Tragic death of OBC student at IIM-B raises concerns

A few weeks ago, Associate Prof. Dr Gopal Das from the SC community, had accused IIM-B officials of workplace discrimination

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

The death of Nilay Patel, an OBC student at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), has brought back concerns over alleged discrimination and lack of support systems within premier educational institutions. Nilay, a postgraduate student, was found dead in his hostel room on Sunday morning, and while the exact cause of death is still under investigation, sources suggest it might be a case of suicide as per reports.

This tragedy follows a similar incident last year, when a student from a marginalised community reportedly died by suicide at IIMB, though the issue did not receive widespread attention. Activists and student organisations argue that these incidents highlight systemic problems, including insufficient mental health support and the absence of mechanisms to address discrimination. IIMB, in its official statement, expressed deep sorrow at Nilay's passing, describing him as a bright student who would be greatly missed by the IIMB family. The statement read, “It is with profound sadness that IIM Bangalore shares the news of the untimely passing of our PGP 2023-25 student, Nilay Kailashbhai Patel. A bright student, and a much loved friend to many, Nilay will be sorely missed by the entire IIMB family.

In this difficult time, we request consideration, respect, and privacy for him and his family.” However, many activists, including Kiran Kumar Gowd, National President of the All India OBC Students' Association (AIOBCSA), have called for greater transparency and accountability from the institution. Gowd emphasised the need for the institution to not only address this specific incident but also to take actionable steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This comes after allegations of caste discrimination in the institute against a professor.

A few weeks ago, the Karnataka Social Welfare Department had directed Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda to take action against IIM-B officials, including Director Dr. Rishikesha T. Krishnan, over caste-based discrimination allegations. The inquiry followed a complaint from Dr Gopal Das, an associate professor from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, who accused senior IIM-B officials of workplace discrimination. The investigation revealed caste bias, including the public disclosure of Dr. Das's caste. IIM-B denied the allegations, stating that Dr. Das's promotion was withheld due to harassment complaints. Legal action was recommended against six officials under the SC/ST Act.