IIT Bombay Student Death: Classmate Reveals High Academic Pressure, Saying "Even a 9/10 Grade Feels Like Failure"
Mumbai: Following the tragic death of 22-year-old Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay who died by suicide on September 18, fresh insights from a classmate have brought the spotlight onto the intense academic environment inside India’s premier technical institutions.
"Even Average Here is Excellent"
Speaking on the high-stress environment, Sahil’s classmate described how the transition into premier institutes can shatter students' self-worth.
"First, it’s exciting and exploring. And then when it comes to academics, you start feeling inferior. There is a FOMO (fear of missing out) of not doing well in academics, of being average—but that average is actually excellent," the classmate
shared.
The student pointed out that because candidates spend years striving to crack the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), the expectation to continuously excel remains exceedingly high.
Broader Context and Ongoing Probe
The incident occurred on September 18 after Sahil was allegedly caught using an AI tool/mobile phone during an exam.
While the institute initially stated that counseling was provided and no immediate disciplinary action had been finalized, Sahil's parents have alleged caste-based harassment, prompting an FIR and ongoing police inquiry into the circumstances leading up to his death.
The tragedy has once again opened a crucial conversation regarding student mental health, the overwhelming fear of failure, and the need for stronger empathy and support systems across top academic campuses.
