I have a Solution that will reduce pressure on IIT aspirants but do not know how to get this across to HRD Minister of India. Suggestions are welcome. - Ram Krishnaswamy

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Saturday, June 4, 2011

52 - 24th Feb 2009 - IIT-Kanpur's student attempts suicide

Durgesh Vikram, a student of PhD civil engineering, attempted suicide on Monday (Feb 23) evening. The boy was saved by the railway police. It is not a one-off case. In past four years, seven students have committed suicide in IIT-K.

ANOTHER CASE of a student keen on ending his life has come to light in IIT-Kanpur. This time a student of IIT-Kanpur has allegedly tried to commit suicide by lying on the railway tracks.

Durgesh Vikram, a student of Ph D civil engineering, tried to commit suicide on Monday (Feb 23) evening, IIT-K registrar Sanjeev Kashalkar said. The boy was, however, saved by the railway police.

Vikram said he took the drastic step as was ill and tired of his life. Vikram had done B. Tech from IIT-Roorkee and then enrolled for M. Tech from IIT-K. Now, he was pursuing Ph D from the same institute, Kashalkar said, adding that in 2006, he suffered from some mental disease for which he was taking medicines for sometime.

Vikram had done B. Tech from IIT-Roorkee and then enrolled for M. Tech from IIT-K. Now, he was pursuing Ph.D from the same institute, Kashalkar said, adding in 2006 Vikram suffered from some mental disease from which he was taking medicines for some time.

This is not the first case of its kind. In the past, many IITians have followed the same path for one or the other reason.     On January 3, upset over not getting a job through campus recruitment, a post graduate IIT student G. Suman allegedly committed suicide in Kanpur by hanging himself. On June 4, 2008, a student of Biological Science and Biological Engineering of IIT-Kanpur, Toya Chatterjee committed suicide few hours before the convocation ceremony in which final year students are awarded B-Tech degree.

In the past four years, seven students have committed suicide in IIT-K. Several others also tried to take their lives. Even after continued attempts by IIT authorities to check the increasing suicidal rate among their students, incidents of students taking their lives is continuing at an alarming rate.

These IIT’ians are among a bunch of students with a prolific bent of mind, they are the face of our nation, the most intellectual and bright people our nation has produced. If someone catering to such a group attempts a disgraceful and cowardly act as this, who can think of seeing India, emerge as a superpower someday?