Watch Alma Matters

Alma Matters is a documentary series available on Netflix that explores the contemporary student life at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The show delves into the strenuous academic lives, the notorious sleep deprivation lifestyle, the campus community, and the mental health challenges that are faced by the students in one of India's most prestigious educational institutions.

The series has over five episodes that follow the lives of various students attending the IITs from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The show starts by discussing how the IITs first came to prominence in the 1950s, and why they became a symbol of exceptional educational success for generations of Indian students.

The students, namely Nikhil, Rehman, Palash, Ankit, and Akanksha, are from different regions of India and have varying professional and intellectual aspirations. Their stories are moving, inspiring, and at times heart-breaking. For example, we see how Palash, who comes from a poor background, fights to survive the academic rigor of IIT. His story emphasizes the stark reality of the privileged vs the underprivileged in India, especially in the context of education. His journey is one of hope and resilience.

Another character, Akanksha, enlightens us on the feminist struggles that women face while studying at IIT. Gender-based violence, discrimination, and harassment are problems that are rampant in many Indian colleges and universities. The stories shared by Akanksha, who is actively involved in organized feminist movements on campus, outline a bigger picture of a society struggling to come to terms with its own biases.

The academic pressure that the students face is one of the central themes of this show. Alma Matters illustrates the level of difficulty and intensity that students have to undergo to make it to the IITs. For instance, IIT Kharagpur, the oldest and largest among the IITs, is portrayed as a massive campus with over 13,000 students who are trained to become India's future scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs. The average hours of sleep for an IIT student are only a few hours per night, creating an atmosphere of constant overwork and exhaustion.

The show also tackles mental health, an important issue that is usually not discussed in Indian society. It shows how the academic pressure, coupled with the stressful and competitive environment at IIT, leads to suicidal tendencies and student burnout. The documentary takes a critical view of the institutional attitude towards mental health and how the authorities have been reluctant to address it.

Through the lens of its student interviewees, the show provides a window into the challenges that the young students face while trying to navigate an ever-changing and demanding world. Alma Matters also highlights the growing discontent among students, despite all the opportunities that the IITs offer. They believe that the current system stifles creativity, and that the curriculum is outdated, limiting their potential.

Overall, Alma Matters accomplishes what most documentaries aim to do - to start an essential conversation on an issue that needs attention. The show is timely, relevant, and thought-provoking. It deftly manages to balance a personal narrative with a broader socioeconomic and cultural commentary. The students portrayed here are complex, dynamic, and authentic. They represent a growing voice challenging the status quo in India's education system, calling for more transparency, empathy, and reform.

In conclusion, Alma Matters is a must-watch for anyone interested in education, mental health, and social change in India. It is a stark reminder of the cost society pays for academic excellence - a cost that is too high to ignore. The show is an impressive effort to probe the human, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of one of India's most iconic institutions, shining a light on both the good and the bad, in the hopes that it can improve and adapt to new challenges.

Alma Matters is a series that ran for 1 seasons (3 episodes) between May 14, 2021 and on Netflix