The article highlights the alarming rate of student suicides in India, attributing it to a complex interplay of factors: caste discrimination, economic stress, and sexual harassment.
Marginalized students, particularly those from rural areas, face significant challenges adapting to urban academic environments. The cultural isolation, language barriers, and prejudice within elite institutions like IITs, IIMs, and central universities exacerbate these issues. The suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar, serves as a tragic example of systemic neglect and social ostracization.
The urban-rural divide creates inaccessibility for many rural, lower-caste students to urban elite institutions. Students often take on substantial debt to fund their education, leading to significant financial pressure and mental health consequences. Over half of high-debt borrowers experience depression, and a significant portion considers suicide.
The article points to the lack of effective complaint mechanisms and unresponsive institutional policies. Patriarchal norms discourage women from reporting sexual harassment, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, and isolation. The silence surrounding these issues, coupled with the conservative nature of many families, compounds the problem and contributes to the tragic outcomes.
The article emphasizes the interconnected nature of these issues and calls for systemic changes to address the root causes of student suicides in India. It underscores the need for improved support systems, addressing caste discrimination, mitigating economic pressures, and creating safer environments for students.