The release of Netflix’s Alma Matters: Inside The IIT Dream is just a day away now and probably one of the most awaited Indian docu series by Netflix. The four part documentary series shows what actually goes into making an IITian in an IIT. The IIT in focus is mentioned as one of India’s best engineering institutes. This is none other than the much coveted IIT Kharagpur.
IIT Kharagpur, has been the alma mater of many geniuses, like for example the world renowned Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google. The series will cover various issues and stories of students in the IIT, showing a side of the institute that probably earlier was never seen. The series will also feature ace comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath, who explains various things inside the IIT. He is also amongst the many famous alumni of the institute.
Netflix released a trailer of the show back in April and showed glimpses of various things that go on inside the campus. One thing that will definitely catch people’s eyes is when a girl in the trailer mentions “girl can’t do it. Bandi nahi kar sakti, aisa kaam kaise kar sakti hai”. This is something that most girls have heard all their lives and in engineering colleges, this can directly indicate the issue of sexism in such institutes.
Well, sexism is not only for IIT, it is something that is spread out all over in every technical institute. Girls who get into such institutes face various issues inside, from the gazes of men, to being one of very few girls in colleges, to sometimes even selections of departments. There have been instances where some departments in various colleges have been tagged as departments only for girls, like Biotechnology, CSE, Civil, Environmental, Food Technology to name a few. Mechanical, Electrical and few others which are deemed as “boys” department sees very few girls getting into it. Its hard to believe but it is said that the sex ratio is somewhere around 1:12 for some departments.
Even after all this, when someone gets into mechanical or other such branch, their worth needs to be proved over and over again, because many still believe that engineering is something that girls cannot do and is meant for the man. There was also a time when girls had issues with hostel allotment as many universities back then didn’t have hostels made for women, as not many opted for engineering.
While now, the times are changing and people’s thought processes are changing, girls are getting better education and definitely getting better chances and more recognized in the field of engineering. Now women are noticing changes but this isn’t enough yet. There are innumerable issues related to this topic, but it definitely needs time. For starters, many have claimed their lives to be somewhat peaceful when it comes to gender issues, especially talking about IIT Kharagpur, on which the show is based on.
Netflix’s Alma Matters have the chance to explain and make people understand what and how these sexism still exists in institutes like IITs. Other series and shows have also addressed this someway or the other but most of the time, it is always a heavy dialogue that’s used and that’s it.
This show being a documentary has the chance to show the actual truth and reality, so definitely a lot is riding on it at the moment. While, for girls watching this series, we hope that it doesn’t bring your hopes down but in fact helps you in chasing and going ahead with your engineering dreams even more after this.