Student suicide in IITs

Every person has a right to live. It hurts utmost when someone commits suicide. And it hurts more, if that person happens to be young. Because, like every young man and woman, they too have a dream. But unwisely they decide to procrastinate their unfilled dream by killing themselves. The recent suicide of a student in one of our premier most technical School IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), Kharagpur calls for some introspection.

When does a person decide to end his or her life ? It's not just the frustration with their life, it's more due to the lack of care or concern for the rest of the world, which includes their near and dear ones. If I feel suicidal for some reason, I may resist that thought for a moment, if I think of my family, if not me. Apparently they don't care about their loved ones, not to mention themselves and decide to end their life into their own hands. In the spurt of the moment they decide to leave, never getting a chance to regret it later.

Suicides in college campuses are not so uncommon, neither a recent phenomena. Surging teenage hormone can create havoc in hearts and minds, which can be due to failure in academics, love or bullying by others.

But it can't go unnoticed, there is an alarming increase in IITians committing suicide in recent years. I have a close friend from IIT, who during his trips to India visits his professors from Alma mater. They told him upfront - Gone are the days when intelligent, creative students, used to come to these premier institutes. many of them were from poor background, espousing upward social mobility. 

Now many mediocre students churned out of innumerable coaching institutes mange to clear the entrance exam. Once in, when left on their own they can't cope of the aggressive curriculum and choose end their lives. (The Usual disclaimers apply).

This particular suicide could be for a different reason, we may not know. But what we know, the above observation made by seasons academics can't be pooh poohed and swept under the carpet. The root cause must be addressed, before as we say in Odia NEDI GUDA KAHUNI KU BOHI JAI THIBA (Jaggery from the palm would have reached the elbow).

As long as the slushy jaggery stays on the palm, it can be put into mouth. Once it reaches the elbow, it wont be easy to lick it. (Try licking your elbow). Never this proverb has been so appropriate - it simply means act better it's too late.