The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay invited PhD students of the institute to apply for the Azireili International Postdoctoral Scholarship yesterday, September 25.
The Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellowship is a programme that funds and supports international researchers who want to conduct research in Israel.
In response, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), a student collective for social justice at IIT Bombay took to social media platform X to urge them to ensure that all their partnerships must “align with the human rights of all”.
The collective reminded the institute of an older letter sent by it on September 9, which urged the administration of IIT Bombay to cease all collaborations with Israeli universities on moral grounds, as Israel stands accused by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court of committing genocide against the people of Palestine.
“Israeli universities, many of which have been closely linked to state policies and actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, stand in direct opposition to the values of justice, equality, and human dignity that we hold dear,” the collective wrote to the administration.
Urging the institute to end its collaborations with Israel, the letter further stated, “In solidarity with the Palestinian people, I urge the Institute and the student body to reconsider and divest from any collaborations or exchanges with Israeli universities.”
The collective terms this act as not only a moral obligation on the part of IIT Bombay but also a “meaningful act of support for those facing oppression.”
The above letter was sent to the institute after it announced fully funded research opportunities in Chemistry for Master's, PhD and postdoctoral students at Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
