iit bombay denies role after criticism over poster labeling modi, shah, yogi as ‘we fool you’
Institute orders removal of event flyer and distances itself from controversial imagery
A poster promoting a workshop titled “South Asian Capitalism(s)”, co-organised by IIT Bombay, UC Berkeley, and University of Massachusetts Amherst, drew strong backlash after depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath under the slogan “We Fool You”. The graphic, called “Pyramid of Capitalist India,” was criticized for replacing clergy in the original “Pyramid of Capitalist System” imagery with elected leaders, while including industrialists and the military in other tiers. Following uproar on social media, IIT Bombay issued a clarification stating it was unaware of the flyer, asserted it did not approve or consult on its content, and directed the organisers to remove IIT Bombay’s name from all promotional material immediately. The institute further said it will detach from the involved faculty and conduct an internal inquiry into the matter. ([Zee News](https://zeenews.india.com/education/iit-bombay-responds-to-backlash-denies-involvement-in-controversial-we-fool-you-poster-featuring-modi-shah-yogi-2958432.html), [Organiser](https://organiser.org/2025/09/11/315229/bharat/iit-bombay-pyramid-of-capitalism-poster-mocking-modi-shah-yogi-sparks-uproar-institute-issues-clarification/), [News18](https://www.news18.com/education-career/iit-bombay-denies-role-after-criticism-over-poster-labeling-modi-shah-yogi-as-we-fool-you-9564166.html))
