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Making sense of the Kota factory: 18 suicides in 2023 alone

Mohammad BilalJuly 17, 2023 | 19:02 IST

(Content warning: The following story contains mentions of suicide.)

Kota, Rajasthan, has witnessed a tragic surge in student suicides, with 18 deaths reported in the first half of 2023. Last year, 15 students took their own lives, and this year's figures have already surpassed that number. Alarmingly, 9 of these deaths occurred between May and June alone.

Once regarded as a city that nurtured and shaped the brightest minds into future doctors and engineers, Kota has now earned the ominous title of the "suicide capital." Instead of being a stepping stone towards success, it has become a nightmare for students who arrive there to prepare for competitive exams, often succumbing to depression, eroding confidence, and tragically, even losing their lives.

The relentless competition takes an enormous toll on these students. When they struggle to cope with the intense pressure, they perceive it as a monumental failure and resort to drastic measures.

The acclaimed 2018 web series Kota Factory shed light on the inner workings of these students' lives. One line, delivered by Jeetu Bhaiyaa (Jitendra Kumar), encapsulates the arduous journey faced by students in Kota: "Students leave Kota within 2 years, but Kota doesn't leave students for many years."

The harsh reality of intense competition

It is natural that not all students who aspire to qualify for exams like JEE or NEET succeed. However, this does not imply a lack of capability or inherent deficiency on their part. The same applies to students who choose to pursue their studies in Kota.

Not all students who arrive in Kota thrive, even if they were high achievers in their respective schools. Bhagwan Bira, President of the Landmark City Hostel association, explained to India Today, "As soon as a child becomes a school topper, parents start dreaming. They think that their child is capable of acing one of the toughest exams in the country. But when the child lands up in Kota, he realizes that he might have been the topper of his school, but here he stands no chance. This usually leads to the student returning home or resorting to suicide."

India Today's ground report reveals that the competition itself is so cut-throat that students find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of numbers. They struggle to form genuine friendships and instead view their peers solely as competitors. In Kota, a student's demise or departure does not elicit sympathy but is seen as a reduction in competition.

Students scribble their wishes on the walls of Radha Krishna temple in Kota’s Talwandi. Photo: Getty

Do coaching institutes neglect the suicides?

Despite the increasing number of suicides, coaching institutes appear to turn a blind eye.

Rather than addressing the root causes behind these tragedies, coaching institutes assign personnel to monitor "problematic" students, who are subsequently expelled.

"Why should we allow a rotten apple to spoil the barrel?" remarks a media advisor from a coaching institute.

Although counseling services are provided by these institutes, they often fail to mitigate the damage. In most cases, students are either sent back home or advised to take a short break from their studies.

Dr Harish Sharma, a counselor at one of Kota's top institutes, admits that students often seek help when it's already too late, rendering the situation uncontrollable. While he offers counseling, he acknowledges that there is no permanent solution to this predicament.

"Madam, a coaching center is meant for teaching, not for treatment. It's not a hospital. We make every effort, but if the situation doesn't improve, what else can we do?" he remarks.

Dr Sharma goes on to say, "Often, it's the parents' mistake. We also conduct training programs for them, but most parents are in a hurry to return home. They admit their children and leave without much consideration," alleging parental pressure as a significant factor.

The burden of parental expectations

Another source of stress for students is the overwhelming weight of expectations placed on them by their parents. In several suicide notes, which have become public, students seek forgiveness from their parents for not living up to their aspirations.

In one such note, accessed by India Today, a student named Nishant from Bihar's Rohtas district writes, "Mummy, Papa, you have done so much for me. I couldn't make it. Please forgive me."

When a child realizes that they cannot fulfill their parents' dreams, a future that once appeared bleak now becomes unbearable, leading them to take their own lives.

When speaking to children who have come to Kota, a driver aptly states, "Bring your child to this city only if you can leave everything behind and stay with them. This city bears the curse of many innocent hearts."

Last updated: July 17, 2023 | 19:02
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