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The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has come under right-wing scrutiny following allegations that it is promoting Islamic theology through academic research. The controversy erupted after selected dissertation topics from students of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) were shared on social media, triggering claims of "Islamisation" of the campus.

The issue began on April 28 when an X (formerly Twitter) user, Eminent Intellectual, posted a list of selected thesis topics from IITGN students, making sarcastic remarks that suggested the institute was promoting an ideological agenda. The post went viral and triggered online allegations that the research topics reflected an “Islamisation” of the campus.

The research themes highlighted in the post included indigenous ecological knowledge of a Muslim-majority locality, Islamic rituals, and Islamic clothing. Although such topics are commonly studied in disciplines like anthropology and cultural studies, social media critics portrayed them as promoting a specific ideology rather than engaging in academic inquiry.

The controversy deepened when the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) released a media statement on Sunday, expressing concern over what it called a “troubling disregard for the cultural and national sentiments of students — particularly those from the Hindu community.”

According to reports, the dissertation topics had been shared internally among students as part of their thesis defence invitations but were allegedly “selectively” leaked to create controversy.

A student from the HSS department, who chose to remain anonymous, clarified the academic context of the research. “Students do anthropological and social studies on themes related to religious practices and rituals. About 20 students have studied Hindu traditions like the Brahminical system, Vedas and temple management. We have been targeted for no fault of ours,” the student said.

Manish Kumar, Associate Dean of Student Development at IITGN, dismissed the allegations, noting that the criticism lacked academic basis. “Anybody can raise an issue on any research topic or findings. However, established ways for engaging academically could have been pursued. We welcome feedback and constructive criticism through appropriate means,” Kumar stated.