IIT-Hyderabad students blame isolated campus and academic pressure for suicides - The Print

IIT-Hyderabad students blame isolated campus and academic pressure for suicides

This year, 3 students have killed themselves, the latest being the death of the 20-year-old Pichikala Siddharth, who jumped off a building Tuesday.

KRITIKA SHARMA 30 October, 2019 7:56 pm IST

A file photo of IIT Hyderabad | iith.ac.in

New Delhi: Isolated living spaces, lack of common hangout zones combined with academic pressure appear to be the deadly cocktail contributing to the student suicides at the IIT-Hyderabad campus this year.

Since the beginning of 2019, three students have killed themselves, the latest being the death of the 20-year-old undergraduate student Pichikala Siddharth, who jumped off a building Tuesday.

Students at the institute told ThePrint that they recently shifted to a new campus that lacks common hangout zones and entertainment facilities. Even the accommodation that has been provided to them on campus makes them isolated, they said.

The new campus is at Kandi, nearly two hours from Hyderabad city.

“The new campus has single rooms for students that are designed according to international standards, providing a lot of space and privacy. In a different scenario, this would be a great thing but one must understand that Indian kids are not used to living by themselves and that kind of space might prove negative,” said a PhD student at IIT-Hyderabad, who is actively involved in the administration’s efforts to prevent student suicides.

“Since this is a new campus, students do not even have avenues for entertainment and common hang-out zones. In the absence of someone to talk to…students tend to get depressed,” he added.

“In the older campus, if one got out of their room, they would bump into at least four people. Here it is difficult to find people around.”

A student of B.Tech third year ThePrint spoke to, agreed. “We cannot complain much since it is a new campus but it does lack common hangout zones and places where students can interact,” he said. “For new students, this does get depressing.”

Also read: To check student suicides in IITs, govt wants professional counsellors & wellness centres 

Worried administration steps in

The suicides have worried the administration and the student community alike and the institute is now trying to take proactive steps to prevent them.

IIT-Hyderabad director, B.S. Murthy, Wednesday morning shared an email with students, including the post graduate and PhD aspirants, seeking suggestions to make the campus a more student-friendly place.

“The director has invited inputs from students, especially PhD students about making the campus a more interactive place for students,” one of the students who received the email told ThePrint.

“The latest suicide incident has shattered everyone on campus and there is a serious intent to change the environment.”

The student added that there is a plan to launch a “mentor programme”, under which, one faculty member will mentor three to four students and address all the issues that they have, personal as well as those related to academics.

Also read: IIT mania is costing students quality time at schools. But CBSE, other bodies still sleeping

In suicide notes, mention of academic pressure, depression

In all the three suicides, students have mentioned issues such as academic pressure, peer-pressure and depression.

The first victim was M. Anirudh, a third-year mechanical and aerospace engineering student who committed suicide on 31 January.

In July this year, Mark Andrew Charles, a native of Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh killed himself. In his suicide note that he wrote in a diary, Mark said he felt the world does not treat well those who do not succeed in life. He wrote that he was “feeling empty but not sad”.

According to one of his close friends, he was a good student but depressed because of his grades.

Pichikala Siddharth, who jumped off a building Tuesday, wrote that “life was depressing” for him.

A masters student who did not wish to be named told ThePrint that attitude of the faculty also contributed in making students lose hope.

“I have not seen this with our faculty but at the undergraduate level, some faculty members are very harsh with students,” the student said. “They tell them that they are good for nothing… Students also think Mark faced harassment from his faculty members and that made him depressed.”

ThePrint approached IIT-Hyderabad via email sent a text and called director Murthy, but there was no response until the time of publishing this copy.

On Tuesday, however, the institute had released a note expressing grief over the death of Pichikala Siddharth.


Also read: This link between kumkum & solar cells could be the next big science breakthrough

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'Depressed' IIT-Hyderabad Student Kills Himself on Campus, Third Suicide at The Institute This Year - News 18,

'Depressed' IIT-Hyderabad Student Kills Himself on Campus, Third Suicide at The Institute This Year

Siddharth Pichikala, a third-year student of computer science, jumped off the third floor of the hostel building around 3.26 am on Wednesday morning.

