'He was strong, wouldn't kill himself,' says father of IIT Bombay student; grandmother alleges mental torture
MUMBAI: The maternal grandmother of IIT Bombay student Sahil Ravindra Wakode , who died by suicide on September 18, on Monday alleged that “mental torture” may have been a reason behind his death and sought a probe into the institute’s administration and hostel environment.
Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on the IIT Bombay campus in Powai on the evening of September 18.
The incident led to protests by students and a police case against a professor under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint by Wakode’s parents alleging caste discrimination and harassment.
Speaking to reporters, Wakode’s maternal grandmother Shyamlata Tayade said, "Mental torture by IIT Bombay can be a reason behind Sahil's suicide."
Calling for equal treatment of all students, she said the institute’s administration and hostel environment should be investigated if bright students like Wakode are driven to end their lives.
"At home, Sahil had a lot of support from relatives and others as he was fulfilling everyone's dream of studying at IIT. All relatives would always wish him well," she said.
Tayade said no one could believe that Wakode had died by suicide as he was very bright in his studies.
She also said the institute should first inform the parents when such an incident takes place.
"He was his parents only son. To me it seems that not just Sahil but even his parents have been killed. Because now for what will his parents live? My only plea is that Sahil's family must get justice," she asserted.
Earlier, speaking to a news channel, Wakode’s father Ravindra had claimed that his only son was subjected to relentless caste-based mocking and torture by a professor and the administration.
Ravindra Wakode said Sahil was brought up in extreme poverty and had managed to secure admission to the premier institute.
He alleged that IIT faculty members and officials from the administration had discriminated against Sahil on caste lines and falsely targeted him, and demanded a probe into their role in his son’s death.
Ravindra Wakode asserted that his son was strong and was not someone who could commit suicide.
"The IIT Bombay administration tortured my son and discriminated against him on caste lines," he claimed.
Wakode alleged that his son would talk about a professor who would call him lower caste, torture and mock him with false accusations.
The professor concerned, whom he did not identify, was supported by the institute’s director, he claimed.
(With Agency Inputs)
Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on the IIT Bombay campus in Powai on the evening of September 18.
The incident led to protests by students and a police case against a professor under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint by Wakode’s parents alleging caste discrimination and harassment.
Speaking to reporters, Wakode’s maternal grandmother Shyamlata Tayade said, "Mental torture by IIT Bombay can be a reason behind Sahil's suicide."
Calling for equal treatment of all students, she said the institute’s administration and hostel environment should be investigated if bright students like Wakode are driven to end their lives.
"At home, Sahil had a lot of support from relatives and others as he was fulfilling everyone's dream of studying at IIT. All relatives would always wish him well," she said.
Tayade said no one could believe that Wakode had died by suicide as he was very bright in his studies.
She also said the institute should first inform the parents when such an incident takes place.
"He was his parents only son. To me it seems that not just Sahil but even his parents have been killed. Because now for what will his parents live? My only plea is that Sahil's family must get justice," she asserted.
Earlier, speaking to a news channel, Wakode’s father Ravindra had claimed that his only son was subjected to relentless caste-based mocking and torture by a professor and the administration.
Ravindra Wakode said Sahil was brought up in extreme poverty and had managed to secure admission to the premier institute.
He alleged that IIT faculty members and officials from the administration had discriminated against Sahil on caste lines and falsely targeted him, and demanded a probe into their role in his son’s death.
Ravindra Wakode asserted that his son was strong and was not someone who could commit suicide.
"The IIT Bombay administration tortured my son and discriminated against him on caste lines," he claimed.
Wakode alleged that his son would talk about a professor who would call him lower caste, torture and mock him with false accusations.
The professor concerned, whom he did not identify, was supported by the institute’s director, he claimed.
(With Agency Inputs)
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