Shivang Satya Gupta
“IITs were built to fuel rockets, not run propaganda. Posters that mock democracy and slander soldiers are not freedom of expression but a betrayal of taxpayer-funded institutions. Under Modi, Bharat is witnessing record voter participation, transparent governance, and stronger security forces than ever before. Those who cry ‘democracy in danger’ are often the ones unsettled by a confident, self-reliant Bharat that refuses to bend to foreign-funded agendas or dynastic privilege.”
The Indian Institutes of Technology were envisioned as crucibles of excellence — producing the finest engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. They were never meant to be playgrounds for imported ideologies funded by foreign agencies. Yet, in recent years, certain IIT platforms have been misused for political sloganeering. Posters declaring “WE FOOL YOU” and banners screaming “WE SHOOT AT YOU” are not expressions of academic freedom. They are abuses of institutions that run on the hard-earned taxes of Indian citizens.
Far from being under threat, Indian democracy is flourishing. Critics from outfits like NPEI claim “Indian democracy is in trouble,” but the facts tell a different story. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has witnessed the highest voter participation in its history, with record numbers of women, youth, and first-time voters. The Digital India revolution has ensured transparency in governance, with subsidies, scholarships, and pensions reaching beneficiaries directly — without middlemen. The JAM Trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile has cracked down on leakages, making governance more accountable than ever. This is not democracy in crisis. This is democracy delivering like never before.
The attempt to malign security forces is equally disturbing. Slogans such as “WE SHOOT AT YOU” are a direct affront to jawans and police officers who risk their lives daily to keep Bharat safe. It was this government that delivered on One Rank One Pension, a long-pending demand ignored by previous regimes. Modernisation of forces, provision of bulletproof jackets, and supply of advanced weaponry have all accelerated post-2014. To demonise these forces is not dissent but a dangerous attempt to weaken India from within — and plays straight into the hands of enemy propaganda.
The foreign hand cannot be ignored. When a UK citizen heading an IIT initiative receives ₹35 crore from the Ford Foundation and uses that platform to attack India’s democracy, the question naturally arises: whose agenda is being served? While Bharat is building Atmanirbhar Bharat, pioneering 5G, AI, Chandrayaan, and Gaganyaan, foreign-funded activism within IITs seeks to distract brilliant young minds away from nation-building into divisive campaigns.
This stands in stark contrast to the Modi government’s vision for IITs. The National Education Policy 2020 is ensuring a balance between cutting-edge science and India’s rich knowledge systems. Innovation and incubation hubs across IITs are nurturing startups and creating jobs, transforming students into entrepreneurs and unicorn founders. Plans to open IIT campuses abroad showcase India’s intellectual leadership on the global stage. Instead of producing “urban Naxals,” these institutions are being transformed into engines of India’s rise.
So why do some voices persist with the refrain of “democracy in danger”? Perhaps because they thrived in the old order — a system dominated by corruption, dynastic politics, and Western dependence. Today, under Modi, Bharat is asserting independence in foreign policy, from leading the G20 to taking a firm stand on Ukraine. It is demonstrating strength in defence, from Balakot to Doklam to the scrapping of Article 370. It is ensuring inclusive growth, with toilets, water, electricity, and housing reaching crores of poor families. A confident, self-reliant Bharat leaves little room for those who profited from dependency and dysfunction.
The choice before us is clear. IITs must be centres of innovation, not stages for propaganda. The Modi government is building a Bharat that is secure, prosperous, and proud. Those who inject anti-India venom into our institutions are not dissenters but disruptors — and Bharat will not allow them to derail its destiny.
