“He Was In Distress, He Was Being Tortured,” Family Of Dalit IIT-B Student Who Committed Suicide Speak Out

The suicide of an IIT Bombay student called Darshan Solanki has everyone shaken up and brought the topic of caste discrimination once more to the forefront of the society. For many living in the urban areas, caste might just be something from the political science books but for many it still is very an existing and inhumane reality, something that Darshan’s suicide has shed light on.

Caste-based discrimination is very much something that still seems to be happening in the country, even in so-called prestigious universities like the IITs and more.

Darshan, an 18-year-old first-year BTech student committed suicide on February 12th, 2023 after jumping from the 7th floor of his hostel building. Solanki was a first-generation Dalit student with his father, Rameshbhai, working as a plumber and his mother, Tarlikaben, working as a domestic worker in Maninagar, Ahmedabad.

What Is His Family Saying?

Solanki had apparently joined IIT Bombay just 3 months ago, and although he did not leave behind any note or letter, students and the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) firmly believe it to be due to caste-based discrimination that especially Bahujan students face in the campus.

Now, his family is apparently speaking out about the tragedy they’ve suffered. Darshan’s mother Tarlikaben Solanki reportedly has said that “I strongly believe that my son was murdered. Hours before his death, he had called us but he talked normally and gave no indication that he was under any tension.

However, when he came home during Makar Sankranti, he informed his aunt that other students were keeping their distance from him. They were upset because Darshan made such progress.”

Read More: South Indian Students Of DU Brutally Attacked, Students’ Body Condemns In Post

Darshan’s father was quoted saying “I do not think that it was a case of suicide. If you fall from the seventh floor, you will sustain many injuries. But, when I saw my son’s face after the post-mortem, I did not see any injuries. How is that possible? Moreover, the PM (post-mortem) was done in a haste and that too without our permission. I was allowed to see only his face after the PM.”

Sister Jhanvi Solanki said that “When he came last month, he told me, and mom-dad, that there’s caste discrimination happening there.

His friends came to know that he belongs to a scheduled caste, so their behaviour towards him changed. They stopped talking to him, they stopped hanging out with him,” while his mother further added that “He was in distress, he was being tortured. That’s why he did this.”

Image Credits: Google Images

Feature Image designed by Saudamini Seth

Sources: NDTV, Times Now News, The Print

Find the blogger: @chirali_08

This post is tagged under: Dalit IIT-B Student, IIT Bombay, IIT Bombay news, IIT Bombay death, IIT Bombay student, IIT Bombay suicide, student suicide, Dalit student, Dalit student india, Dalit student suicide, Dalit iit student

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