A poster promoting an upcoming academic workshop on South Asian Capitalism(s) has triggered a storm of controversy after it depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath beneath the caption “We Fool You.”
The workshop, scheduled for September 12-13, 2025, is being co-organised by UC Berkeley, IIT Bombay, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Its promotional flyer features a graphic titled “Pyramid of Capitalist India”—an adaptation of the century-old Pyramid of Capitalist System cartoon first published in 1911 by the Industrial Workers of the World newspaper.
In a notable departure from the original, which depicted clergy under the “We Fool You” tier, the reimagined version replaces them with India’s top elected leaders. The only religious figure shown is a Hindu monk in saffron robes, a detail that signals selective targeting.
The poster is framed as part of an academic exploration into “how capitalist accumulation is socially structured across South Asia,” but its slogans—“WE RULE YOU, WE FOOL YOU, WE SHOOT AT YOU”—have fueled anger online.
The graphic also identifies industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani in the “We Rule You” tier, which many described as a typical leftist caricature of corporate power. The Indian Army too is portrayed in a negative light, shown under the tier labelled “We Shoot At You.”
For many, the replacement of clergy with elected leaders and the vilification of corporate figures and the Army amounts to a partisan political attack under the guise of academic debate.
Online outrage and reactions
The poster was flagged by social media user @MehHarshit, who wrote on X: “IIT Bombay sponsors an event on South Asian Capitalism. Poster shows @AmitShah, @narendramodi, and @myogiadityanath with a caption ‘WE FOOL YOU’. No Maulana or Father shown; only a Hindu Monk in saffron robes. Why @iitbombay? @dpradhanbjp.”
IIT Bombay sponsors an event on South Asian Capitalism.
Poster shows @AmitShah, @narendramodi, and @myogiadityanath with a caption “WE FOOL YOU”.
No Maulana or Father shown; only a Hindu Monk in saffron robes.
Why @iitbombay? @dpradhanbjp pic.twitter.com/6YzByZtXrp
— Harshil (હર્ષિલ) (@MehHarshil) September 10, 2025
The post quickly snowballed into a wider debate, with accusations that IIT Bombay was using taxpayer-funded resources to mock elected representatives.
One user commented: “Humanities in IITs was an epic blunder.” Another said: “Sitting govt leaders are being mocked with total impunity at an institution funded with taxpayers’ money and our left-libbies tell us there is no freedom of speech.”
Others went further, demanding structural reforms: “Technical institutes should be immediately rid of the humanities; these scientific centres of excellence should be free of the poisonous leftist ideology.”
Another user questioned the use of public funds: “How could a govt educational institution abuse the govt this way? @EduMinOfIndia do you have an explanation for such lumpen behavior of @iitbombay? The money they are spending to sponsor such a narcissistic event is our tax money and we demand an explanation.”
Allegations against faculty and funding
In a series of posts, Harshil further alleged: “New Political Economy Initiative works under Centre for Liberal Education, IIT Bombay. It was co-organiser of South Asia Capitalism event. This NPEI is headed by IIT Bombay faculty member and UK citizen Anush Kapadia. He is on Indian government payroll.”
He also claimed that: The NPEI received ₹35 crore in funding from the Ford Foundation.
New Political Economy Initiative works under Central for Liberal Education, IIT Bombay. It was co-organiser of South Asia Capitalism event.
This NPEI is headed by IIT Bombay faculty member and UK citizen Anush Kapadia. He is on Indian government payroll.
This NPEI also got… https://t.co/4oPKN7Tcls pic.twitter.com/evG61oURlA
— Harshil (હર્ષિલ) (@MehHarshil) September 10, 2025
Kapadia “wrote only 2 journal papers in 10 years” and has “an H-index of 7.” The initiative allegedly “pushes the narrative that Indian democracy is in trouble.”
“Just to climb up NIRF rankings, IITs bring such humanities professors to campus. Rampant misuse of autonomy,” Harshil alleged.
IIT Bombay’s clarification
Amid the growing backlash, IIT Bombay issued a clarification distancing itself from the poster:
“A post regarding a flyer of a workshop on South Asian Capitalism was brought to the attention of the Institute authorities. This workshop is to be held at University of Berkeley in partnership with UC Berkeley and University of Massachusetts-Amherst for young scholars.
IIT Bombay has a project related to the New Political Economy Initiative. However, we were totally unaware about the published flyer. Upon hearing about this post, we issued immediate instructions to the organisers to take down the flyer from all social media platforms and remove IIT Bombay’s name from everything to do with this event.
A post regarding a flyer of a workshop on South Asian Capitalism was brought to the attention of the Institute authorities. This workshop is to be held at University of Berkeley in partnership with UC Berkeley and University of Massachusetts-Amherst for young scholars.
IIT Bombay… pic.twitter.com/BhMZV8A4Ds— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) September 10, 2025
The details of the programme have been removed from the website of New Political Economy Initiative with immediate effect. No one from IIT Bombay is attending the conference. The Institute was not at all consulted about the flyer. We are deeply shocked and upset by its content.
The Institute will cease to associate with these faculty members from UC Berkeley and University of Massachusetts-Amherst going forward. Further investigation into the matter will be conducted.”
Social media fallout
Following the controversy, Harshil alleged that IIT Bombay blocked him on its official X account. He posted:
“Why IIT Bombay’s official account has blocked me? Is questioning public institutions and misgovernance a crime? This is a public and official account. Then why this childish behaviour?”
Why IIT Bombay’s official account has blocked me? Is questioning public institutions and mis governance a crime?
This is a public and official account. Then why this childish behaviour?
Is defending @narendramodi a crime? @dpradhanbjp @EduMinOfIndia pic.twitter.com/OfFxPnUvqB
— Harshil (હર્ષિલ) (@MehHarshil) September 10, 2025
The controversy has now put IIT Bombay’s humanities under scrutiny, raising larger questions about academic freedom, taxpayer accountability, and the influence of international funding in India’s premier institutes.
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