"I Am Sorry, Daddy": Telangana Student Dies By Suicide After Being Barred From Exam For Being Late
A Class 11 student in Telengana’s Adilabad district died by suicide after being prohibited from taking an exam due to arriving late. The body of Tekum Siva Kumar was discovered in the Satnala dam this Thursday afternoon.
The tragic incident unfolded when Siva Kumar, distraught after being denied entry to the exam hall for arriving late, decided to end his life. His body was recovered from the dam, along with a suicide note found near the landing he is believed to have jumped from. Accompanying the note were his watch, which served as a weight on the note, and his wallet, which had two photographs—one of himself and another of his father.
Written in Telugu, the note said, “I am sorry, daddy, forgive me. I am not able to cope with this trauma. You have done a lot for me, but I am not able to do anything for you. I have never felt this bad. I have missed the exam for the first time. I am feeling terrible,” as stated in an NDTV report.
Relatives broke down after the young boy’s body was recovered from the water.
The incident has brought attention to the stringent rule enforced by the Telangana State Education Board, which bars students from taking exams if they arrive even a minute late to the exam centre.
Amidst the ongoing intermediate exams of classes 11 and 12, which commenced yesterday with approximately 10 lakh students sitting for them, the strict rule has been devastating for students. Reportedly, students were seen frantically rushing to their exam centres, only to be denied entry for arriving a few minutes late. Many students were seen crying and pleading with the examiners to be allowed inside.
According to a Times of India report, the number of student suicides in the year 2022 was three times higher than farmer suicides in the state. According to the data by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), around 543 students died by suicide in 2022, with at least 45 cases of student suicide recorded every month during the year.
Siva Kumar’s tragic death stands testament to the intense academic pressure and trauma faced by students during examination periods and the severe lack of compassion and support within the rigid educational system as well as a broken mental health system.
(This news story may contain content to suicide and suicidal behaviour. Such topics can be sensitive and may trigger emotional responses. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviours, we urge you to seek help immediately. Contact your local mental health crisis hotline, a mental health professional, or a trusted person in your life.
You may call 14416 or 1-8008914416 Tele MANAS service, a comprehensive mental health care service by Government of India.)
