Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur
Nagpur, Jul 16: In a tragic and deeply unsettling turn of events, two students preparing for the NEET medical entrance exam in Nagpur died by suicide within hours of each other, casting a harsh spotlight on the growing mental health crisis among students in India's hyper-competitive academic environment.
The first incident involved Khwahish Devram Nagare, a 16-year-old from Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, who was preparing for NEET at the PhysicsWallah coaching centre in Nagpur. Residing in a private hostel, Khwahish was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room on Wednesday morning, under the jurisdiction of Ambazari police station.
He left behind a heart-wrenching note that simply read: “Sorry, mom-dad, I won’t be able to do it.” The brief message has shaken educators and parents alike, underscoring the immense emotional weight carried by students in such high-stakes academic environments.
Only hours earlier, Vaidehi Anil Uike, a 17-year-old NEET aspirant staying in a different part of the city, also took her life. The incident was reported under Hingna police station limits and has been registered as an accidental death.
Both students were intensely preparing for NEET — one of India’s most competitive entrance exams — and their deaths have reignited urgent conversations about the psychological toll exacted by such pressure-filled environments.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singhal urged families to prioritize the emotional health of their children. “Please do not burden children with the pressure to succeed academically. There are many career options today — even for those not inclined toward traditional education,” he said.
The twin tragedies have once again exposed the dark underside of India’s exam-centric education system — one where dreams, often shaped by societal and familial expectations, can become unbearable burdens. Mental health advocates and educators are now calling for systemic reforms and greater emotional support for students navigating these pressures.