New Delhi: Rishikesh Kumar, who hailed from the ‘backward state’ of Bihar and had overcome numerous hurdles in life to secure a place at IIT Delhi, one of India’s most prestigious educational institutions, died by suicide on August 22. He allegedly died after jumping from a building at the very institute where he had enrolled just a year ago after clearing a tough entrance exam.At present, Rishikesh’s institute is in chaos. IIT Delhi, where protests are uncommon, is resonating with slogans. Rishikesh’s peers – some known to him, but most of them strangers – are demanding justice and accountability for him and for many others who share his plight.Meanwhile, the institute, despite the reported suicides of eight students within a span of 30 months, claims to be ‘shocked.’ Eight lives have been lost in two and a half years, yet the institute continues to offer assurances of ‘continuous improvement in systems.’ Students are calling for the resignation of Professor Sreedevi, the Associate Dean of Student Welfare, and demanding a more sensitive support system on campus – one that transcends mere tokenism or superficial formalities.The very institute of technology – which imparts the science of knowledge derived from questioning – has barred the media from entry. On August 25, media personnel gathered at the main entrance of IIT Delhi from 4-6 PM, seeking to cover the protests that have been taking place on campus since Sunday. However, security arrangements at the main entrance were heightened, and all individuals entering were being screened. Security staff received explicit instructions to deny access to any media personnel without prior permission.The on-going protest on the IIT Delhi campus – sparked by the alleged suicide of Kumar, a second-year M.Sc. Physics student – has evolved beyond mourning over one student’s death. Students are now questioning the entire system within which they study, reside, and seek assistance during times of mental distress.This protest at IIT Delhi holds particular significance as such demonstrations are seldom witnessed at this esteemed national institute.Students contend that viewing Rishikesh’s death merely as a consequence of personal or mental health challenges overlooks the circumstances he had been grappling with since his return – such as the failure to secure hostel accommodation or an academic project, the complicated process of withdrawing from the semester, and the alleged insensitive treatment by the administration.A PhD student in Philosophy at IIT Delhi, participating in the protest, spoke on condition of anonymity, “This is not the first instance of suicide at IIT. A pattern can be observed when looking at the previous incidents. Generally, it is individuals – particularly students from marginalized communities – who struggle to find a sense of belonging on campus that arrive at this tragic point.”According to the students, the anger is particularly intense this time because similar incidents have occurred on campus prior to Rishikesh’s death.According to a report, eight students have died by suicide at IIT Delhi in the last 30 months. Protesting students attribute this to a “systemic failure” and accuse the institute of being insensitive toward mental health issues.When problems mount with no helpRishikesh, who had enrolled at IIT Delhi in July 2025, hailed from Patna in Bihar. After losing his father in 2025, Rishikesh began to experience serious mental health problems. According to a note issued by the students, his health deteriorated after Holi in March this year, leading to a week-long treatment at IIT Delhi hospital. Later, Rishikesh was admitted to VIMHANS Hospital in Delhi for about a month. After receiving treatment, his condition improved and upon obtaining medical fitness clearance, he returned to IIT.According to the students’ note issued, Rishikesh’s problems persisted even after his return. His prolonged treatment affected his studies, causing him to lag behind in exam preparation. He requested to withdraw from the second semester and decided to return home. However, when he returned to campus in July, he found out that his name had been removed from the hostel roster. To complete the withdrawal process from the semester, he was asked for medical clearance from the hospital of IIT Delhi.Students assert that this was a condition about which he had no prior information.Attempts to secure a room in the hostel once more proved unsuccessful. According to the note, despite getting information that a room was available in Vindhyachal Hostel, he was denied accommodation. Eventually, he had to reside off campus where his mother moved in with him. Fellow students claim that being separated from friends and the campus increased Rishikesh’s feelings of isolation.Regarding this incident, students raise questions about the relationship between mental health and the institution’s policies.“Here, mental health services have been limited solely to counselling. The everyday struggles of students, the institutional framework, the educational system and their aspirations are overlooked, even though these factors can exacerbate mental health issues,” remarked a student.Meanwhile, grave accusations are also emerging regarding an alleged conversation between Rishikesh’s mother and the Student Affairs Office. Students claim that when she asked for a hostel room for Rishikesh, his mother was allegedly told, ‘We do not accommodate such children.’ A female staffer even told her, “Can’t you handle your child on your own?”The students believe that this incident ought to be regarded not merely as a family experiencing mistreatment, but as a possible example of the stigmatization associated with mental illness.Following the struggle to find a hostel room, Rishikesh encountered academic problems. Rishikesh was required to undertake a project to complete his degree. According to the note, he tried to do a project together with another student to compensate for the time lost and the academic pressure. In three out of four projects, other students declined to work with him, while in the fourth instance, the supervisor dismissed his proposal.According to a PhD researcher at IIT Delhi, on August 6, Rishikesh’s mother told one of his friends that he had attempted suicide because he could not get the project. She also informed the institute about his mental condition and suicide attempt. However, he did not receive any assistance despite this disclosure.One of the students has refused to accept this entire incident as merely the story of ‘a troubled student’. “Not getting the project or securing low grades cannot solely be seen as personal failure. When a student is already grappling with grief and mental health challenges, the question of institutional support becomes equally significant,” he said.Rishikesh wanted to leave the third semester and enrol in the first year again. However, the head of the Physics Department did not agree with his decision and sought a medical certificate for the process of withdrawing from the semester. It was reported that the doctor of IIT Delhi Hospital refused to issue such a certificate. As a result, he could not withdraw from the semester.However, the Director of IIT Delhi, Rangan Banerjee, has claimed that his request to leave the third semester was granted.Students assert that such bureaucratic procedures can exacerbate the challenges faced by a student experiencing a mental crisis rather than solving it.A PhD student stated, “The issue at hand is not whether Rishikesh experienced mental health issues, but rather what support options were made available to him by the organisation when he sought assistance? Did those options facilitate his reintegration into the system or lead to further isolation?”Some students are also raising questions about the mental health policies implemented on campus, along with concerns regarding caste discrimination and institutional exclusion.“Rishikesh hailed from rural Bihar and belonged to the OBC community,” said the PhD student. “Currently, this issue is not receiving adequate attention in the student movement. When we raise this issue, some people argue that it could negatively impact the movement. However, if it is a matter of a woman’s safety, should we refrain from discussing gender? And, if there are challenges faced by queer students, would you suggest not to bring up queer identity?’Another student of public policy said that in an elite and merit-based institution like IIT, merit and access cannot be considered in isolation from social background. He further questions whether the institutional structures like the OBC Welfare Committee are actually working for the students.“An OBC student will approach the OBC cell, and a Dalit student will seek assistance from the Dalit cell, as they believe that someone there will understand his struggle. However, if this cell exists merely on paper and is not functioning effectively, where can the student turn to address their issues?” the student asked.Both students emphasise that mental health challenges faced at IIT Delhi should not be viewed solely as matters of counselling or familial support. They note that for many students, the family may not provide a safe or adequate support system.Demand for resignation of Associate DeanDuring the protest, students have prominently raised the demand for the resignation of Professor Sreedevi, the Associate Dean of Student Welfare. Students allege that she is an important point of contact at the institution for students struggling with mental health crises, but her alleged behaviour has caused students to lose trust in her.However, the institute seems unwilling to take action on the demand for resignation.After his death, the students also cited an alleged comment made by Rishikesh, in which Professor Sreedevi had described Rishikesh as being in a condition ‘beyond repair’ or incurable. The students question how, if a hospital had declared a student medically fit after treatment, the officials of the institute could label him as such.Demand for investigationDuring the protest, the students have put forth three main demands – independent investigation, accountability/resignation of the concerned officials and adequate compensation to Rishikesh’s family. They insist that the managers or employees whose role comes to light in the investigation must be held accountable.The students have also demanded that the inquiry committee be truly independent and must include student representation. The administration has proposed to form an external investigation committee. Questioning the structure of this committee and its independent nature, the students had demanded the chairmanship of a retired high court or Supreme Court judge.In response to the students’ demands, the administration has dismissed former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar from the committee and appointed retired Delhi High Court judge Mukta Gupta its