Stories
Racist Jab at IIT Professor Backfires, Sparks Praise for Academic Excellence
M
Moneycontrol•05-10-2026, 09:01
Racist Jab at IIT Professor Backfires, Sparks Praise for Academic Excellence
- •An American man's attempt to mock an Indian professor at Montana State University on X backfired, leading to widespread praise for her academic achievements.
- •The man, using the pseudonym ‘Oilfield Rando,’ targeted Dr. Shivali Banerjee, an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Process Engineering with a PhD from IIT Bombay.
- •Social media users highlighted IIT's prestigious reputation and extremely low acceptance rate (0.5% to 1%), making it one of the most selective institutions globally.
- •The backlash emphasized that recruiting IIT graduates like Dr. Banerjee is a significant asset for American universities, not a point of criticism.
- •The incident drew attention to the academic credentials of Indian scholars in American institutions and the racist nature of the original post.
Key Questions Answered
Dr Shivali Banerjee is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Process Engineering at Montana State University who holds a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
The overall acceptance rate for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) is approximately 0.5% to 1%, making it one of the most selective higher education systems globally.
Social media users pushed back against the post by highlighting Dr Banerjee's impressive academic credentials, praising IIT Bombay's elite reputation, and celebrating her recruitment as a major win for Montana State University.
