intricate fabric of international relations. While such intellectual discourse aligns with the pursuit of knowledge, these scholars lament the sudden cancellations of scholarly dialogues and conferences on the pretext of them not being ‘academic’ enough. Furthermore, they decry the constrained utilization of department spaces for activities like book discussions, film screenings, and seminars in fields like history, sociology, literature, and philosophy. These critical discussions, they argue, are of vital importance and contribute to the academic landscape.
As the controversy deepens, the IIT administration remains tight-lipped on the matter, offering no comment to address these growing concerns.
