On May 17, around 1 p.m., I was on my way back to the hostel after giving my exam when I got the shocking news that one of our fellow students enrolled in MA in English at the school of culture, language and literature died by suicide within the academic premises.
I rushed to the spot. The Delhi Police was there, two ambulances and G4S guards. We were not allowed to enter the building, but we stood in large numbers outside praying that our friend is fine and has failed his attempt of suicide. Soon, we were informed that he was no more. The whole JNU student community was in tears and a few were panicking, failing to understand how this happened.
We stood there in a complete state of shock, wishing what we heard isn’t true. Many of us felt that we failed him. We lived in the same campus, slept at the same hostel, ate in the same mess but we failed to understand that one of our fellow students is not okay.
I will not put blame on the administration of JNU because it is established they don’t care for us students. They do not have a minute to talk to the students, for whom the university actually stands. We have to sit on a hunger strike to just draw the attention of the Vice-Chancellor. Even after students being hospitalized while sitting for 9 straight days on a hunger strike, there was no effort taken by the administration to come meet the students.
I am just trying to think how much pressure our friend must have faced. I am only worried for his family, his parents who sent him here with good faith. I pray to god to give them strength to face this situation.
Further as a student of JNU, I request all the students across the country to never lose hope. If you ever feel like giving up, remember the reason why you held on for so long.