Over 500 students protest at IIT Delhi after suicides
A large number of students have begun protesting at IIT Delhi following recent tragic events.
IIT Delhi witnessed a large-scale protest by students on Monday. Students began gathering near the lecture hall complex at 9 a.m. By evening, around 300 students had assembled in the lobby on the first floor of the institute's main building, outside the Director's office, demanding accountability from the IIT Delhi administration.
According to a report by Indian Express, the protest occurred two days after the death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student Rishikesh. It is alleged that he committed suicide by jumping from the sixth floor of a campus building. According to the students, this was the eighth suicide at the institute since 2023. They demanded the resignation of a Dean and an Associate Dean, an independent investigation, and compensation for Rishikesh's family.
This was the second suicide at the institute this year. In March, a 19-year-old B Tech student was found dead in his apartment on campus.
In a campus where student protests are not common, the large gathering on Monday was concerning. A student said,
We are not here after just one suicide. Not even after two. We are here after eight deaths. Why is this not enough for them?
The protest began with students gathering near the lecture hall complex in the morning and discussing their demands. Their demands included the resignation of Associate Dean of Student Welfare Professor Shridevi Upadhyayula, an investigation into the deaths, and ₹1 crore compensation for Rishikesh's family.
After observing a moment of silence in memory of Rishikesh, students raised slogans against the university administration's apathy.
A student said,
Rishikesh had taken a semester off due to mental health issues following his father's death earlier this year. He had undergone treatment for over a month.
Another student said,
When he returned to the hostel at the end of July, his name had been removed from the hostel list due to his leave. Despite fitness clearance from the hospitals where Rishikesh was treated, he was asked to get another clearance from the IIT Delhi hospital before being allotted a room.
A student said,
Eventually, he was forced to live in a rented house outside the campus with his mother.
Another protesting student said,
Whenever we try to talk about our problems, they say, 'If you can't handle it, leave.' They lack sensitivity.
As the protest gained momentum, the administration cancelled all classes on Monday. By late afternoon, the protest shifted from the lecture hall complex to the main building.
By 5 p.m., the lobby outside IIT Delhi Director Ranjan Banerjee's office on the first floor had become the focal point of the protest, with around 500 students gathered there. Banerjee had already received the list of student demands and was in talks with student representatives along with Professor Shridevi. Around 5:30 p.m., Banerjee emerged from his office. Students raised slogans. He announced that an inquiry committee would be formed. However, he also stated that Professor Shridevi would not resign at that time. This led to a change in the students' response, and they began hooting in protest. Professor Shridevi was escorted out through the back entrance of the building.
A student said,
If she cannot face us, how will she solve our problems?
Another student said,
If our credits fall short, we are punished. Then why shouldn't they be punished? If we can't feel safe talking to them about our problems, what's the point of them being in that position?
On the issue of compensation, Banerjee said that Rishikesh's mother, who is alone, would be given ₹6 lakh along with all medical expenses incurred on Rishikesh's treatment. This announcement did not provide much relief to the protesting students. A student said,
What is a single mother supposed to do with ₹6 lakh? They were already struggling financially.
According to the police's preliminary investigation, Rishikesh entered the IIT Delhi campus through the main gate around 8 a.m. on Saturday. He then went to the lecture hall complex and took the lift to the sixth floor. According to a senior police officer, he then jumped from the front of the building.