Redefining Education: The rise of Humanities and Social Sciences at IITs

The burgeoning popularity of Humanities and Social Sciences courses within IITs signifies a significant shift in educational paradigms. These courses offer students a platform to articulate their social contexts with informed reflexivity, fostering a deeper comprehension of societal diversity and disparity.

Anthropologist Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah’s narrative elucidates the historical amalgamation of sciences and arts during Europe’s 16th and 17th centuries, highlighting the intertwined nature of various disciplines. This challenges the conventional notion of science as a detached set of ideas, emphasising its social and contextual dimensions.

Contemporary scholars, disavowing the primacy of “hard sciences,” advocate for a more holistic approach to education. Recognising the symbiotic relationship between society and technology, they assert that technological advancement is inseparable from societal influences and values.

Humanities and Social Sciences courses at IITs nurture critical thinking and interdisciplinary perspectives among students. This transformative pedagogy encourages the exploration of ethical, economic, and aesthetic dimensions, transcending traditional instrumental views of technology.

Students, initially drawn by curiosity, find liberation in these courses, which provide them with a vocabulary to engage with pressing social issues. The growing demand for these courses prompts instructors to innovate syllabi, fostering meaningful interdisciplinary dialogue.

Furthermore, these courses facilitate discussions on social diversity, allowing students to understand and articulate their social positions. This fosters a more inclusive and progressive educational environment, catering to students from diverse backgrounds.

Contrary to tokenistic inclusion, these courses play a pivotal role in fostering critical discourse and diversifying epistemologies within IITs. They underscore the complexity of contemporary problems and advocate for nuanced, interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.

Ultimately, the presence of Humanities and Social Sciences enhances the joy of learning at IITs, making education more inclusive and dialogic. By embracing diverse perspectives, these disciplines contribute to a more holistic understanding of the world, transcending narrow disciplinary boundaries.