Sahil Wakode’s death cannot be seen in isolation, IIT Bombay alumni write to director

Sahil Wakode’s suicide cannot be viewed in isolation, the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IITB) alumni said on Sunday (September 27, 2026). According to them, the incident pointed to a deeper problem in the academic environment. In a letter written to the director of the institute, the alumni group also raised concerns about an increasingly “militarized campus” during exams. They called for immediate comprehensive reforms and sought to conduct a survey of student mental health and a humane approach to dealing with cases of misconduct.

In a three-page letter, the alumni expressed deep concern over the series of suicides at the institute. The 10 demands raised by past students include a call for immediate and impartial investigation into specific allegations of caste-based harassment and improved mental health support, including diversity counseling and mandatory faculty sensitization.

“We sincerely hope that the institute will take concrete steps to ensure that the academic climate at IITB is egalitarian, humane and conducive to intellectual growth. This requires addressing caste, class and gender inequalities as well as other forms of exclusion that are deeply rooted in our society and can manifest in academic institutions,” said the letter, accessed by The Hindu.

Wakode, 20, second year B.Tech. student at IIT Bombay, reportedly died by suicide on 18 September 2026. His parents accused him of caste discrimination. An internal investigation by the IIT and a criminal investigation by the Bombay Crime Branch are underway.

“There have been four student suicides at IIT Bombay in the last year alone. In the last three years, two of the students who died – Sahil Wakode and Darshan Solanki – belonged to the Dalit community. The bigger picture across IITs is equally disturbing,” the letter said.

She cited media reports that an alleged 45 suicides were reported in 23 IITs in the last five years. Schedule Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) and female students have been disproportionately represented among those who have died by suicide in India’s premier institutes in the past few years. “These numbers point to a deeper problem: the compounding effects of performance pressure on students coupled with deep-rooted caste/class/gender situations and their alienation from a creative, inquisitive and enjoyable academic life,” the former students said.

“militarized campus”

Graduates have expressed strong reservations about the change in the institute’s academic culture in recent years. “Recently, the campus has increasingly resembled a militarized zone with the deployment of police and other security forces during exams. Students are checked by private security personnel before entering the exam halls. This was not part of the academic culture during our time at IITB and such measures fundamentally change the character of the academic institution,” they said.

The alumni demanded a comprehensive survey on student mental health, including an assessment of the influence of supervisors and teachers, to ensure that it takes into account the gender, caste, religious and linguistic diversity of the student community. They also urged that the institute’s health unit be adequately staffed with diverse counselors and therapists, including those from the LGBTQ+ and SC/ST/OBC (Other Backward Classes) communities, to create a safe space for marginalized students and improve the quality of mental health support with empathy and dignity.

Sensitization of faculty

The letter called for mandatory and regular sensitization programs for faculty members on mental health issues and specific issues faced by students from marginalized backgrounds. “This sensitization must go beyond simply preventing discrimination to actively cultivating an understanding of and responsiveness to student needs,” the letter said. It was also suggested to improve the current teacher-student ratio of 1:18.

The graduates demanded an impartial probe into the allegations of caste harassment faced by Wakode and a fair investigation into the allegations against the teacher in question. They welcomed the institute’s decision to suspend the dean of academic affairs pending an investigation. They also demanded full institutional support for Wakode’s family through investigations and legal proceedings, especially in view of the loss of their only son.

The letter demanded that the protesting students not be criminalized. “We urge the institute to maintain a healthy academic environment during this difficult period. The IITB administration must listen to the genuine grievances of the protesting students and address their demands through a peaceful, transparent and democratic process, without the use of force or coercive means,” the alumni said.

The said letter was signed by 79 past students of IIT Bombay. The director was emailed Sunday evening. Despite repeated attempts, the public relations officer of the institute did not respond to questions about the letter.

This article contains links to suicide and mental health issues. Those in distress may contact Sanjivini, Mental Health Society’s Suicide Prevention Line: 011-40769002.

Published – 27 Sep 2026 23:48 IST