An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has urged the institution to include alumni perspectives in the investigation into the alleged suicide of student Akshith Bhukya earlier this year. Emphasising the role of alumni as “major stakeholders” in the institute’s ecosystem, S. Vishwanathan, a 1981 batch graduate, has written to the four-member external committee probing the incident, calling for transparency and inclusivity in the process.
In his correspondence, Vishwanathan criticised the lack of communication with the alumni regarding the events following Bhukya’s death on September 26 and the subsequent formation of the committee. “In the interest of transparency, fairness, inclusiveness, and respect to the voice of the alumni, it would be appropriate that such a communication be made to the alumni,” he wrote.
Bhukya, a Postgraduate Programme (PGP) student, was the coordinator of The Red Bricks Summit (TRBS), a prominent management symposium that was cancelled in the wake of his death.
The committee, which includes Vishwanathan’s batchmate Nayan Parikh, Managing Director of Nayan Parikh & Consultants, is tasked with examining the circumstances of Bhukya’s death. It is also reviewing governance practices surrounding student-led events, including the involvement of faculty and institutional leadership.
Vishwanathan’s letter follows a recent initiative by the committee to engage with faculty, inviting them to share input via email. However, Vishwanathan expressed disappointment that alumni had been excluded from these consultations.
Speaking to a section of media, Vishwanathan revealed ongoing concerns among alumni over the institute’s lack of communication on key issues. He urged the committee to address what he described as “serious governance lapses,” including the withholding of information about the alleged suicide from alumni and called for recommendations that would help IIMA achieve “ever higher levels” of excellence.
The alumnus also drew parallels with the 2023 Independent Expert Group (IEG) review led by Kiran Karnik, which had called for greater alumni involvement in strategic decisions. The review had criticised IIMA’s handling of significant changes, such as the redesign of its logo and the demolition of dormitories, without alumni consultation.
The four-member committee probing Bhukya’s death comprises Parikh; Deep Kalra, founder and chairman of MakeMyTrip; Ramesh Mangaleswaran, senior partner emeritus with McKinsey & Company; and Alka Bharucha, co-founding partner of Bharucha & Partners.
Formed following demands from students and 17 senior faculty members, the committee held separate discussions with faculty and members of the Students Affairs’ Council (SAC) on campus last month.
Vishwanathan urged the panel to seize the opportunity to enact meaningful change, avoiding the shortcomings of previous reviews. “This is a chance for the institute to strengthen its governance and set an example,” he said.
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