Rishika Sadam | CNN-News18Updated:October 29, 2019, 4:33 PM IST

Hyderabad: In the third incident of suicide at the institute this year, a 20-year-old student of Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) killed himself in the early hours of Tuesday.

Siddharth Pichikala, a third-year B-Tech student of computer science, jumped off the third floor of the hostel building at around 3.26 am.

Pichikala was taken to a private hospital where he was declared dead. His body has now been shifted to Gandhi Hospital, run by the Government, for an autopsy.

Minutes before the tragedy, he had sent an email to his friends, which said he is unable to concentrate on academics, pushing him to a stage of depression and forcing him to take this extreme step.

“There is a critic within me questioning my every move to the extent that I feel I shouldn’t exist. I shouldn’t exist because I am a self-obsessed guy. I was brought up that way, being compared with my peers all the time,” read the suicide note.

The police said the deceased was depressed over his performance in academics over the last two months. He was scared of his future as well as his career, they added.

“Life rather seems depressing. Never-ending strands of misfortune to an extent that I mentally couldn’t tolerate it. I have no clue how my future is going to be. I have been feeling this for the past two months,” said the email.

Following a complaint from the management, a case has been registered under Section 174 of the CrPC.

“IIT Hyderabad faculty, staff and students extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends and other near and dear ones of the deceased student. This is indeed an irreparable loss to the institute and the family.” a statement from the institute said.

This is the third incident in the campus within a year. In July, Mark Andrew Charles, a second-year Masters’ student from Uttar Pradesh, committed suicide by hanging himself in his hostel room. In his suicide note, Charles said he may not get good marks and that there is “no future for failures” in the world.

Anirudhya Mummaneni, a third-year student, jumped off the hostel building in February.

Indian student commits suicide for ‘failure’ to get a job - Gulf News

Indian student commits suicide for ‘failure’ to get a job

Mark Andrew Charles hung himself because of “poor grades” and “failure to secure a job”

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Published:  July 04, 2019 18:42Shreya Bhatia, Reader Interactivity Journalist

  

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Mark A. Charles, Indian student who hung himself in hostel roomImage Credit: Mark A. Charles/ Facebook

Mark Andrew Charles hung himself because of “poor grades” and “failure to secure a job”

Dubai: Yet another Indian student has killed himself because of “poor grades” and “failure to secure a job”. A final year master’s degree student from Hyderabad, India, left an emotional suicide note after he hung himself at his hostel.

What happened?

According to a report by Indian newspaper, The Times of India, Mark Andrew Charles, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) left a moving suicide note for his friends and family in which he called himself a “loser” and apologised to parents for not being able to make the most of their sacrifices.

The newspaper had obtained a copy of his suicide note, in which the Varanasi youth said: “I don’t have a job, probably wouldn’t get one. No one hires a loser!.... It’s amazing to look at my grade sheet. A few more alphabets and it will look like an alphabet chart.”

He added: “I did have dreams, just like everyone. But now, it’s pretty empty. All this positivity, the constant smiling, telling people that I am okay, even though I am not.”

The news created uproar on social media and users were upset after reading what Charles had written and gone through.

Tweep @hemang_1 posted: “Constant pressure is killing many youth. Time to rethink our behaviour as a society.”

Indian journalist @ShreyaTeresita posted: “It was a bad day as an editor. I choked up at work while reading Mark Andrew Charles’ suicide note. I was scared.

“Hug a friend today - a friend, sibling, family member... someone who seems low, beaten down, stressed. Hug them and tell them, they are worthy.”

Charles requested his parents not to bury him but to hand his body for medical use as he would “make a good specimen cadaver to the future doctors of India”.

IIT-H responsible?

In another report by the same newspaper, a day after his death, Charles’ family blamed the professors of the institute and alleged that they had humiliated him.

The report quoted his mother Nirmanya, who said: “He was full of positivity. He was bright and believed in himself. However, two years in this institute broke him.”

She called her son a “bright kid” who was “reminded that he was not good enough and that led him to commit suicide”.

