IIT-K protestors adopt new surname

Kanpur: Agitating students of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur have adopted the surname bharat (India) to express their displeasure against the proposed reservations for OBCs in institutes of higher education.

"From today onwards, students would use bharat instead of their surnames," Spokesman, Forum of Indians against Reservation (FIR), IIT-Kanpur Rahul Bharat said.

He said a batch of ten students, including three girls, had begun their 24-hour relay fast at the IIT campus. “Those who have joined in are Umendra Bharat, Ritesh Bharat, Atul Bharat, Rajesh Bharat, Suman Bharat, Indrani Bharat, Krinal Bharat, Apoorva Bharat and Prabha Bharat," he said.

All students who have been participating in the relay fast have undergone a medical check-up, Rahul said.