MUMBAI: In a step towards making the institute more inclusive in the wake of a first-year student, Darshan Solanki, died by suicide on campus, IIT-Bombay has asked its students to refrain from asking each other’s JEE (Advanced) ranks or their GATE scores or any information that may reveal their caste or other related aspects. Asking the rank ‘could appear like an attempt to find the caste and may set the stage for discrimination’, mentioned a set of ‘anti-discrimination’ guidelines made public by the institute as the new batch of 2023-24 joins the campus.

The guidelines urge students to bond with each other irrespective of their caste, religion or socio-economic status. It also prohibits students from sending messages or jokes that are abusive, casteist, sexist, or exhibit bigotry.
Solanki’s family had reportedly alleged that a college mate ‘reduced talking to him after knowing his JEE rank’. An institute spokesperson, however, said that various institute bodies/cells have always emphasised on IIT-Bombay’s zero tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination, during every orientation session for undergraduate and postgraduate entrants.

“Each hostel and department/centre, too, have had posters from various cells. This year, the content from various cells’ posters/orientations, in the context of anti-discrimination, has been compiled into one poster and is being circulated for both new and existing students,” said a spokesperson for the institute.
The guidelines state that the institute considers it inappropriate to ask a fellow student about their birth/admission category, as it could lead to conscious or subconscious bias. “It is equally inappropriate for students to ask others about their JEE ranks/GATE scores… While the student asking the question may feel it is innocent and it may be driven purely by curiosity, asking the question may have an adverse impact on the other student…” mentioned the guideline.
The institute went a step further and urged students to introduce, interact, or bond over commonalities such as department, sports, music, movies, school, college, village, town or hobbies. The guidelines prohibit students from exchanging or forwarding hateful, casteist messages or jokes or the ones that exhibit bigotry based on religion or sexual orientation or those that can be construed as harassment or bullying. It also prohibits students from posting such messages on online forums, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, e-mail.
The administration warned students of severe punishment in case of violations of rules and added that politeness and sensitivity towards others’ feelings is expected from all. The guidelines mentioned that the institute implements the reservation policy under the Constitution in letter and in spirit, and strives to provide equal opportunities to all admitted students. The institute has stepped up its initiatives to curb caste discrimination on the campus, said a student, hoping that it would make a difference.