In his note, Charles advises a few of his friends not to “waste” their lives in the IT industry. He said: “Ankit, Rajjo, IT me kaam karte apni life matt bhul jana. Live a little every day. Ek hi zindagi mili hain” (while trying to make a career and work in the IT industry, don’t forget to live a little every day. We have been given only one life).

Nirmanya and her husband blamed IIT-H for their son’s death in their recorded statement to the police.

In the newspaper report, Sangareddy Deputy Superintendent of police P. Sridhar Reddy said: “Mark did not mention anything against the institute in his letter, but his parents are blaming the institute.

“They claimed that he complained about a few of the professors and narrated how he was humiliated for not being able to even handle a DSLR (camera). However, there are no proofs.”

Mark’s parents, who were in Hyderabad to take their son’s body back to Varanasi said that they spoke to Charles the day before he committed suicide and claimed that he was happy and didn’t seem depressed.

Indian education system

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is deemed to be the best institution in the country for engineering, education and research in terms of quality and standards, according to online website Inside Higher Ed. The IIT exam, known as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), is a very competitive exam that very few people get through. In 2014, 1.3 million candidates appeared for JEE Main.

Over the years, the institute has been criticised for being too competitive and there are many cases of students ending their lives because they can not handle the acadeic pressure.

Twitter users blamed the Indian education system that puts too much pressure on students.

Tweep @raveend19173286 posted: “Mark Andrew Charles... an IITian commits suicide ... who is responsible? Our own hypocritical society! Society preaches something since childhood all in the name of education and throws just the opposite conditions to live in?”

Tweep @kmratishi: “Truly feel sorry for the parents who’ve to deal with the ugly aftermath where the community has no sympathy for the grieving parents. What’ll they do with those years of memories of watching their son grow into a human being? All that’ll be left are horrible images and a letter.”

And Twitter user @thesujay2010 posted: “Suicide in the premier institute like IITs… is a serious issue. Administration can’t avoid the responsibility. If a good student after cracking IIT, failed, [got] no job, then why are the concerned department/faculty not being questioned for his downfall?”

Not the first time

This is the second suicide report at the institute this year. In February 2019, a third-year student, Anirudhya Mummaneni jumped off the seven-storey hostel building at IIT-H.

Mummaneni, 21 years, was depressed when he took his life and had contemplated taking extreme steps to end his life the week before he died.

According to US-based online news publication international Business times, IIT Madras recorded two suicides in one month, at their campus. In September 2018, a 23-year-old committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room.

Do you think the Indian education system puts too much pressure on students? Do you know of anyone who went through something like this? Write to us at readers at gulfnews.com.

Depressed IIT-Hyderabad student ends life over poor marks

2nd July 2019 IIT Hyderabad

Depressed IIT-Hyderabad student ends life over poor marks

In the suicide note purportedly written by him, he maintained that he had decided to end his life because he did not get expected marks in the examination.

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By AuthorTelanganaToday  |  Published: 2nd Jul 2019  6:08 pmUpdated: 2nd Jul 2019  9:20 pm

Mark Andew Charles

Sangareddy: 

A student of IIT Hyderabad in the second year of M Design Course ended his life by hanging himself in the hostel on the institute premises in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mark Andrew Charles, a 25-year-old second year student of M Design at IIT-H, committed suicide by hanging himself at his room in the early hours of Tuesday. He was a native of Varanasi. It is the second suicide on the IIT-H campus in five months. Earlier, M Anirudhya, a final year B Tech student, jumped off the 7th floor of the hostel building on February 1 this year.

In a suicide note purportedly written by him in his diary, which was found in his room, Mark, who had just gave his second year examinations and was all set to submit his final presentation, wrote that he decided to end his life because he was expecting good grades. Stating that the world never treats those who do not succeed in life, Mark said he was going to end his life because he was feeling empty, but not sad.

“I have many times acted to show that I am good and okay, but I used to suffer a lot within,” Mark wrote. When he failed to come out of his hostel room even after 2 pm, his friends and college management broke open the door only to find his lifeless body hanging from the ceiling.

