A day after Professor Suryanarayana Doolla was booked in a dubious ‘caste discrimination’ case, students and alumni who were mentored by the IIT-Bombay faculty member have extended support to him.
The students and alumni of the Power Engineering Laboratory (which comes under the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT-Bombay) have exclusively shared the following statement with OpIndia.
“In the wake of recent events and public allegations concerning Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, we, the current and former research scholars and students who have worked, learned, and grown under his mentorship in the Power Engineering Lab, feel a profound moral and personal obligation to speak.
Public discourse often compresses complex institutional and human realities into polarized, one dimensional narratives. While we do not claim knowledge of every aspect under official inquiry, nor do we seek to diminish the gravity of any tragedy, justice cannot exist in the absence of truth, context, and due process. We know Professor Surya not from headlines or hearsay, but through years of daily academic engagement, personal mentorship, and shared challenges. We know his character, his ethics, and his unwavering commitment to his students.
Our experience of Professor Surya has consistently been that of an approachable, fair, and deeply supportive guide. Over the years, he actively cultivated a lab environment grounded in intellectual freedom, repeatedly reminding us that meaningful research requires the space to explore, make mistakes, and grow without undue fear or pressure. For us, these were never empty words; they defined our daily reality in the Power Engineering Lab. He gave us the confidence to face academic failure, the patience to work through research blocks, and the encouragement to find our own paths.
We share these pictures because they show the real person we know every day. This is our lab as we lived it, full of shared meals, late night troubleshooting, and patient encouragement across all these years.
Beyond our laboratory, we witnessed firsthand the immense strain and responsibility he shouldered as Dean (Student Affairs). Decisions affecting students and the institute require navigating delicate balances between academic standards, administrative mandates, and legal regulations. We observed the seriousness, conscientiousness, and integrity with which he approached these thankless responsibilities, always striving to balance institutional considerations with empathy and student welfare.
To remain silent today would be a disservice to someone who consistently stood by his students during their most vulnerable and difficult moments.
We urge the administration, the investigating authorities, the media, and the wider public to uphold the sanctity of due process. A rigorous, impartial, and evidence based inquiry is essential. Prejudgment, sensationalism, and the mischaracterization of standard administrative and academic duty do not just harm a dedicated educator, they erode the essential foundation of trust, candor, and mentorship necessary for any academic institution to function.
Professor Surya taught us resilience, integrity, and courage. Today, we stand by him with unshakeable respect, gratitude, and solidarity.
Signed in Solidarity, the Students and Alumni of the Power Engineering Lab, IIT Bombay
- Amit Saklani, MTech 2013
- Aneena Felix, MTech 2013
- Srijan Som, MTech 2013
- Amit Singh, Research Associate 2013 to 2015
- Mridul Kumar, MTech 2017
- Minu Martin, MTech 2022
- Deepika Chhetija, PhD 2024
- Yusuf Gupta, PhD 2021
- Abhishek Tiwari, M.Tech 2016
- Diptiman Dey, PhD pursuing
- Salil Madhav Dubey, PhD pursuing
- Vamshi Mudavath, M.Tech 2026
- Vishal Shukla, PhD pursuing
- Imran Khan, PhD, 2025
- Munesh Kumar Singh, PhD pursuing
- KP Vineeth, M.Tech 2024
- Kanishka M R, M.Tech 2024
- Vedant Chandak B.Tech+M.Tech 2024
- Sushrut Thakar, B.Tech + M.Tech 2018
- Ravi Vaidya, B.Tech + M.Tech 2017
- Gautam Matkar, M.Tech 2017
- Rahul Nellikkath, B.Tech + M.Tech 2019
Personal Testimonials of students and Alumni
Amit Singh: “I was facing health issues during my stay at IITB. I have developed kidney stones and requested sir for a leave as the pain was difficult to bear. Sir is not known to give out speeches, but his actions leave a deep impact on how to be in difficult situations. He allowed me to work from home till I fully recovered. Although he had many commitments, he would drop a message and sometimes call to check on my health. Sir has been our pride and a true mentor. It’s very sad and painful that they are accusing him of something that he can never do.”
Yusuf Gupta: “A young man, Sahil Wakode, died at IIT Bombay this week. Before anything else, my thoughts are with his parents, siblings and family, and I hope the inquiry into what happened is both thorough and impartial.
I also find that I cannot stay quiet about a person I have known well, Prof.Suryanarayana Doolla. He was my PhD supervisor at the Department of Energy Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay.”
At any given time in our research lab, one would find students and researchers from different parts of India, of different religions and socio-economic backgrounds, all coming together as one group, under his mentorship. What I remember is that he strove to create an environment of academic and personal freedom, great mutual respect, and constant encouragement during difficult times.”
Salil Mahadev Dubey : “It takes years of hard work to become a professor. But becoming a professor whom students can approach without hesitation comes from one’s nature and mindset.
For me,Suryanarayana Doolla has always been one of those rare “cool” professors. He is calm, approachable and flexible with students, yet sincere and disciplined about his responsibilities.
I have known him closely as my PhD guide, teacher and mentor. Even while carrying significant administrative responsibilities, he always made time to listen and help students. During his tenure as Dean (Student Affairs), I witnessed his emphasis on student wellbeing, including his efforts around the Student Wellness Centre.
The irony I find impossible to overlook is that someone who, as Dean SA, took administrative steps intended to prevent caste-based identification and discrimination among students is today himself facing an allegation of caste discrimination.
The loss of a young student is deeply tragic, and my heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones. It deserves sensitivity and a fair investigation. At the same time, an allegation is not a conclusion. The facts must emerge through due process.
Over the years, in my interactions with Prof.Suryanarayana Doolla as my teacher, PhD guide and mentor, I have always found him approachable, supportive and deeply concerned about student wellbeing. That has been my experience of him, and it is the experience I feel is important to share today.
I stand with my guide, mentor and teacher.”
The Background of the Case
For the unversed, a 2nd-year BTech student at IIT Bombay named Sahil Wakode took his own life on Friday (18th September) after being caught red-handed by Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. He later committed suicide in his hostel room.
Thereafter, protests emerged in the campus of the institute, demanding action against the esteemed faculty member. A day later, on Saturday (19th September), Sahil’s parents alleged that Professor Doolla had been mentally harassing and using casteist slurs against their son for 3 months at the behest of IIT Bombay’s Director Shireesh Kedare.
It must be mentioned that no single complaint was ever filed against Professor Doola or Shireesh Kedare either with the administration or the SC/ST cell of IIT Bombay during Sahil’s tenure at the institute.
