'Questions Aren't Attacks': How Heated Exchange With Student Changed IIT Delhi Professor's Perspective

(MENAFN- Live Mint) A powerful LinkedIn post by Mridul Anand, a professor at IIT Delhi , is going viral for its honest reflection on ego, empathy, and emotional intelligence in the classroom. What began as a routine lecture turned into a surprising confrontation - and a deeper lesson on assumptions and understanding.

For two years, Anand had been teaching at his alma mater. Things were steady until one Monday, when a student, largely disengaged throughout the semester, suddenly became animated during a discussion on customer acquisition costs (CACs), retention curves, and lifetime value (LTV).

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The student's questions, initially welcomed, soon became persistent. Though they touched upon topics already covered, he kept probing. As Anand tried to respond, a voice in his head began questioning the student's intentions.

“Is he genuinely curious, or is he just trying to argue?”

The exchange went on for 20 minutes- long enough for Anand's smartwatch to flash a warning:“Abnormal heart rate.” Frustrated, he wrapped up the session and assumed the student had been challenging his authority.

But the next class brought a twist.

Outside the room stood the same student, visibly nervous. He revealed he'd always struggled with self-doubt and found it difficult to speak up in public. Just a day earlier, he had been rejected in a placement group discussion - the feedback:“You need to speak up more.” That classroom moment had been his attempt to confront his fears and express himself.

“What I saw as defiance was, in fact, courage,” Anand wrote in his post.

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The episode serves as a reminder of how easily we misinterpret intent, especially in high-pressure environments like academia or the corporate world. As Anand reflected,“We guard our expertise, defend authority, and cling to being right; all the while, missing what might really be going on.”

The post has since resonated widely across LinkedIn and other platforms for its vulnerability and relevance. It offers a crucial insight: questions aren't always challenges - sometimes, they're breakthroughs.

Anand closes with a message that has struck a chord online:

“Maybe the answer is to meet these moments with curiosity, not resistance. To ask: What can I learn?”

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Netizens lauded the professor's candid self-reflection, with many highlighting the emotional depth of his post.

A user wrote, "Thank you for writing this. Definitely been through this and surprised to see that I'm not the only one who went through this. I will try the tip you provided."

Another user commented, "Amazing how a 'challenging' student can end up teaching the biggest lesson in the room. Patience really does go a long way!"

"A case in point for being non-biased in approach in the classroom or anywhere else for that matter. Good share," the third user wrote.

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