Protest in IITG campus: Dean of Academic Affairs quits, students demand resignation of another professor

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 10, 2024

In response to the intensifying protests by students at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) following the tragic death of a student by suicide, the Dean of Academic Affairs, KV Krishna, has resigned from his position.

The resignation comes amidst growing pressure from the students, who have been protesting against the administration’s handling of mental health concerns and the academic pressure faced by students on campus.

The students have also demanded the resignation of Assistant Professor Rajkumar Thummer. The students accuse him of breaching the code of conduct and engaging in various malpractices in actions taken against students. Allegations against Professor Thummer include unfair treatment, misuse of authority, and actions that have caused harm to students, both academically and personally.

The protests began after a student was found dead in his room at Brahmaputra Hostel on Monday morning, prompting widespread outrage among students. They organized a candlelight vigil and held an open house meeting, demanding accountability and immediate action to address the rising number of suicides at IITG.

The students have expressed their deep concerns regarding the rising number of suicides on campus, demanding accountability and immediate action from the administration. On Tuesday, they organized a candlelight vigil to mourn the tragic death of a student who died by suicide in his room at the Brahmaputra Hostel on Monday morning.

On Tuesday, the students organised a candlelight vigil to mourn the death of the student.

Following the vigil, an open house meeting was held, where students voiced their demands and concerns to the administration. They called for the immediate resignation of those in the institution who have been responsible for creating an environment of excessive pressure, which many believe has contributed to the rise in suicide cases on campus.

In the open house meeting, the students highlighted issues of mental health neglect, administrative insensitivity, and the lack of proper support mechanisms to address the challenges they face.

Protesting students have alleged negligence on the part of the authorities, claiming that the hostel guard failed to open the gate in time, which contributed to the delay in finding him.

The agitating students alleged that they have not received any reply from the administration on their charter of demands.

The students alleged that the administration is either not responding or is dismissively rejecting student concerns, particularly related to medical and academic issues. This reflects a lack of proper communication and empathy towards the student body.

The administration’s refusal to recognize its own placement cell, penalizing a student for a one-week delay in internship completion, suggests inflexibility and a punitive approach.

The refusal to verify valid medical certificates issued by the IITG Hospital, leading to the failure of over 40 students, shows a disregard for student health concerns. Students reportedly appealed for summer courses, but their pleas were rejected by the Dean of Academic Affairs without explanation, affecting their internship opportunities.

The students further alleged that administration officials laughed at a protest and even at a deceased student’s body is highly alarming. Such behaviour, if true, reflects a shocking lack of empathy and respect, especially during a tragic event.

They said the authorities threaten students by holding their degrees hostage or forcing them to delete social media posts, even threatening their parents, is an abuse of authority.

Morever the administrators allegedly blamed students for their own isolation and mental health struggles, telling them to “make friends” in response to serious concerns, such as suicides.