Dhananjay Balakrishnan was speaking after receiving Governor’s Prize
CHENNAI – In a speech that has sparked discussion across India and beyond, Dhananjay Balakrishnan, a student from IIT Madras, used his convocation ceremony to speak about the ongoing crisis in Palestine. Balakrishnan, who won the prestigious Governor’s Prize for his exceptional performance in his dual degree program, spoke passionately about what he called a “mass genocide” happening in Palestine.
During the convocation at IIT Madras, Balakrishnan said he felt it was his duty to speak out for Palestine. He said, “This is a call for action against the mass genocide going on in Palestine. People are dying, and there is no end in sight.” His speech has been widely shared on social media, drawing attention to the issue, Vartha Bharati reported.
Balakrishnan pointed out that STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—have often been used to serve the interests of powerful countries like Israel. He said, “STEM as a field in itself has historically been used to advance the ulterior motives of imperial powers such as Israel.”
His speech came at a time when global protests against Israel’s actions in Palestine are on the rise. Recently, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari shared a video on social media showing a Palestinian flag being waved in Murshidabad, calling for action against what he termed “anti-national elements.”
Even Adhikari, known for labeling critics of the government as anti-national, might hesitate to use such a term for Balakrishnan, a top student at IIT Madras. Balakrishnan, who is from Kochi, Kerala, is completing his BTech in Mechanical Engineering and MTech in Data Science. He told the audience that “inaction is complicity,” emphasizing the importance of taking action against injustice.
Balakrishnan received his award from Nobel laureate Brian K. Kobilka, recognizing his achievements in both academics and extracurricular activities. In his brief yet impactful speech, he challenged his peers to think about the ethical implications of their work. He said, “Many of these prestigious companies are directly or indirectly implicated in the war against Palestine by providing the state of Israel with technology. Technology that is used to kill.”
Balakrishnan’s words echo a growing trend of student activism worldwide. In countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, students have been protesting against Israel’s military actions. More than 2,000 students in the U.S. have been arrested for taking part in pro-Palestine protests. Similar demonstrations have occurred in Canada, Australia, and European universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
South Africa became the first country to take Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza. This global response has been supported by many Indian celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt, who shared messages on social media showing solidarity with Palestinians after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah caused significant casualties.
Balakrishnan concluded his speech by calling for reflection and action. “As engineers graduating into the real world, it is our job to be aware of the consequences of the work we do and also to interrogate our own position in this complex system of power imbalances,” he said. He urged his classmates to consider how they could help those who are oppressed by caste, class, and creed. “I believe this would be our first step to curb the never-ending cycle of suffering,” he said. “…we owe it to them [the magnanimous people of India] to lift every single person out of their misery. Inaction is complicity. I hope you and I and all of us can take action to make the right decisions, however hard they might be.”
Balakrishnan’s speech has started a significant conversation, highlighting the role of young intellectuals in addressing global issues. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 38,000 Palestinians have died since Israel began a military offensive last October in response to Hamas attacks. The IIT Madras convocation thus became a key moment for raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, with Balakrishnan’s call for action and empathy resonating with many people around the world.
