SURAJ NANDREKAR
The tragic death of 20-year-old Krishna Kasera, a second-year student at BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, has once again brought the issue of student mental health into stark focus.
Found dead by suicide within the campus premises, Krishna’s passing is not just a personal loss to his family and friends, but also a jarring reminder of the silent crisis unfolding in our academic institutions.
Verna Police have registered a case of unnatural death. However, beyond the legal procedures and inquiries lies a deeper societal question: What pressures are our students facing that they are driven to such irreversible ends?
This is not an isolated incident. It is the second such suicide reported on campus in recent months. As these tragic patterns emerge, it is essential that we shift our focus from reaction to prevention.
The intensity of academic life at India’s premier institutions is well-known. These centers of excellence are rightly proud of their rigorous standards, but they must also recognize that emotional and psychological resilience cannot be assumed in every student.
Young adults in such environments are often far from home, under constant performance pressure, and in the midst of shaping their identity and future.
The fear of failure, isolation, or simply not fitting in can become overwhelming. The question arises: Are our institutions nurturing creative, curious minds, or are they creating hyper-competitive environments that treat students as machines of productivity?
BITS Pilani has acknowledged the incident with deep sorrow and mentioned ongoing efforts to support student wellness. The deployment of certified mental health first-aiders among faculty and the availability of 24×7 counselling services are steps in the right direction.
However, systemic changes are needed to create an environment where seeking help is normalized and mental well-being is given equal importance as academic performance.
We must foster a culture that values emotional openness over stoicism, empathy over competition, and holistic development over narrow metrics of success. Listening circles, peer-support systems, mental health days, and inclusive mentorship programs should become part of institutional DNA, not just responses in times of crisis.
Policymakers and education boards must also take a hard look at the curricula and institutional expectations that may inadvertently be contributing to student stress. There is a dire need for national guidelines on mental health infrastructure in higher education, with accountability mechanisms and regular assessments.
Krishna Kasera’s death is not just a personal tragedy — it is a call to action. Every educational institution, no matter how prestigious, must look within and ask: Are we doing enough? The future of our youth cannot be left to chance. It is time to listen, to care, and to change.
Until then, the question will haunt us: How many more Krishnas must we lose before we truly understand the cost of silence?
