Terrible state of affairs for PhD Applicants at IITK
Hello everyone,
I must begin by saying, I am no student at IIT Kanpur, but was prospective (hopeful) PhD applicant who applied for PhD at the Humanities and Social Science Department at IIT Kanpur in 2025. This post might come a year late and I think I was hesitant to put it out there fearing any push back from other forces. Thus, take this as an anonymous rant.
I will keep this rant short. I applied for the PhD programme at HSS at IIT Kanpur. I was shortlisted and asked to report for the entrance exam and if qualified, attend the interview the very next day. It all seemed fine. They asked that we can take an accommodation outside or book an accommodation inside the campus by paying a fee.
I chose the latter because I was new to Kanpur and it is better to stay in campus hostel during the time of examination. So, I paid around Rs. 500/- for each day stay totalling Rs 1000/- (I don't recall the exact amount but it was closer to 1000). I reached the campus for the day before the day of the entrance and came to know that accomodation is no hostel but a common room with bed laid on the floor. With no security, I was packed with at least 30 people in the same room. (photo attached). I emailed the department and spoke to a PhD scholar at HSS but I didn't get any reply or help.
I stayed, gave entrance, and interview and left. I promised to never remember the intensity of dehumanisation, I felt. I felt like a body that can be thrown, used and pushed aside just so some administrative necessity could take place. Later that when the results came out, nobody from my discipline (Sociology) was shortlisted and around 20ish people gave the interview. Dehumanisation and humiliation came together. It's been a year, and I feel better, but I want it to be out there.