The coaching hub of Kota, already grappling with a concerning number of student suicides, witnessed another tragic incident when a 21-year-old MBBS student took his own life after receiving poor grades in his examinations.
Rohit Meena, a second-year MBBS student at a government medical college in Kota, was found dead in his hostel room on Thursday. The young medical aspirant from Rajasthan's Baran district had been struggling with academic pressure and disappointment over his recent exam performance.
The Final Hours
According to police reports, Rohit had been visibly distressed after receiving his examination results. Fellow students mentioned that he had been unusually quiet and withdrawn in the days leading up to the tragic incident.
"The preliminary investigation suggests he was under severe mental stress due to his academic performance," said a senior police officer from Kota. "We found no suicide note at the scene, but his hostel mates confirmed he had been depressed about his grades."
Kota's Continuing Crisis
This incident marks yet another addition to the alarming statistics of student suicides in Kota, which has become synonymous with intense coaching for competitive examinations. The city, often called India's coaching capital, attracts thousands of medical and engineering aspirants each year.
The pressure to succeed in these highly competitive fields has created an environment where academic performance often takes precedence over mental well-being.
Preventive Measures and Ongoing Challenges
Despite numerous interventions by local authorities and coaching institutes, including:
- Regular counseling sessions
- Anti-suicide devices in hostel rooms
- Parent-teacher coordination programs
- Mental health awareness campaigns
the incidents continue to occur, raising questions about the effectiveness of current preventive measures and the need for more comprehensive solutions.
A Family's Dreams Shattered
Rohit's family, hailing from a modest background in Baran district, had pinned their hopes on their son becoming the first doctor in the family. His father, a farmer, had invested significant resources in his education, making the tragedy even more devastating for the grieving family.
"We never imagined this could happen. He was always such a bright student," a relative told reporters, requesting anonymity. "The pressure must have become unbearable for him."
The incident has once again sparked conversations about the mental health crisis among students in competitive academic environments and the urgent need for systemic changes in how educational success is measured and valued in Indian society.
