At IITs, a long-brewing ‘culture war’ between engineering and humanities boils over

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are witnessing a growing divide between engineering and humanities students, with each side accusing the other of undermining their respective disciplines.

This tension has been simmering for years, but it has recently boiled over, with students and faculty members expressing their views on social media and in campus debates.

The humanities students argue that the IITs' focus on engineering is too narrow and does not prepare students for the complex, interdisciplinary world they will face after graduation.

On the other hand, engineering students contend that the humanities are not practical or relevant to the real world and that the IITs should prioritize technical education.

The IITs, which are among the most prestigious educational institutions in India, have not yet announced any plans to address this issue.