Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) is the framework that IIT Mandi is now drawing upon as it searches for answers to one of the most pressing concerns within India’s premier campuses: student mental health.
IITs are known for big ranks, high packages and research papers. But in recent years, another reality has come into view — these institutes are dealing with a mental health crisis. In the last five years alone, around 65 student suicides have been reported across IITs. But this crisis goes far beyond that number — it shows up as stress, anxiety, emotional fatigue and silent pressure that many students carry through some of the country’s most demanding academic spaces.
According to NCRB data cited in Parliament, 13,089 students died by suicide in India in 2022, up from 12,526 in 2021. But it’s not just about deaths — it’s about stress that does not switch off, anxiety that sits through lectures and lab hours.
At the same time, data from UNICEF India shows that 7.3 % of young people aged 18 to 29 face overall mental morbidity, while an NCERT survey in 2022 found that 11 % of students reported anxiety and 14 % experienced extreme emotions and mood swings.
In response, while counselling, screening and student support systems are needed, IIT Mandi is taking a different route — drawing on ancient Indian traditions and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) to support student well-being.
Instead of seeing consciousness, cognition and mental well-being as abstract philosophical concerns, the institute is treating them as subjects of active academic inquiry. Practices such as yoga, meditation, mantra chanting, Indian classical music and natural soundscapes have been introduced into campus life.
According to institute director Laxmidhar Behera, this work on IKS is about revisiting knowledge frameworks that ancient India engaged with deeply — frameworks that modern science is only just beginning to examine seriously.
In the last five years, IIT Mandi has reported one student suicide, one of the lowest numbers across IITs, suggesting the impact of this more inclusive approach.
Music, Mind and Mental Well-Being
Studying the impact of Indian classical music was a systematic effort conducted in collaboration with IIT Kanpur. The study involved 40 healthy participants aged 19 to 29 and used EEG (electroencephalogram) to compare brain activity during periods of silence and exposure to two ragas: Raga Darbari and Raga Jogiya.
- Raga Darbari was associated with improved focus and a calmer mental state.
- Raga Jogiya appeared to support emotional regulation and reflective thinking.
Both ragas influenced neural patterns linked with attention, emotion and cognitive stability.
The findings suggest that specific swaras (notes) in Indian classical music may help elevate mood and stabilise mental processes. The effects were consistent across repeated trials, including follow-ups with female participants.
IIT Mandi Is Betting on Something Old and Indigenous
Behera states: “Mental health has become a pandemic. We don’t know how to cure it. At IIT Mandi, we have adopted a different approach through classical music, yoga, meditation and mantra chanting.”
Many students say these practices have helped them decompress, regain focus and manage academic stress better. A B.Tech student, Ayan Garg (21), says even one-hour daily sessions give a much-needed mental pause, helping clear the mind and improve focus.
Global Attention on Sound and Frequency
The article notes that studies outside IIT Mandi have also pointed to the role of raga music in improving cognitive performance. One study cited found that individuals listening to raga music performed better in attention-based tasks compared to pop music or silence.Professor Dr Srinivas Reddy, Associate Professor of South Asian Studies, highlights that Indian classical music’s philosophy of artistic experience (rasa), improvisation, therapeutic vibrational effects (raga), and connection to natural rhythms can help calm anxiety, ease bodily tension and soothe the mind, body, and soul.
On platforms like YouTube, raga-based content continues to draw millions of views, reflecting wider public interest in music as a tool for mental well-being.
Key Thought
As conversations around student mental health grow, the article raises a question: Should institutions that nurture young minds take ancient practices like music, yoga and meditation more seriously as part of holistic well-being strategies?