Assam: IIT-Guwahati student's suicide sparks massive protest on campus
Guwahati: A massive protest erupted on the campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G) on Monday following the alleged suicide of a 21-year-old student.
Binmalesh Kumar, a third-year BTech student of Computer Science and Engineering, was found dead in his room at Brahmaputra Hostel. The incident sparked massive outrage among students, who blamed the IIT Guwahati authorities for their stringent attendance policies and alleged academic pressure.
Over 3000 students gathered in front of the administrative block, chanting slogans like "We want justice," "Student life matters," and "Mental health is a right, not a privilege." They held placards highlighting their concerns about the institute's approach to student welfare.
The protesting students have blamed the institute's stringent attendance policies and excessive academic pressure for driving Kumar to take his own life.
They alleged that the authorities were inflexible in granting leave of absence, even when students presented valid medical certificates. This, they claimed, contributed to the mounting stress and frustration faced by many students.
"We are not just demanding justice for Binmalesh but also for the countless others who have suffered due to the inhumane policies of IIT-G, The institute's obsession with attendance and grades has taken a toll on our mental health," said a protesting student.
The protest also drew attention to the institute's alleged lack of adequate mental health support systems. Students expressed frustration with the IIT Guwahati authorities' perceived indifference towards their well-being.
This is not the first time IIT-G has faced criticism over student suicides. According to protesters, at least 10 students have taken their own lives in the past six years due to the intense pressure and rigid policies imposed by the institute.
They cited examples such as Saumya Kumar, a second-year MTech student who took his own life in August 2024, and Saurabh Kumar, a first-year BTech student who died by suicide in April 2024.
Besides them, Bimlesh Kumar, a third-year BTech student in the Computer Science and Engineering branch, from Brahmaputra Hostel, died by suicide in September 2024. Potential academic reasons like backlogs and supplementary papers were speculated, but the exact reason remains unknown.
Soorya Narayan Prem Kishore, a fifth-year BDes student in the Design branch, from Umiam Hostel, died by suicide in September 2022. Backlogs were mentioned as a potential reason, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Pannem Pavan Siddardha, a second-year BTech student, died by suicide in January 2019.
Kota Onoda, an international student from Japan pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, ended his life in November 2019.
Gudla Mahesh Sai Raj, a BTech student in the Computer Science and Engineering branch, from Lohit Hostel, died by suicide in October 2022.
Divakar Maurya, a fourth-year BTech student in the Mechanical Engineering branch, from Lohit Hostel, took an extreme step in 2024.
As the protests continue, it remains to be seen whether the institute will address the concerns raised by the students and take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies from happening again.