The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has formed a four-member committee to investigate the death of second-year PGP student Akshith Bhukya, who was found dead in his hostel room on September 26. The committee’s formation follows widespread demands from both students and faculty for an independent inquiry into the tragic incident.
Akshith, who was 24 years old and from Warangal in Telangana, was also the coordinator of the institute’s Red Bricks Summit (TRBS), which was subsequently cancelled after his death. In the wake of the incident, IIMA faced pressure from the student body and 17 senior faculty members to form an external committee to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.
The newly formed high-powered committee consists of four distinguished individuals, three of whom are IIMA alumni, with two holding positions on the institute’s Board of Governors (BoG). The committee members include Deep Kalra, founder and chairman of MakeMyTrip; Ramesh Mangaleswaran, senior partner emeritus at McKinsey & Company; Nayan Parikh, Managing Director of Nayan Parikh & Consultants; and Alka Bharucha, co-founder partner at Bharucha & Partners.
The committee’s first set of meetings took place on Thursday evening, where they met separately with the 17 faculty members and representatives from the Students’ Affairs Council (SAC). During the discussions, which lasted around an hour each, committee members inquired about the events leading up to Akshith’s death and the management of the TRBS. The focus of the inquiry will extend beyond the incident itself to include broader concerns about student mental health and the management of major events to prevent future tragedies.
The formation of the committee follows several calls for an external investigation. In an open letter to BoG chairman Pankaj Patel on October 17, the 17 faculty members urged for an independent probe, calling it a “moral obligation” to honour Akshith’s memory, ensure the well-being of students and uphold the values of integrity and excellence at IIMA.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the SAC in a letter to the Director, Bharat Bhasker, dated October 12. Both students and faculty had voiced their concerns during a faculty meeting on September 29, highlighting frustrations over the handling of the TRBS and the administration’s response to student grievances.
Akshith’s body was discovered on the eve of the TRBS, a significant annual event at IIMA. Following his death, the symposium was cancelled as a mark of respect. The tragic incident has prompted calls for improved support systems and mental health initiatives for students, as well as for a more transparent approach to managing high-stress events.
Know the Committee Members:
Deep Kalra: A 1992 alumnus of IIMA, Kalra is the founder and chairman of the travel website MakeMyTrip. He is also a founding member of Ashoka University.
Ramesh Mangaleswaran: An IIMA alumnus from the 1993 batch, Mangaleswaran is a senior partner emeritus with McKinsey & Company and a member of the IIMA Board of Governors.
Nayan Parikh: A 1981 IIMA alumnus, Parikh is the Managing Director of Nayan Parikh & Consultants and has been actively involved in various industry bodies, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
Alka Bharucha: A senior advocate with over 30 years of experience, Bharucha is a member of IIMA’s Board of Governors and has advised on numerous high-profile transactions. She has served as an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court of India and a Solicitor in the UK’s High Court and Supreme Court.
Both Kalra and Mangaleswaran are also founders of the IIMA Endowment Fund, an initiative launched by alumni in 2020 to strengthen the institute’s philanthropic efforts.
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