PES Suicide Crisis: Protesters Seek Probe, Legal Shields for Hassled Students

Anger and Anguish Unite at PES University Student Suicide Protest.

The slogans rang out loud and clear at Freedom Park – “No More Student Deaths!”, “Investigate PES University!”. As I made my way towards the gathering on the warm May morning, the charged atmosphere sent a chill down my spine.

Enraged yet deeply pained citizens had assembled, bound by a tragic bond – the student suicide crisis plaguing the PES University. Social worker Dushyant Dubey and members of the St. Broseph Army movement were at the helm, rallying the crowd.

Just two days earlier, 21-year-old Rahul Carasala had jumped to his death from the fifth floor of a PES University building. He was the fourth such victims within a year’s span at the institution. Aditya Prabhu in July 2023, Surya M Achar in December, Vignesh K in January – each loss more heartbreaking than the last.

#SaveOurStudents | Students and Activists protested against PES University after it recorded 4th case of student suicide in 9 months.

Dushyant Dubey AKA @St_Brosephs lead the protest at Freedom Park today in #Bengaluru.#SayNoToPES posters were held by citizens.… pic.twitter.com/9mT6rfFkWp

— News Tap One (@newstapworld) May 18, 2024

The angst was palpable as Dubey addressed the protesters. “Nine months ago, we were here for Aditya, raising the same slogans,” he lamented. Despite letters, petitions and memorandums to the government, no concrete action had been taken against PES or the professors implicated in Prabhu’s suicide.

“The government’s inaction has shattered faith in our education system,” Dubey stated, his voice tinged with wearied anguish. Around me, heads nodded grimly in affirmation of the harsh reality.

The key demands echoed across the grounds: A comprehensive government probe into PES University to identify the forces driving students to suicide, and urgent amendments to the Karnataka Education Act to criminalize harassment of students, empowering them to file cases.

As the rally curved towards its culmination, protester after protester I spoke to, shared haunting tales of institutional apathy, narrating how harassment by staffers had crushed young dreams. The air hung heave with a shared cry for justice and reforms.

A memorandum would be submitted to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, they announced, in one last push to spur the government into action. But would this be enough to break the cycle of torment?

I left Freedom Park that day with a heart weighed down by many questions, but one reassuring image: Of a people united, determined to not let more bright sparks be snuffed out too soon.