Protesting IIT-B students begin hunger strike
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IIT Bombay students have launched a two-day hunger strike demanding accountability following the death of second-year student Sahil Wakode. The protest has intensified after the deceased student's parents were denied permission to continue their agitation at Azad Maidan.
Escalating Tensions at IIT Bombay
The academic community at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay is currently navigating a period of profound unrest. Following the tragic death of second-year B. Tech student Sahil Wakode on September 18, 2026, students have maintained a continuous protest on campus for over fifteen days. This agitation reached a critical inflection point on October 2, 2026, when student organizers initiated a two-day hunger strike at the institute's 'Justice Corner' to force a direct response from the administration.
Demands for Institutional Accountability
The core of the student movement is centered on a demand for systemic accountability. Protesters have explicitly called for the resignation of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. The students argue that the administration’s initial refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue—specifically Director Kedare’s failure to meet protesting students at the campus gate—has effectively paralyzed communication, leaving a hunger strike as their only remaining avenue to amplify their grievances regarding the circumstances of Sahil Wakode's death.
The Impact of Parental Advocacy
The situation is further complicated by the concurrent struggle of the Wakode family. Ravindra Wakode, the father of the deceased student, has been a central figure in seeking justice for his son. However, the movement faced a logistical setback when police denied him permission to continue his protest at Azad Maidan during the weekends. This denial has shifted the focus of the family's advocacy toward the Powai campus, creating a potential convergence of student activists and grieving family members at the institute's gates.
Broader Implications for Campus Governance
This protest highlights a growing friction between elite technical institutions and their student bodies regarding mental health, administrative transparency, and the handling of tragic incidents. The demand for the arrest of a faculty member, Professor Doolla, indicates that students perceive the issue as not merely a personal tragedy, but one stemming from institutional failure or academic pressure. The intensity of this movement suggests that students are no longer satisfied with internal inquiries and are demanding public accountability.
Future Trends and Outlook
As the hunger strike progresses and the Wakode family prepares to visit the campus, the likelihood of a standoff between the administration and the protesters increases. The ability of the IIT Bombay leadership to de-escalate the situation will depend on their willingness to provide transparency into the investigation surrounding Sahil Wakode's death. Failure to address these demands may lead to a prolonged period of instability, potentially forcing broader regulatory or oversight interventions in how top-tier Indian engineering institutes manage student welfare and crisis communication.
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