chairperson. The students had objected to the appointment of Ashok Kumar.There is also a difference of opinion between the management and the students regarding the matter of compensation. The students are demanding that a fixed amount of Rs 1 crore be granted to the family as compensation, whereas the administration has stated that it will cover the medical expenses and offer additional financial support. Initially, the administration was ready to cover the medical expenses and provide financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh.Students say that following the demise of Rishikesh’s father, the family was already facing financial hardship, and now, with his death, his mother is left with no support.Where to protest on campus?Meanwhile, another question that the students are faced with is where to protest on the campus?“Here, you don’t get your rights as a student just because you are a student. You have to be a ‘good student’ to earn it. Just try looking for a place to sit and have a chat here, and you’ll soon have the security personnel approach you and demand to know what you’re up to,” said one student.“Part of the problem is viewing the protests as ‘disturbing the peace on campus’” he said. “But we will not let it go this time, because a student has died.”Commenting on barring the media entry into the campus, a student said, ‘Why do you want to hide these protests? These questions should come out so that the institute takes steps towards improving it. The problem will not be solved by hiding it.”The student further alleged that the IIT administration is allowing select media persons to enter the campus, while denying entry to others. This particular journalist was also barred from entering the premises.‘Not just studies, students also need other types of support’One student also spoke of the limited discussion on social inequality in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Management) courses. According to him, many students coming to IIT go through a long period of coaching and preparation for competitive exams right from Class 11th, transitioning directly into the highly competitive academic environment. “The institution has to understand that these students need not only academic support but also many other types of support.’“Individuals are not failing in the system; we have to see whether the system itself is failing the individuals,’ remarked a student. “These suicides should have served as a warning to the institute. The matter will not be resolved by merely issuing condolence messages and then resuming classes.”Similar concerns are recorded in the minutes of the meeting held between students and the administration. The students have demanded a transparent system that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the administration, student counselling services, students’ welfare department and top officials of the institute in case a student experiences a mental health crisis. The students also sought to know about the action taken by the institute on the recommendations of the expert committee constituted earlier regarding the mental health of the students on the campus. Students also mentioned the efforts made by the administration in the past, including appointing counsellors and developing support mechanisms for students. However, many structural problems remain in the institute, which require immediate solution.What is the process in place for students facing mental health issues at the institution? In response to this question, a student said that the administration has recently shared a protocol with the students. “When we recently asked the administration about it, they sent us this protocol. We don’t know whether it was already in place or was recently created. We know that no such protocol was there till 2024,” the student said.According to a report published in Indian Express, IIT Delhi had constituted a committee to study the processes and environment of the institute in the context of student suicides in 2024. The committee had pointed to several possible reasons for the crisis among students. These included the fatigue and mental stress of long coaching sessions, a grading system that fostered toxic competition, constant academic pressure, and a culture of caste and gender-based discrimination on campus.According to the report, the committee had submitted its report to the institute in August last year, but no further action or response was received.On the other hand, Delhi Police has started investigating the case by registering an FIR on the charge of instigating Rishikesh to commit suicide.The Wire Hindi visited the IIT Delhi campus to know about hte administration’s stance and meet concerned officials, but was not allowed to enter the institute.The Wire Hindi has sent a list of questions to IIT Delhi Director Rangan Banerjee and Associate Dean Professor Sreedevi through email. The report will be updated upon receiving the response from the administration.(If you know someone – a friend or family member – who is mentally disturbed and at risk of suicide, please contact them. Suicide Prevention India Foundation has a list of phone numbers they can call to talk confidentially. iCall, a counselling service run by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, has compiled a crowd-sourced list of doctors/therapists from across the country. You can also refer them to the nearest hospital.)Translated from the Hindi original by Nausheen.