The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-Delhi) has asked faculty members to explain the choice of speakers and topics at a recent conference on caste and race. The institute has also set up a fact-finding committee to review concerns raised about the event.
The conference was organised by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and was held from January 16 to 18 at IIT-Delhi’s Senate Hall. It was titled “Critical Philosophy of Caste & Race (CPCR3): Celebrating 25 Years of Durban: Indian Contributions to Combatting Caste and Racism.”
What IIT-Delhi Said
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, IIT-Delhi said that serious concerns had been raised about the speakers and the content of the conference.
The institute said it has asked the concerned faculty to submit explanations. It has also formed a fact-finding panel with independent members to examine the issues. Based on the panel’s findings, further action will be taken as per institutional rules.
IIT-Delhi added that it remains committed to academic integrity, national goals, and its institutional guidelines.
Why the Conference Came Under Scrutiny
The decision followed critical posts on social media, especially on X, where some users accused the conference of presenting a one-sided view on caste. Some posts also called the discussions politically motivated and said that the event included activist viewpoints rather than neutral academic analysis.
These online reactions brought attention to the topics discussed and the people invited to speak.
Who Spoke at the Conference
According to the official programme, the conference opened with an introduction by Divya Dwivedi, Professor of Literature and Philosophy, and a welcome address by Abhijit Banerji, Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department.
The three-day event included keynote speeches, academic papers, and panel discussions by scholars and activists from India and abroad. The sessions focused on caste-based, race-based, and descent-based discrimination.
One of the sessions included a paper by Aarushi Punia, titled “What’s common between Dalits and Palestinians?” Other speakers included Thenmozhi Soundararajan, a Dalit rights activist from the US, Smita M Patil from IGNOU, and Tamil writer P Sivakami, who spoke about caste and gender.
Organisers Defend the Event
Professor Divya Dwivedi told The Indian Express that the conference was academic in nature and aimed to encourage critical thinking about social inequality. She said the event was based on existing academic research and focused on promoting constitutional values such as equality, liberty, dignity, and fraternity.
She also said the speakers included scholars, writers, and participants of the 2001 Durban World Conference Against Racism, many of whom have been part of recognised academic work.
Faculty Member Reacts
A member of the Humanities faculty said that this was not the first time the CPCR conference had been held. Similar concerns had been raised in earlier years as well. However, this is the first time IIT-Delhi has formed a formal fact-finding committee.
The faculty member also pointed out that other political or ideological conferences, including one on Hindutva, had been held on campus earlier without similar objections.
What Happens Next
The fact-finding panel will now review the concerns about the conference content and speaker selection. After the investigation is complete, IIT-Delhi will decide if any action is needed.
The issue has once again raised questions about the balance between academic freedom and institutional responsibility in Indian universities.