The Academic Imperialism and the IIT : Part 2

But the students of IIT are not the only people who are stakeholders in the IIT hegemony. There are many. Non-IITians who keep seeking internships, campus exposure, participation in the petty tech-fests are much more responsible hegemonists of IIT. There are some who introduce themselves as IITians to strangers too after doing petty trainings at IIT. But what it clearly shows the imperialism that IIT has already established in the academic world. And how much it effects the mind of both kinds of people : those who make it, and those who dont. IIT has nothing to pay back to the middle class of this country which has been "hegemony"sing it since the last 50 years. It is this hegemony, which has lead to more easy loans for IITians, and a separate column for IIT graduates in matrimonial columns of newspapers.

The measure of "negative hegemony" of an academic institute can only be done through its influence in changing the career tracks of the people away from their interests. Whereas the top brands in the world have allowed space to their graduates to look for their own interests. IIT may be the only institute in the world where departments choose people rather people choose departments. Certainly, Indians in 21st century are experimenting less with their careers and playing a risk-free game compared to their ancestors in 60s-70s who explored their careers rising beyond the rat-races that may existed at that time. Though there are examples of academic brands that have developed worldwide. Be it Harvards in US, LSE in UK, Peking in china, HEC in france , Todai in Japan and SKY in korea, but nowhere else in the world, an academic institute has penetrated so much in the social aspects of the people's lives to an extent that it influenced the people's goals, careers , interests and aspirations and emerged as solution to the desperate's money hunger.

Four days past, I am now free from this imperialism. But pity the middle class which is killing itself and its interests by its own aspirations.

The above piece is my feedback as Gurudakshina to IIT on the end of its golden jubilee year. Comments and Criticisms are welcome.