IIT Mandi; representative image
First-year engineering students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi are now required to enroll in a course titled “Introduction to Consciousness and Wellbeing”, offered by the newly established Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) department. This course, mandatory for all BTech students, covers a range of topics including the “concept of subtle body,” “reincarnation,” and “near-death and out-of-body experiences.”
The curriculum further explores “theories of consciousness,” “effects of IKS art and dance forms on the mind,” and “Supreme consciousness.” Students also study the “anatomy and functionality of the physical body” from both Western medicine and Ayurvedic perspectives, as well as the “gut-mind connection” and meditation practices. IIT Mandi mandates weekly Bhagavad Gita recitals and yoga classes, with attendance being tracked.
Critics within the IIT Mandi community, as reported by Careers360, have voiced concerns about the inclusion of what they describe as pseudoscientific content in these courses. A student from the campus, speaking anonymously, said that the courses started after the new director took office in 2022.
About the course, the IIT Mandi stated: “Introduction to consciousness and holistic wellbeing, approved by the senate of IIT Mandi, is a mandatory course for undergraduate students. This course focuses on the universal value systems, leading to holistic development of the students. The course includes modules such as yoga, guided meditation, physical exercise and community services. The course represents a pioneering approach to integrating holistic wellness practices. This program has been developed as per the mandate of the Ministry of Education and with Senate approval.”
The promotion of Indian Knowledge Systems is a key project of the union government, which began with a workshop on Indian traditional knowledge research in 2020 and led to the establishment of an IKS Division at the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) in October of the same year. The government has funded IKS centres and research across various institutions. In 2023, the University Grants Commission (UGC) framed guidelines for incorporating IKS into mainstream higher education.
At IIT Mandi, the IKS centre, known as the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications Centre (IKSMHA), aims to apply rituals and practices from Hindu scripture to address contemporary issues such as mental health concerns and addiction.
The IKS centre offers a range of non-mandatory elective courses that delve into unconventional topics. These include subjects such as “rebirthing,” the impact of chanting “beej mantra” on mental health, “characteristics of pure semen and healthy menstrual flow,” and the effects of gemstones and crystals on the human brain.
One particular course, IK 592_1, “Selected Topics in the Scientific Basis of Mantra Chikitsa,” explores treatments through invocation or incantation and combines what some view as pseudoscientific elements, such as chanting Beej mantras, soul seat, colour energy, and distance healing, with more established medical conditions like OCD and thyroid disorders.
Despite these concerns, IIT Mandi asserts that its approach to Indian Knowledge Systems is rooted in scientific research. Research areas under IKSMHA include cognitive matter, bio-switches of consciousness, and the impact of practices such as yoga, meditation, and performing arts on mental health aspects like stress, anxiety, and sleep quality. The centre also studies Ayurvedic principles.
In addition to these research domains, the centre offers elective courses at the postgraduate level, including Cognitive Psychology, Biosignals and Biomarkers, Cognitive Neuroscience, Introduction to Yogasutra, Contemplative Psychology, Sankhya Philosophy, and Indian Astronomy. Undergraduate students have the option to choose these electives.
The emphasis on IKS at IIT Mandi is attributed to Director Laxmidhar Behera’s interest in the field. Behera’s controversial claim last year linking meat-eating to landslides faced criticism from student groups and others.
Instructors are reportedly drawn from other departments based on their personal interests in the subject matter. Students have noted that some researchers at the centre have affiliations with spiritual or religious groups. For example, Venkatesh Chembrolu, a core team member from the Institute of Science and Spirituality in Delhi (part of ISKCON), teaches mandatory courses.
Chembrolu’s LinkedIn profile highlights his background as a former reliability engineer at Meta, his PhD from Stanford University, and his BTech from IIT Bombay. The centre also lists Hidehiko Saegusa, a professor of practice and co-director of the Science of Consciousness Laboratory at the California Institute of Human Sciences, as well as a board member and research scientist at the Center of Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona.
