Why the humanities belong in the IITs

At the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), a cultural divide has surfaced between engineering and humanities students, leading to a heated "culture war." This conflict erupted at IIT Bombay following the suicide of a student, Sahil Wakode, triggering protests led primarily by humanities and social sciences (HSS) doctoral students.

These students argued against a professor who faced a charge under the SC/ST Act. The protests culminated in the professor losing his position and being placed on leave. Meanwhile, engineering students perceived these protests as disruptive, asserting their campus as a place for STEM and management excellence. The campus is split, with student councils distancing themselves from disruptive protests, leading to a standoff between the two groups.