Campus on edge: ongoing stir at IIT Delhi places spotlight on student suicides, mental health

Unprecedented scenes have erupted at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi following the suicide of an MSc student. Classes were largely suspended, and students staged a sit-in where the student tragically took their own life last week. The administration's response has been met with widespread dissatisfaction, as students claim memorials and e-mails from officials are insufficient and quickly forgotten.

"We expect the campus to return to normal immediately after every death, despite the rituals held for the departed," said an anonymous student. The anger was fueled when students who witnessed the deceased's body were called into class shortly after, on the very spot where the incident occurred. An administrative statement that the student was "beyond repair" incensed the protesters further.

The administration responded by setting up an external probe committee and providing financial aid to the family, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. The institute has not commented on allegations of insensitive remarks following the student's death. IIT Delhi claims to have lightened the academic load since 2025, with reduced credit requirements, smaller classes, fewer weekend exams, and flexible credit distribution.

However, a fellow student denied this, stating that the academic pressure remains intense and that students often pull all-nighters to cope. Despite the institute's assertion of a 24x7 team of counsellors and psychiatrists, students report that counselling is inaccessible or ineffective, with no monthly roster of counsellors in the past year.

The issue of privacy has also been raised, with parents being involved in such cases. The institute maintains that counselling services are easily accessible and located close to hostels.