IIT Madras PhD student commits suicide

The deceased had posted a WhatsApp message before taking the extreme step. The message read, "I am sorry, not good enough". 

A 32-year-old PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras allegedly committed suicide in a rented house in Velachery, Chennai. The deceased has been identified as Sachin Kumar Jain and he belonged to West Bengal. He was a PhD research scholar at the mechanical engineering department at IIT Madras.  

According to the police, Sachin was living in rented accommodation at Brahmin street, Velachery for the past three months along with two others. On Friday, Sachin left for his home early while his friends were still on campus. He had posted a WhatsApp status which read, "I am sorry, not good enough".  

As per the status of Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle, a student group, some posters have popped up at different locations on the campus. Friends of the deceased have alleged that the wrongful treatment from guide is responsible for the suicide.  

IIT Madras has issued a statement expressing condolence over the death. “We are deeply anguished to convey the untimely passing away of a PhD Research scholar from the Mechanical Engineering Department on the afternoon of 31st March 2023 at his residence at Velachery, Chennai. A student with an exemplary academic and research record, it is a big loss to the research community. The Institute expresses its heartfelt condolences and shares the grief of the friends and family of the deceased student. The Institute requests everyone to respect the privacy of the student's family at this difficult juncture. May the departed soul rest in peace,” the statement read.  

Recently, KK Premdeep, an MTech student at the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, died of cardiac arrest. He was taken to a hospital from where he was referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was declared brought dead at AIIMS. The reason for death was the apparent lack of pulse or heartbeat.  

Sources said the deceased served the Indian Army for 12 years. He was in good shape and got his routine medical checkup done three days ago. 

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