Bengaluru’s medical fraternity is reeling from the suicide of a promising young doctor-in-training, whose family has unleashed explosive allegations against her college for systematic harassment. The 22-year-old’s death has ignited a firestorm of debate on student welfare in higher education.
Priya Sharma, a final-year MBBS student, was discovered lifeless in her hostel by fellow students around midnight. Paramedics confirmed poisoning as the cause, painting a grim picture of her final moments alone and tormented.
Grief-stricken relatives wasted no time in holding the college accountable. In emotional interviews, they detailed a pattern of abuse starting from Priya’s vocal opposition to grading irregularities. ‘Faculty members ganged up on her, denying her rightful scores and humiliating her in front of peers,’ recounted her father, a retired schoolteacher.
The ordeal reportedly peaked last week when Priya was publicly reprimanded and barred from exams over alleged misconduct. Sleepless nights, withdrawal from friends, and desperate pleas for help went unheeded, the family alleges. Text messages recovered from her phone reportedly show pleas for mercy to professors, met with curt dismissals.
Defending its stance, the institution’s management painted a different portrait. ‘Priya struggled with attendance and discipline; we extended every olive branch, from mentorship to therapy sessions,’ countered the principal. They cited her history of complaints as evidence of deeper personal issues.
This case echoes a disturbing trend: Over the past five years, at least a dozen medical students in Karnataka have taken their lives, many citing institutional pressures. Mental health experts warn of a toxic culture where ambition overshadows empathy.
As FIRs fly and protests brew outside the campus, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner has promised swift action, including a special team to interview witnesses. Student unions are mobilizing for reforms like independent grievance cells.
Priya’s story, cut short at the threshold of her dreams, serves as a stark reminder. Will this be the catalyst for systemic overhaul, or another forgotten statistic? The answer lies in the days ahead.
