The relatives of Rishikesh Kumar are gravely troubled by his worsening mental health leading up to his tragic death
They said these concerns should be examined as part of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. An SI called and informed me that my brother had died by suicide,” he said. The committee includes former Uttarakhand Director General of Police and IIT Delhi alumnus Ashok Kumar and AIIMS New Delhi’s Department of Psychiatry head Prof Pratap Sharma, among others, according to IIT sources.
He also alleged that the family was informed about Rishikesh’s death by police rather than the institute. “I received a call from Kishangarh police station. “We did not receive any information from the university. Nobody from the university came to visit us or contacted us. Whatever we came to know about the incident, we learned through the police station. Poll How important is open communication about mental health issues in educational institutions? The committee was formed a day after hundreds of students gathered on campus demanding a probe into the death.
Very important Somewhat important Not important 3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today 3k+ users shared opinion today Share Opinion IIT Delhi subsequently constituted a five-member External Inquiry Committee.
“Our only demand is that there should be a proper inquiry and accountability, so that what happened to my brother does not happen to anyone else. For nearly a week, he had lost interest in everything. Rishikesh repeatedly spoke to their mother about what he was going through, ANI reported, according to Abhishek. The family’s allegations about Rishikesh’s mental state, his interactions with the institute and the events preceding his death are expected to be examined as part of the inquiry. (With agency inputs) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
NEW DELHI: Days before IIT Delhi MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar died by suicide, his family had become increasingly worried about his mental state, with his brother alleging that the 31-year-old had withdrawn from everyday activities, spoken repeatedly about being a “big loser” and told his mother that he was having suicidal thoughts. Rishikesh’s brother Abhishek Kumar said the family had noticed a sharp change in him in the week before his death and had been considering getting him medical help and counselling. He would not properly use his mobile phone, would not work on his laptop or type anything and had abandoned almost everything,” the brother said. I am getting suicidal thoughts,” he would tell her, according to his brother. Abhishek said the family had previously intervened when Rishikesh showed signs of wanting to harm himself and that his mother would counsel him and try to persuade him to reconsider. “He later told my mother, ‘Mummy, I am such a big loser. I went there to die, but I could not even do that,'” the brother said. The family said they spoke to him at length on the night before his death and were considering taking him to a doctor again and arranging further counselling and treatment. However, the next morning, Rishikesh left the house while his mother was asleep and went to the IIT Delhi campus, the family said. Since he was not provided hostel accommodation by the institute, we arranged this place and were staying there,” Abhishek said.
“He had started feeling like a complete failure in life. “Mummy, there is so much going on inside my mind. I feel like such a big loser. The family alleged that Rishikesh was deeply disturbed by his interactions with the institute’s administration and had felt humiliated in the days before his death. The family was staying in a rented two-room accommodation after Rishikesh was allegedly not allotted hostel accommodation by the institute. “Yes, we were staying in an apartment. We had taken a two-room accommodation, where he and our mother were living. The family has sought a detailed inquiry and accountability, saying they want measures to ensure other students do not face similar circumstances. “Students come to such a prestigious institution with dreams they have carried since childhood. They make enormous sacrifices to reach a place like IIT. We do not want any other student to go through such circumstances or for such a tragedy to happen again. Rishikesh’s death triggered protests at the IIT Delhi campus, with students demanding an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death. Download the TOI App.
He added that thoughts about his mother had made Rishikesh return on earlier occasions. Today, it is my brother; tomorrow, it could be somebody else’s brother or another student,” he said.