Tragic Consequences of School Bullying: Delhi Teen's Suicide Highlights Teacher Harassment Issues

Shourya Patil, a 16-year-old student, died by suicide in Delhi on Tuesday after allegedly enduring prolonged harassment from his teachers.

That fateful Tuesday afternoon, still dressed in his school uniform, Shourya traveled directly from his school in central Delhi to a metro station where he jumped from an elevated platform.

Onlookers immediately alerted authorities who discovered the boy's schoolbag containing what appeared to be a handwritten suicide note.

Shourya, a 10th grade student at St Columba's School, one of Delhi's prestigious private educational institutions, had allegedly suffered mockery and mistreatment from his teachers for a year. According to his family, the situation escalated when his parents' complaints to the school were met with threats of expulsion.

Pradeep Patil, Shourya's father, revealed that his son was scolded and "publicly humiliated" on the day of his death following an incident where he fell during dance practice on stage.

When Shourya became emotional on stage, a teacher allegedly told him, "cry as much as you want, I don't care."

"After my son's death, the principal called me and said 'whatever help you need, let us know and we will support you'. I told him I want my son back," Pradeep Patil shared with NDTV.

Though Shourya was typically driven to and from school, that day he exited through the back gate and made his way to the metro station.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the case, Shourya's suicide note implicated three teachers. The school had not issued any statement at the time this report was filed.

In his note, Shourya repeatedly apologized to his family, writing: "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?"

To his older brother, he wrote: "Sorry bhaiya, I was rude to you, argued with you, disrespected you."

For his father, he left the message: "Sorry papa, I should have been a good person like you."

A devastated Pradeep Patil explained that his son had "complained about the ill-treatment for a year."

"Whenever we would raise the matter with the school authorities, they would dismiss it by saying my son needs to focus during classes. They would say that his Math grades are poor and he doesn't like to focus on his studies," he explained to NDTV before departing for their hometown Sangli in Maharashtra for his son's funeral.

"Shourya was a kid and kids at his age may have the tendency to get distracted but that doesn't justify the teachers' behaviour towards him. When we reached out to them later again, they threatened to issue a Transfer Certificate (TC) for him," he added.

Shourya's peers confirmed he had experienced difficulties over the past five months.

According to one student, on the day of his suicide, Shourya fell during a dance practice and was subsequently removed from the performance, with teachers claiming he fell deliberately. "They also accused him of doing drama and overacting," Pradeep Patil stated.

This allegedly occurred in the principal's presence, who reportedly did not intervene.

Pradeep Patil further claimed that a teacher had been threatening his son for four days, saying his parents would be summoned and he would face expulsion. "One time, he was even pushed by a teacher," he alleged.

In his suicide note found at the metro station, Shourya indicated that "repeated harassment" drove him to take his life.

"My parents have done a lot. I am sorry I couldn't give them anything," he wrote, apologizing to his brother for his "misbehaviour" and to his mother for "repeatedly breaking her heart."

"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," he wrote, referring to his suicide.

He also explicitly stated, "I am sorry but St Columba's teachers have done this to me."

Shourya thanked his mother for her constant support and asked her to continue supporting his father and brother.

He included a phone number in the note, requesting whoever found it to call that number.

Additionally, Shourya expressed his wish to donate his viable organs: "If any of my body works or is in condition to work kindly donate it to someone who really needs it."

For mental health support: Vandrevala Foundation for Mental Health (9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com) and TISS iCall (022-25521111, Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm). If you need support or know someone who does, please contact your nearest mental health specialist.