IIT Patna Professor’s Paper Claims ‘Rape is Structured in Brahmanical Hinduism’, Sparks Massive Outrage
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna has found itself at the center of a heated debate following the publication of a research paper by Dr. Priyanka Tripathi, an Associate Professor of English. The paper, co-authored with Bidisha Pal from IIT Dhanbad and Partha Bhattacharjee from Amity University, is titled “Gendered and Casteist Body: Cast(e)ing and Castigating the Female Body in Select Bollywood Films.”
The Controversial Claim
The controversy erupted after excerpts from the paper circulated on social media, particularly a passage that states: “The act of rape is normalised within the patriarchal ‘norms’ of Hindu society and is associated with the inevitable outcome of staunch orthodoxy.” This assertion has been met with significant backlash, described by critics as sweeping, inflammatory, and lacking nuance.
Academic Framework of the Paper
The paper examines representations of caste, gender, and sexual violence in Hindi cinema, focusing on two films: Bandit Queen, directed by Shekhar Kapur, and Article 15, directed by Anubhav Sinha. The authors argue that cinema reflects and reinforces structures of caste and gender oppression.
In discussing Bandit Queen, which portrays the life of Phoolan Devi and includes depictions of sexual violence, the paper states, “The spectacle of cinema depicts a sustained form of Savarna patriarchy in the act of public rape.” The authors frame rape in the films not merely as individual criminal acts but as manifestations of larger caste and patriarchal structures.
Theoretical Influences
The research draws from critical caste theory and feminist scholarship. The authors cite notable scholars such as Suraj Yengde, known for his work on caste issues, and Meena Kandasamy, a poet and writer who critiques caste hierarchies and patriarchy.
Linking Womanhood with “Dalithood”
One of the paper’s central arguments is the connection between gender oppression and caste marginalization. The authors quote Meena Kandasamy, stating, “For a man, the woman is the Dalit of the house.” They argue that womanhood is symbolically and structurally linked to what they term “Dalithood,” suggesting that women across caste hierarchies are subjected to patriarchal control, while Dalit women face compounded marginalization.
The paper further claims, “Dalits in India are also victims of the politics of segregation. There is hidden apartheid within mainstream Indian society which precipitates that very idea of segregation.” This analogy between caste-based discrimination in India and apartheid in South Africa has drawn criticism from commentators who argue that such comparisons oversimplify distinct historical and socio-political contexts.
Public Reaction and Criticism
The strongest reactions have centered around the paper’s assertion that rape is “normalised” within patriarchal Hindu norms. By invoking the term “Brahmanical Hinduism” and associating it with structured misogyny, the authors argue that sexual violence is embedded within systemic power hierarchies rather than occurring as isolated acts.
Critics contend that such phrasing risks painting an entire religious and civilizational tradition with a broad brush. They argue that equating Hindu society as a whole with the normalization of rape disregards legal reforms, social movements, and internal reform traditions that have challenged gender injustice for decades.
Excerpts of the paper were widely shared online, with many social media users tagging the Ministry of Education and demanding action. They questioned how such claims were published without substantial empirical backing and why they were framed in civilizational terms rather than socio-political critique.
IIT Patna’s Response
As of now, IIT Patna has not issued a detailed public clarification regarding the matter. The institute has previously faced scrutiny over academic debates within its Humanities and Social Sciences department. This controversy comes on the heels of another debate surrounding Dr. Tripathi’s earlier paper linking Hindu philosophical concepts such as Shakti and Prakriti with queer ecofeminist theory.
Dr. Priyanka Tripathi’s Academic Background
Dr. Priyanka Tripathi is an Associate Professor of English at IIT Patna and has previously served as the Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. She completed her PhD from IIT Kharagpur and has held visiting fellowships at international institutions, including the University of Leeds and the University of Edinburgh.
Her research areas encompass Gender Studies, Medical Humanities, South Asian fiction, and graphic narratives. She has authored works such as The Gendered War: Evaluating Feminist Ethnographic Narratives of the 1971 War of Bangladesh and holds editorial positions with journals published by Taylor & Francis, a UK-based academic publisher known for its critical scholarship.
Academic Critique vs. Religious Sensitivity
The recurring controversies surrounding Dr. Tripathi’s work have reignited a larger national debate about the boundaries of academic freedom in India’s premier institutions. Key questions being raised include:
- Should religious traditions be framed in structural or civilizational terms when analyzing social crimes?
- Does invoking “Hindu society” in sweeping academic claims risk alienating large sections of believers?
- How should publicly funded institutions balance free inquiry with social responsibility?
India’s universities have long been spaces for critical theory, postcolonial scholarship, and feminist critique. However, such frameworks must be applied with precision and contextual clarity, particularly when addressing issues as grave as sexual violence.
It remains to be seen whether this latest controversy will result in institutional review, clarification, or will simply remain part of a larger public debate.
Note: The views expressed in this article are intended to provide a balanced overview of the controversy and do not reflect the opinions of the institutions or individuals mentioned.
