August 9, 2024
Samirul Islam’s Zero Hour mention condemning pushing IIT students to write essays on Modi to mark his birthday and on ways to improve IITs by removing political interference, reducing high fees and increasing funding
Sir, Shri Narendra Modi’s 74th birthday is on the forthcoming 17th September. I would like to convey greetings to him in advance through you. But the funny thing is that IIT Kharagpur asked their students to partake in essay-writing prior to the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. The topic was decided, “How Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened India’s global relations”. I myself am an IIT alumni. I would like to raise a few questions before the Indian Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi through you . Firstly, 14 years ago, when I came to study at IIT Delhi, the admission fees were low and thus many students from poor and agricultural background like me could afford to study here. Since the Modi Government came into power, they have repeatedly increased the fees of IITs and many such institutions. Many reports say that there has been an increase of 300% in the fees. Hence many meritorious students from rural India who aspired to study in the IIT are right now having nightmares doubting whether they have adequate resources to study at an IIT. We saw a decrease of 10000 Crore rupees for Higher Education in this year’s budget as compared to the previous year. Not only that, Indian Government is imposing taxes on the chemicals that scientists use in the laboratory. Many such funds that were allotted for the researchers has also been discontinued and thus many scientists are not being able to continue their research. The management of institutions like IITs are being filled with people who are party loyalist and extremists. As a result, superstitions are increasing in the IITs, and, unscientific thinking is being inducted into the student’s mind. Discourses around Veg and Non-Veg food preferences are being encouraged. If we can’t maintain a superstition-absolved atmosphere in the IITs, India can never progress. We all are aware that institutions like IIT, IISc, IACS have created many great scientists who are now working around the globe. I will read out a notification to you from the year 2020 which was issued from an IIT, “The panel of foreign examiner for PhD theses’ evaluation shall consist of at least three examiners from non-Indian origin Sir, the Indian scientists are being demeaned. The Party loyalists from the IITs are doing this. Through you, I want to convey this to Indian Government and Prime Minister, that if we keep reiterating the motto “Viksit Bharat” and if we really want this to be realised, then, we need to create IITs which are free of all prejudices.
