New Delhi:
Hamstrung by the losses he had endured to this point, his emotional, nearly confessional, outburst late within the evening, hours earlier than he was discovered useless, seem to counsel he had reached the farthest, darkest level. Rishikesh Kumar, the 31-year-old MSc Physics pupil at IIT Delhi who had developed psychological well being points, spoke about having suicidal ideas to his mom. A day later, he allegedly died by suicide on the institute’s campus on August 22.
The scholar was rushed to the institute’s campus hospital, the place he was declared introduced useless. No suicide be aware was recovered from the spot, the police mentioned, including a cell phone discovered within the sufferer’s pocket was seized and is being examined.
“Final evening, he cried rather a lot, saying, ‘Mummy, I’m hurting rather a lot. I am even afraid of suicide; I would not have the ability to carry myself to try this both. I’m ineffective, good for nothing. Regardless of having expertise, I’m unable to attain something on this world. It have to be some flaw from a previous life that stops me from engaging in something, even with a lot success and expertise. I’ve sufficient expertise to clear any aggressive examination, but obstacles hold cropping up in my research. One downside after one other arises – one thing or the opposite at all times occurs – forcing my training to come back to a halt. What am I alleged to do now?'” Rishikesh Kumar’s mom informed NDTV in a telephonic interview, recounting the alternate between the 2 a day earlier than her son’s dying.
Asha Poddar, Rishikesh’s mom, cataloguing her son’s difficulties mentioned he needed to drop out of NIT Rourkela in 2014 due to his father’s dying. He then graduated in Physics from Magadh College (2022-2025). Then got here the troubles at IIT Delhi, the place he was going by psychological well being points, mentioned the mom, who had moved together with him off campus as he was suggested to remain beneath “steady parental supervision”.
When requested what her calls for are from the IIT, she mentioned she is in mourning and has not given it a thought.
“I have never actually considered something. Regardless of the boys ask for, or no matter his mates determine, is appropriate to me; I’ve left it totally as much as them. I’m in a state of mourning. I’ve no calls for of my very own. His mates are those feeling the deepest ache over the lack of their companion. He was so selfless and open with everybody. Such a beautiful younger man has been taken from our midst,” she mentioned, including that her son used to sing superbly, write poetry, and even take part in kavi sammelans (poetry gatherings).
Abhishek Kumar, Rishikesh’s brother, mentioned his brother confided of their mom that he was having suicidal ideas.
Rishikesh’s brother, Abhishek Kumar, mentioned the coed had tried to finish his life twice within the days main as much as his dying
“He was telling Mummy, that ‘I am having suicidal ideas’. We even spoke to a physician about it. He stored saying, ‘Mummy, my life is meaningless; I do not need to stay anymore.” He was saying so many issues – complaining that his head felt prefer it was splitting with ache, saying he could not suppose straight anymore and felt his life was over. He did not even need to keep at IIT; regardless of having withdrawn from the semester – which initially made him completely happy as a result of he thought he’d be going residence tension-free – he was beneath immense stress. He stored saying every single day, “Mummy, let’s go to Patna rapidly; let’s go residence’. We talked rather a lot that evening; I attempted exhausting to motive with him, telling him to not do something drastic and to only get some sleep, and urged him to speak to a physician. He had satisfied himself that he was affected by migraines,” Rishikesh’s brother mentioned, including his brother was sad that he was not getting the hostel room.
College students on the institute have been protesting since Monday towards “systemic points”, which they declare have led to the deaths of eight college students by suicide over the previous 30 months.
Describing pupil welfare and psychological well-being as a high precedence, IIT Delhi on Tuesday constituted a five-member external inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of the student on campus on Saturday.
“The scholar joined IIT-Delhi in July 2025 and was residing in a hostel on campus. He was an academically brilliant pupil. Following issues raised by fellow college students a number of days after the Holi festivities earlier this 12 months, he was instantly referred to the IIT-Delhi Hospital by the institute ambulance. He was assessed and supported by the institute psychiatrist, following which his household mentioned that they need to take him to a specialised hospital,” an IIT-Delhi assertion mentioned.
“Thereafter, he underwent roughly one month of inpatient remedy on the specialised hospital earlier than being discharged. The scholar subsequently requested withdrawal from the second semester (Jan-Could 2026), which was permitted by the institute. In July, his well being information had been reviewed, and medical recommendation was once more on condition that he ought to proceed to stay beneath parental supervision.
“He was supplied counselling and remedy assist by the institute counsellor/physician in each July and August 2026. His request for withdrawal from the third semester (July-Nov 2026) was additionally permitted by the institute,” the assertion added.
Entering into IIT was Rishikesh’s “solely dream”, “his craze”, his brother mentioned, including he was extremely enthusiastic about it.
“However when that dream is lastly realised, and the coed is repeatedly humiliated by the school, that phantasm begins to shatter. He was already struggling, and the school solely added to his misery,” his brother mentioned.
Abhishek identified that his brother studied very nicely within the first semester, securing an 8 CGPA out of 10. Issues went awry within the second semester, he mentioned.
“He suffered a setback, so we received him admitted for remedy. He totally recovered inside two months and rejoined school after the physician issued an NOC. Regardless that the physician licensed him as utterly match – stating he may attend lessons and keep within the hostel with out points, with common check-ups persevering with – the school insisted by itself group deciding whether or not he may research there or not. He was repeatedly despatched to them, and they might cross-examine the scenario. What was the purpose of all that, once we had been already getting him handled by outdoors specialists?” his brother mentioned.
Rishikesh’s brother objected to the school not accepting the hospital suggestion and including to his brother’s troubles.
“Based on the therapists at IIT, clearance for Rishikesh wasn’t being granted. If the hospital is reporting that the coed is okay and able to learning, then what’s the level of insisting on a re-examination? Why are you referring the case elsewhere? What objection does the school have? Who’s the Hostel Dean to inform a pupil that they can not keep within the hostel?” his brother mentioned.
When NDTV requested if Rishikesh had tried taking his life earlier than, his brother talked about two cases.
“After returning to school, he informed our mom that he had tried twice. He mentioned, ‘I went as much as the ninth ground of the school constructing.’ He was deeply harm by the truth that he wasn’t getting a hostel room on the school and felt he could not research whereas residing outdoors. He took it very a lot to coronary heart. He felt it was unfair – questioning why the IIT authorities had been performing this fashion regardless of him having good marks within the first time period and medical clearance,” the brother recounted.
Requested if there have been different causes, the brother cited “non-cooperation” from the school.
“Relating to the analysis venture he needed to pursue, everybody else was paired up, however he was left to work alone; he acquired no cooperation there both,” he mentioned.
Did the household communicate to the administration? NDTV requested.
“Our mom pleaded desperately, tearfully begging them to let him keep (within the hostel). He was adamant about residing within the hostel fairly than outdoors; he felt suffocated residing off-campus – he had been staying in a tiny 10×10 room close to the school the place the lease was exorbitant. He felt responsible that his mom was being troubled due to him. The circumstances created a scenario the place he grew to become much more depressed, feeling like he was simply struggling,” his brother mentioned.
The brother additional claimed that no assist was forthcoming from the school.
“There was no assist from the school – is that this what they name counseling? As an alternative of supporting the coed, they had been harassing him, demanding NOCs from right here and there,” he mentioned.
