In the wake of the IIT-Kanpur Senate’s vote to revoke the PhD thesis of Dalit teacher Subrahmanyam Saderla last month, 400 academics and activists from across the world have signed a statement of solidarity with him, accusing the institution of running a “vendetta” against the young assistant professor of aerospace engineering.

Dr. Saderla, who completed his MTech and PhD degrees at IIT-Kanpur, joined the department in a teaching position in January 2018.

He accused four colleagues of caste-based discrimination and harassment, charges that were subsequently upheld by the institute’s own fact-finding commission, an inquiry by a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court, and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. First Information Reports have also been filed under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. However, reports suggest that IIT-Kanpur’s faculty forum has sided with the four professors and demanded that the institute defend them.

‘Thesis plagiarised’

In October 2018, an anonymous email complaint was sent to several faculty members alleging that sections of Dr. Saderla’s doctoral thesis were plagiarised. The institute’s Academic Ethics Cell investigated the complaint, and in November 2018, found that there was “no reason to revoke the thesis” and recommended that the scholar rewrite certain introductory passages and submit an apology as well.

However, on March 15, 2019, the IIT-K Senate voted to revoke his PhD thesis instead.

“The institute’s senate's actions smack of a vendetta against Dr. Saderla, following the success of his complaint of caste-based harassment and discrimination against four senior professors who enjoyed wide support among the institute’s faculty members,” said the solidarity statement, which was signed by academics from 16 countries.

Star support

Some renowned scientists who endorsed the statement include American mathematician and Fields Medal winner David Mumford, Indian physicist and Padma Bhushan awardee Ashoke Sen and US National Science Medal recipient Thomas Kailath.

Expressing dismay at “IIT-Kanpur’s vindictive attitude”, the statement called upon the Senate to rescind its recommendation to revoke Dr. Saderla’s thesis, and adhere to the institute’s own Academic Ethics Cell’s recommendations.

‘Take proactive steps’

“We further urge the IIT-Kanpur community, as members of one of India’s distinguished academic institutions, to take cognisance of the alleged climate of hostility and alienation suffered by scholars of marginalised social sections at the institute – whether students or faculty – and take proactive measures to address their concerns,” it added, noting that Dr. Saderla is one of only four Scheduled Caste faculty members at an institute with a total faculty strength of 394.