IIT Professor's Harsh Response To Student's Attendance Request Goes Viral

A screenshot purportedly showing an IIT professor's stark reply to a student's request for an attendance concession has gone viral on social media. The post, shared by a user on X, claims that the professor responded to a student who sought leniency due to his participation in a debate competition.In the email, the professor denied the request and advised the student to stop “begging” for concessions. He referenced notable dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, stating that their success stemmed from their unwavering commitment to their ideas, rather than from seeking special treatment from their educators. The professor suggested that students who are passionate about extracurricular activities should consider dropping out to pursue their interests fully, rather than attempting to balance their studies with attendance concessions.“People admire Gates or Zuckerberg because they dropped out of college to pursue what they believed in, not because they went around begging professors to make concessions or exceptions for them,” the professor wrote. He further emphasized, “If you strongly believe in other pursuits, be brave and drop out and make something really worthwhile. But we both know you are never going to do that, and we both know that a debate competition has no tangible value in the real world. If you want respect, demonstrate bravery and strength, not cowardice,” the email continued. The X user who shared the screenshot claimed to have seen the email while attending IIT Kharagpur's Spring Fest, but Times Now has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the screenshot.The viral post has garnered nearly half a million views, with many users expressing surprise at the professor’s tone and decision to refuse attendance. Comments on the post ranged from critiques of the professor’s attitude to reflections on the broader issues of academic pressure. One user remarked, “Prof acting like attending his lecture will make any difference. Most college professors are on a different ego trip, while their lectures remain outdated and outclassed by random YouTube channels. Mandatory attendance is a joke.”Another user criticised the response as being unnecessarily harsh, stating, “Sorry but this is in poor taste. Why so much drama? Just say yes or no. Why take pot shots at a young person?” Many others joined in, condemning the professor for allegedly exerting his authority over the student.