A 23-year-old BTech gold medallist allegedly died by suicide at his home in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, leaving behind a note apologising to his father for failing to secure a government job despite repeated attempts, police said on Sunday.
The deceased, Anand, had topped the BTech (Electrical Engineering) programme at the private engineering college PSIT in 2024 and secured the third rank in Uttar Pradesh. He was awarded a gold medal at a college function on August 13, 2024.
Body found after family travelled to Bihar
According to police, Anand was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at the family’s three-storey house in the Gujaini area of Govind Nagar.
His family had travelled to Bihar to finalise his elder brother’s marriage. After repeated knocks on the room went unanswered, the family’s domestic help alerted neighbours and the police, who broke open the door and recovered the body.
Police also recovered a handwritten five-line note from the room.
“Sorry, papa, I tried nearly 50 times to get a government job, but I couldn’t succeed. Please forgive me,” the note reportedly read.
The body was sent for post-mortem examination, and his last rites were performed at Bhairav Ghat on Saturday evening.
Family says he was under stress
Anand’s father, Rajkumar, a retired employee of Lohiya Private Limited and a native of Buxar in Bihar, said his son completed a one-year apprenticeship with Power Grid after graduation before dedicating himself to preparing for competitive examinations.
According to his father, Anand appeared for recruitment examinations conducted by the Railways, Staff Selection Commission (SSC), banks and the education department but was unable to secure a job.
“He had been under severe stress for the past several months,” Rajkumar said.
Police investigating
Govind Nagar Station House Officer Ashok Kumar Dubey confirmed that a suicide note had been recovered from the room.
“Preliminary investigation suggests he was under stress over not being able to secure a government job. However, all aspects of the case are being examined,” Dubey said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or overwhelming emotional distress, reaching out to a trusted family member, friend, or a mental health professional can help. In India, you can also contact a suicide prevention helpline such as Tele-MANAS (14416 or 1-800-89-14416) for confidential support.
