A tragic incident at the prestigious Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) in Surat has left the campus in mourning and sparked significant student unrest. A third-year BTech student, Advait Nair, aged 20, died by suicide late on Sunday night, leading to allegations of a toxic environment and systemic failures from the student community.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The events unfolded around 11:15 PM on Sunday night when Advait Nair, a student of the Computer Science and Engineering department, jumped from his hostel block. He was residing on the second floor of the B Block in Bhabha Bhavan, an eight-storey hostel. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Umra police were alerted about the incident around 11:30 PM and promptly reached the spot and the hospital. Police Inspector Jignesh Rathwa confirmed that an accidental death case has been registered and an investigation is underway. The police have conducted a postmortem at Civil Hospital and are reviewing CCTV footage from the hostel to piece together the final moments.
A Bright Student's Decline and Student Anger
Advait Nair, originally from Kerala with parents residing in Oman, had taken admission at SVNIT on an NRI seat in 2023. Initial reports indicate he was a bright student, scoring between the 80th and 85th percentiles in his early semesters. However, his academic performance saw a gradual decline in recent times.
He had stopped attending classes for the last three months, choosing to remain confined to his room and interacting with only a limited circle of people. This marked change in behavior highlights potential struggles that went unaddressed.
Following the tragedy, hundreds of SVNIT students staged a protest against the institute's management. Their anger was directed at what they termed a "torture culture" on campus, which they hold responsible for pushing students to the brink. Protesters made several serious allegations:
- The institute's ambulance was called very late, causing a critical delay in transferring Nair to the hospital.
- SVNIT spends heavily on infrastructure but neglects student welfare and mental health support.
- There is no effective system to alert parents if a student is absent from classes for prolonged periods.
The students have demanded immediate improvements, including proper counselling facilities and a robust mechanism for parental communication regarding student attendance and well-being.
A Recurring Tragedy and Institutional Silence
This is not an isolated incident at SVNIT Surat. The campus has witnessed similar tragic suicides in 2023 and 2016, raising grave questions about the persistent lack of preventive measures and a supportive environment. The recurring nature of these events underscores a systemic failure that students are now vocally challenging.
Meanwhile, the institute's administration has remained silent. TOI did not receive any response from SVNIT registrar K K Singh despite repeated calls and messages, further fueling student frustration.
Advait Nair's body was handed over to his parents, who flew in from Oman. His final rites were performed in Kerala. His mother hails from Thrissur district, while his father is from Kollam district. As the police investigation continues, the SVNIT campus grapples with grief, anger, and urgent calls for change to prevent another such heartbreaking loss.
