‘School did this to me’: The tragic story of 16-year-old Delhi boy who died by suicide

In a deeply tragic incident, a 16-year-old Class 10 student from St Columba’s School in Delhi died by suicide after jumping from the Rajendra Place Metro Station.

Before taking the step on November 18, the teen left behind a heartbreaking note, where he accused his teachers and the school headmaster of constant humiliation and mental harassment.

The incident has sparked shock and anger across the city. Two days later, a group of parents, neighbours and family friends gathered outside the school in Lutyens’ Delhi , demanding answers and justice for the boy. They are also demanding the arrest of teachers.

Here’s what we know so far

The suicide note 

In his final note, Shourya wrote directly to his family, apologising and explaining the emotional burden he had been carrying. “Sorry mummy, aapka itni bar dil toda, ab last bar todunga. School ki teachers ab hai hi aise, kya bolu,” (Sorry mummy, I broke your heart many times and I am doing it for the last time. This is how the teachers in the school are, what do I say?)", he wrote.

He also apologised to his older brother, saying, “Sorry bhaiya, I was rude to you, argued with you, disrespected you,” and thanked his mother for always standing by him. He asked her to continue supporting his father and brother.

To his father, he wrote, “Sorry papa, I should have been a good person like you.”

In the most disturbing part of the note, he directly blamed the school. “I am sorry but St Columba’s teachers have done this to me,” he said.

He added that his last wish was for action to be taken against those responsible: “School ki teachers abh hai hi esse kya bolu… Meri last wish hai inke uper action le, me hi chata koi aur bacha meri tarah kuch kare (the school teachers are like this, what can I say… My last wish is that action be initiated against them. I don’t want any other child to take such a step).”

Shourya also wrote a phone number, asking whoever found the letter to call it. He ended the note with a request for organ donation, “If any of my body works or is in condition to work kindly donate it to someone who really needs it.

In the FIR filed on Wednesday, his father, Pradeep Patil, named four staff members, the headmaster for classes 5 to 10, Aparajita Pal, and teachers Julie Varghese, Manu Kalra and Yukti Aggarwal Mahajan, accusing them of mentally harassing his son. Police have registered the case under sections 107 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) (common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

Also read: Student suicides in India: An epidemic that is seeing a big spike

Parents accuse teachers of mistreatment

Shourya’s father has claimed that the school’s headmaster and three teachers repeatedly picked on his son, scolding him for even the smallest mistakes and putting him under constant mental pressure.

He said that Shourya’s friends had told the family that one of the teachers, Julie Varghese, had allegedly been threatening the boy for four days, warning that he would be expelled and given a transfer certificate.

In the FIR, he also stated that another teacher, Manu Kalra, had once pushed Shourya during class.

The father further alleged that on Tuesday, the day the teenager died, Shourya slipped during a dramatics class and was ridiculed by teacher Yukti Mahajan, who allegedly told him he was “overacting.”

He said the scolding went on for so long and was so harsh that Shourya broke down in tears, only to be told that he could “cry as much as he wanted” because it did not matter to her.

Speaking to NDTV, Pradeep Patil said, “The teachers kept on torturing him…It is unimaginable to tell a student this just 10 days before the pre-board exams.”

He also told PTI, “Scolding is one thing, but constantly humiliating someone for even minute mistakes in front of everyone is unacceptable. The teachers were not just reprimanding, they were targeting, and this is being done with many of us.”

Probe underway

The Delhi government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the teenager’s death, announcing the move on Thursday. The Directorate of Education set up a five-member committee, told NDTV that it was “imperative” to determine the facts, circumstances, and any administrative lapses linked to the incident.

The committee will be led by Joint Director Harshit Jain and has been instructed to carry out a detailed and impartial investigation. It has also been asked to submit its report within three days.

Meanwhile, the school’s principal, Robert Fernandes, said the headmaster would be suspended until further notice. He added that the headmaster and the teachers named in the FIR must stay available for questioning and cannot enter the school premises or interact with students, staff, or parents without permission.

With input from agencies