Starting the letter by saying that he had decided to call it quits, the 25-year-old student asked his friends to stay strong in their lives. He also had a few positive things to his friend Neel, writing that humanity was the key, and asked him to remember this always. He told his friends: “Ankit, Rajjo, IT Kam karte karte apne life mat bhul jana, live a little every day. Eki zindagi mili hai”.

Addressing his parents, Mark wrote that he could not meet their expectations. “I don’t have a good portfolio, got bad grades and no job. I am sorry I could not do justice to all your sacrifices,” he wrote.

The body was shifted to Government Hospital, Sangareddy, and the parents are expected to reach the town by Wednesday morning.

DSP, Sangareddy, Sridhar Reddy visited the IIT-H campus on coming to know about the incident. Speaking to the media, he said Mark left for his hostel room a bit early at 11 pm on Monday night, though he usually spends time with his friends till midnight. After he failed to come out of the room even after 2 pm the following afternoon and also failed to respond to messages and phone calls, his friends and management broke open the door. As Mark dated his letter July 2, the police came to the conclusion that he died in the early hours of Tuesday after writing the suicide note. His friends, faculty and classmates broke down on seeing his lifeless body.

Why Depression Among India’s Students Should Not Be Taken Lightly - Youth Ki avaaz

Why Depression Among India’s Students Should Not Be Taken Lightly

frank John Walter in Activities on Campus, Campus Watch, Mental Health
2 days ago

Trigger Warning: Suicide

Getting in to an IIT is an aspiration of many students and life seems very fortunate when a student makes their way in but this fortune gets intriguing when hidden aspects are introduced. The death of a 21-year-old student of IIT Hyderabad comes as a shock for everyone but just like the others, this will also be untended and forgotten with time.

Anirudhya, who hailed from Secunderabad, was pushed to suicide and jumped from a seven-storey-hostel building on January 31. His death was first recognised as an accidental fall from the building but later his emails to his friends revealed that he was suffering from depression.

This is not the first time a student has resorted to suicide due to depression; a large number of similar cases have been reported previously. In May 2017, Arjun Bhardwaj, a 24-year-old management student ended their life and cited the fear of failure in exams in a note. In September 2018, Shahal Kormath, a 23-year-old student of IIT Madras, died by suicide as he feared that he won’t be allowed to appear in final examinations due to being short of attendance.

Also Read: The One Thing That Helped Me Battle Depression And Survive IIT

In December 2018, a second year MBBS student also resorted to suicide at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. In February the same year, Shivani Bansal, a 22-year-old MBBS student, was pushed to suicide at Government Medical College, Srinagar saying that she wanted to be a cricketer and never wanted to become a doctor.

This list of suicides among students goes on with every case being cast away with time but we cannot ignore that the numbers are increasing everyday. According to a 2015 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), every hour, a student is pushed to suicide in India!

In 2015, there were a total of 8934 cases of suicide reported and depression was found to be leading cause of suicide. According to a report by the WHO, 6.5% of the total population is affected with depression making India the 6th most depressed country in the world.

Also Read: Colleges Can Prevent Students From Committing Suicide If They Only Paid Attention

Depression has been cited as the most common cause of suicide. A report states that almost 300 million people are affected with depression worldwide yet it is the most ignored problem. The increasing number of suicide among students is a problem that should not be taken lightly.

A thorough investigation is required as to why a student, after clearing IIT and getting admission, still resorts to suicide. Is the curriculum designed in such a way that it forces a student to think that “life holds no meaning” as stated by Anirudhya’s note, or does the environment not allow positive values to be inculcated?

Is it the burden of becoming a doctor or an engineer borne by students to fulfill the dreams of their parents responsible for a suicide?

A healthy and open approach is required to deal with this situation. A homeostasis between a positive approach and studies in campuses is needed and open discussion is necessary to solve the issue.

Ignoring the issue will only be problematic. Acceptance of depression is required and in-campus counselling should be carried out to help students. They should not be forced to become what they don’t want to. Rather, each one should be appreciated and motivated for their respective talents and should be encouraged to pursue their area of interest.

