New Delhi— The tragic death of Ayush Ashna, a final year B.Tech student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, has once again brought to light the persistent issue of caste-based discrimination within the country's premier educational institutions. Ayush's demise adds to the growing number of student suicides that have plagued campuses across India, raising serious concerns about the lack of stringent measures taken by the government to address this deeply rooted problem.

It is disheartening that despite the repeated occurrences of such incidents, the government has failed to implement effective measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students from marginalized backgrounds.

The case of Ayush Ashna

Ayush Ashna, a 20-year-old final year B.Tech student, was found dead in his hostel room at IIT Delhi on July 8th. The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, as no suicide note was discovered at the scene. Ayush's mobile phone and mortal remains were taken into custody by the police to aid in their inquiries.

Family's distress and unanswered calls

Ayush's mother and brother grew increasingly concerned when their attempts to reach him went unanswered. Despite multiple calls from his family, Ayush failed to respond, prompting his brother Rahul and mother to travel to Delhi. Upon reaching Ayush's hostel room, their frantic knocking went unanswered as well. Authorities were eventually notified, and the room was forcibly opened by the police, where Ayush's lifeless body was discovered hanging.

Graveyard-like conditions at IITs

Tragically, incidents of student suicides have become all too common within the hallowed halls of the IITs, turning these esteemed institutions into graveyards of shattered dreams. The students of IITs, in a statement, attributed the mental trauma experienced by students to the faculties and their regressive mindsets. The statement emphasized the urgent need to sensitize, mentor, and counsel faculty members and deans who perpetuate hierarchies and devalue students' lives based solely on their academic performance.

It read, “Today it is most urgent to sensitize, mentor and counsel faculties and Deans who through their grading and regressive mindsets place students in hierarchies, routinely fail them and devalue their lives based on their academic performance. if you’re from a reserved category, then you must work extra hard throughout the day and take remedial classes and mentoring throughout the night, with english speaking classes on the side.”

Protest March Demanding Justice Held at IIT Delhi: Allegations of Institutional Casteism Surface in Ayush's Case

Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC), a student collective with a presence in various IIT campuses, has strongly condemned the incident and clarified that Ayush, from Bareilly, was a Scheduled Caste student and not a Tribal as erroneously reported by the media. The student outfit has rejected the prevailing suicide theory surrounding Ayush's death, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation to determine the true circumstances.

Soma Mandal, associated with the APSC, expressed that labeling it as a suicide is premature, and even if it were a suicide, the underlying reasons behind such tragic acts need to be explored. The IIT Delhi wing of the APSC further alleged that the deliberate concealment of Ayush's identity points to the functioning of institutional casteism. In their pursuit of justice for Ayush, the collective organized a protest march on the campus, with students chanting slogans like "Rohith Abhi Zinda Hai" and "Ayush Abhi Zinda Hai." It is worth noting that Rohith, a Dalit student at the University of Hyderabad, tragically ended his life on campus in 2016.

Director promises stronger measures:

Confirming the scheduled caste status of the deceased student, Ranjan Banerjee, the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, wrote in an email, "The loss of a young member of our community pains us all immensely, and this pain is further intensified by the fact that Ayush belongs to the SC community." He expressed the institute's commitment to implementing stronger measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future, stating, "We are open to suggestions and ideas from you to enhance our support systems."

Alarming trend across campuses

This year alone, four students have tragically committed suicide in IIT Madras, with one student, Darshan Solanki, taking his own life in IIT Bombay. Additionally, two female medical students belonging to the Dalit and Tribal communities respectively ended their lives on their respective campuses in Amritsar, Punjab, and Warangal, Telangana. Furthermore, a female NEET aspirant from the Dalit community committed suicide in Hayathnagar, Hyderabad, allegedly due to caste-based harassment by her hostel mates.

These distressing incidents serve as a stark reminder that the frequent cases of suicides in higher education institutions throughout the country must act as a wake-up call to the government. It is crucial that appropriate measures be taken to sensitize students about coping with the immense pressure they face.