After the untimely death of a 21-year-old B. Tech student at IIT-Guwahati, Professor Kanduru V. Krishna, the institute’s academic dean, resigned amid mounting tensions and demonstrations.
The deceased student, originally from Uttar Pradesh was pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, had been found hanging in his hostel room on September 9. This incident prompted significant resentment among students, who staged a massive protest accusing the institution of fostering a “toxic environment.”
They demanded Professor Krishna’s removal from his position, citing excessive academic pressure as a contributing factor to the student’s death.
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Hundreds of students gathered outside the administration building, waving posters and singing slogans, to express their worries about the academic atmosphere and pressures at the university. One student who was protesting told IANS that several students failed due to short attendance, even though they got good marks in the examination. “In our batch, at least 200 students failed due to low attendance. This is unacceptable. One or two students might have done something wrong, but such a huge number of pupils can not be found on the wrong foot,” the student continued.
As the protests grew, IIT-Guwahati authorities accepted Professor Krishna’s resignation.
According to IANS, Professor Krishna, an alumnus of IIT Delhi, completed his Ph.D. in 2006, following a Master’s in Mathematics from Andhra University. He is known for his research in General Algebra and Theoretical Computer Science. His resignation comes amid increasing scrutiny over the mental health and well-being of students in high-pressure academic environments like IITs.
On Monday, IIT Guwahati issued a statement stating that students’ well-being is their “top priority” and that they are deeply saddened to report the death of a student from their community. A spokesman expressed heartfelt condolences to the student’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.
The institution encouraged students to seek out their support networks to provide a secure and supportive environment for all students.
— with IANS inputs
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