Featured image used for representative purposes only.
Featured image source: Pixnio

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Daily grind is becoming more difficult: IIT Hyderabad student commits suicide by jumping off campus building - DNA INDIA

Daily grind is becoming more difficult: IIT Hyderabad student commits suicide by jumping off campus building

 IIT Hyd student commits suicide by jumping off campus building Representational image

WRITTEN BY

DNA Web Team 


Updated: Feb 3, 2019, 11:12 AM ISTA 22-year-old student of IIT Hyderabad died on Friday after allegedly committing suicide by jumping off the hostel building on the campus.According to Sangareddy rural police, the deceased was identified as M Anirudhya, a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad.Initially, the police said that they thought Anirudhya had died after falling off the seven-storey building by accident while talking over the mobile phone.

However, later after inquiry, the police found that the deceased had mailed his friends that he was committing suicide as he had been depressed.

According to police, the IIT student had mailed his friends last week revealing his intention to take the extreme step.

In his mail, Anirudhya had said, "The decision to end my life is purely logical, based on my estimation of what the future contains. Life holds no intrigue anymore and the daily grind is becoming more difficult with time."

Police said that M Anirudhya, a fourth-year student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, had met a psychiatrist a few days ago.

Meanwhile, IIT has released a statement extending the institute's deepest condolence to the family and friends of the decease

IIT-Hyderabad shuts doors to media, asks students to ‘keep mum’ on Anirudhya’s suicide - Indian Express

IIT-Hyderabad shuts doors to media, asks students to ‘keep mum’ on Anirudhya’s suicide

A Day after Anirudhya, third year B Tech student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, jumped to his death, students and staff continue to remain in shock from the incident.


Published: 03rd February 2019 11:39 AM | Last Updated: 03rd February 2019 11:40 AM | A+A A-

IIT Hyderabad (Photo | iith.ac.in)
By Express News Service

SANGAREDDY: A day after Anirudhya, third year B Tech student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, jumped to his death, students and staff continue to remain in shock from the incident. Meanwhile, the institute itself has shut all its doors to media and outsiders. On Saturday, Express along with other media persons, tried to enter the institute premises, but were asked to back off by the security staff.

ALSO READ | 21-year-old IIT-Hyderabad student ends life

The students have been reportedly asked to avoid discussing the incident to stop unwanted publicity. In a bid to prevent any such incidents in the future, authorities have reportedly advised students not to take such extreme steps and approach a professor or the institute director with any academic or personal issues. Students said Anirudhya was friendly in his demeanour to his fellow students. They also confirmed absence of any financial troubles in his family or any back logs in his three years of B Tech at the institute.

Sources have also said that Anirudhya’s parents have not filed any complaints with the Sangareddy Rural police station.

‘Life holds no intrigue anymore, everyday is becoming more difficult’: IIT Hyderabad student wrote to his friends before suicide - Hindustan Times

‘Life holds no intrigue anymore, everyday is becoming more difficult’: IIT Hyderabad student wrote to his friends before suicide

Enquiry revealed the incident, which occurred early Thursday, was suicide as the student had mailed his friends that he was ending his life as he had been depressed, the police said.

INDIA Updated: Feb 03, 2019 09:21 IST

Press Trust of India 
Hyderabad

Initially, it was believed Anirudhya of Secunderabad had fallen off the building by accident while talking over the mobile phone.((Photo: Facebook/Anirudhya Mummaneni))

A 21-year-old student of the IIT Hyderabad allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the seven-storey hostel building on the campus, police said Saturday.

Initially, it was believed Anirudhya of Secunderabad had fallen off the building by accident while talking over the mobile phone, the police said.

Later, enquiry revealed the incident, which occurred early Thursday, was suicide as the student had mailed his friends that he was ending his life as he had been depressed, they said.

His mail said he had contemplated taking the extreme step last week, the police said.

In his mail, Anirudhya had said, “The decision to end my life is purely logical, based on my estimation of what the future contains. Life holds no intrigue anymore and the daily grind is becoming more difficult with time.”

Apparently, he had consulted a psychiatrist a few days ago, the police said.

