IIT Bombay finds itself in controversy after a flyer promoting a workshop titled “South Asian Capitalism(s)” drew sharp criticism. The flyer depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Yogi Adityanath under the caption “We Fool You,” with security forces shown as “We Shoot You” elements critics called incendiary and disrespectful.

The institute immediately distanced itself, claiming it had no prior knowledge of the flyer, and severed formal associations with faculty behind the workshop, including removing its name from associated materials. References to the event were taken down from institute-linked sites.

This episode reopened a larger debate: should humanities and liberal arts be part of premier technical institutes like IITs? Critics argue these subjects bring ideological bias and distract from core STEM goals. Supporters counter that interdisciplinary education mandated under NEP-2020 and earlier reports adds depth, ethical reasoning, and prepares students to navigate society’s complexities.

The controversy highlights tensions between academic freedom, public accountability (especially in taxpayer-funded institutions), and the political sensitivities of criticism. As technical institutes increasingly host humanities courses and workshops, balancing free inquiry with responsible conduct is becoming an urgent challenge.