IIT Kanpur PhD scholar dies by suicide; police say he was undergoing counselling

A PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur died by suicide, the institute confirmed.

The scholar, Ramswroop Ishram, was pursuing his doctorate in the Department of Earth Sciences and hailed from Rajasthan’s Sikar, jumped off the sixth floor of a building on campus. This is the ninth suicide death reported at IIT Kanpur in the last two years.

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IIT Kanpur said the death is being treated as a case of suicide.A police official from Kalyanpur police station said, " He was undergoing counselling and had anxiety. He was living with his wife and children. Yesterday in the afternoon he had a counselling session. But today during the day he jumped off the 6th floor of the campus."

IIT Kanpur director Manindra Agrawal in an email to the campus community wrote about the death and said, “Mr. Ishram was a promising research scholar who joined in July 2023. At this hour of grief, the institute condoles the untimely demise of a promising researcher and prays for strength to the bereaved family.”

IIT Kanpur: Ninth suicide in 2 years

A student pointed out that this was the ninth student suicide on the IIT campus on two years. Plus, the death has occurred in the midst of a high-profile, Supreme Court-ordered investigation into student mental health and suicides on campus.

The SC has established a National Task Force which has submitted its interim report. Based on that, the SC recently directed institutions to undertake a variety of measures to prevent suicides and provide a safe space on campus.

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The NTF probe found that around 65% institutions had no access to mental health professionals, while nearly three-fourths lacked full-time counsellors. To the NTF, research scholars reported burnout, poor support and financial strain as causes of stress.

The Supreme Court said institutions often shift blame to the individual after a suicide, avoiding accountability and failing to examine campus stressors that may have contributed.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.