The IIT, in a statement, said it extends its deepest condolence to the family and friends of the deceased.

First Published: Feb 03, 2019 08:05 IST

IIT Hyderabad Student Dies After Falling From Campus Building தமிழில் படிக்க According to Sangareddy rural police, the student was identified as M Anirudhya, a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad.

IIT Hyderabad Student Dies After Falling From Campus Building

According to Sangareddy rural police, the student was identified as M Anirudhya, a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad.

Hyderabad | Press Trust of India | Updated: February 02, 2019 03:50 IST



The youth was a fourth year student in mechanical and aerospace engineering (Representational)

HYDERABAD:

A 22-year-old student of IIT Hyderabad died Friday after allegedly falling from the seventh floor of a building on the campus, police said Friday.

According to Sangareddy rural police, the student was identified as M Anirudhya, a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad.

The police said they have not ruled out the possibility of suicide.

"We are verifying some emails sent by the deceased to one of his friends," a police official said.

He was a fourth year student in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

IIT student dies after falling from campus building

IIT student dies after falling from campus building

The police said they have not ruled out the possibility of suicide.

Press Trust of India HyderabadFebruary 2, 2019UPDATED: February 2, 2019 07:53 IST



(Image for representation: PTI)

HIGHLIGHTS
The deceased was identified as M Anirudhya
He was a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad
The student allegedly falling from the seventh floor of a building on the campus



A 22-year-old student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad died on Friday after allegedly falling from the seventh floor of a building on the campus, police said.

According to Sangareddy rural police, the deceased was identified as M Anirudhya, a resident of Bowenpally in Secunderabad.


The police said they have not ruled out the possibility of suicide.



"We are verifying some emails sent by the deceased to one of his friends," a police official said.

He was a fourth year student in mechanical and aerospace engineering here.

IIT Hyderabad student dies after falling from terrace while talking on phone - Hindustan Times

IIT Hyderabad student dies after falling from terrace while talking on phone

M Anirudhya (22), a final year engineering student of IIT-Hyderabad, died instantly when he accidentally fell down from the terrace of his seven-storied hostel building.INDIA Updated: Feb 01, 2019 21:17 IST

Srinivasa Rao Apparasu
Hindustan Times, Hyderabad

M Anirudhya (22), a final year engineering student of IIT-Hyderabad, died instantly when he accidentally fell down from the terrace of his seven-storied hostel building. (Photo: Facebook/Anirudhya Mummaneni)

A final year engineering student of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) died instantly when he accidentally fell down from the terrace of his seven-storied hostel building while talking on his mobile early on Friday.

M Anirudhya (22) was in the fourth year of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the IIT located at Kandi village of Telangana’s Sangareddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Sangareddy (rural) sub-inspector of police, Srikanth said Anirudhya, whose parents originally belonged to Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district but were staying at Bowenpally in Hyderabad, went to the terrace at around 12.45 am to attend to a mobile call from his friend and fell down from there.

“Initially, it was suspected to be a case of suicide, but visuals from the closed circuit television cameras showed that he slipped and fell down from the terrace while speaking on his phone. He died instantly due to multiple injuries,” the SI said.

Enquiries with his hostel mates revealed that Anirudhya regularly used to go to the terrace to read books on his tab and speak on phone.

“His father M Rajan, a businessman, is in a state of depression because Anirudhya was his only son. The boy’s elder sister got married to a doctor only recently,” the police officer said.

Anirudhya’s body was handed over to the family in the evening, after conducting post-mortem at Sangareddy government hospital.

IIT-Hyderabad student jumps to death

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By AuthorTelanganaToday  |  Published: 1st Feb 2019  11:46 amUpdated: 1st Feb 2019  2:01 pm

Sangareddy: An IIT-Hyderabad student has reportedly committed suicide by jumping down from the fourth floor of a building on the premises of the premier institute in the early hours of Friday. The death was instant for him as he suffered multiple injuries all over the body.

The deceased was a fourth-year B-Tech student. However, the authorities of Institute and Sangareddy Police had to confirm what exactly happened.