How can a child's life be more important than marks? Following the untimely death of 16-year-old Sadhana Bhosle, many people are still plagued by that question. In a tragic turn of events, Sadhana's father, Dhondiram Bhagwan Bhosle, a school teacher himself, is accused of beating her on June 20 after she received low scores on her college exams. She begged desperately for "one more chance," but she passed away in a hospital the following morning. In addition to being a family tragedy, this horrifying case from Sangli district is a reflection of the dangerously high academic pressure that Indian students face, where test scores are frequently viewed as indicators of value. How did we get to the point where education is driven by fear rather than knowledge?
This tragic case has rekindled discussions about the crippling academic pressure students endure, especially those getting ready for extremely competitive tests like the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which determines admission to Indian medical schools.
Clearing the NEET is viewed by many families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, as a means of achieving both financial stability and social mobility. Unfortunately, for teenagers still navigating adolescence, this frequently results in irrational expectations and mental health crises.
Even though parental pressure frequently comes from love or the desire for a better future, it can turn toxic when it takes precedence over compassion and understanding. In many Indian homes, academic achievement is seen as a sign of one's own value, and failure is viewed as a source of embarrassment rather than a learning opportunity. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India saw over 13,000 student suicides in 2021 alone, many of which were connected to academic distress. This culture of perfection has led to a mental health epidemic among students.
With no end in sight, the strain on Indian students has increased even more in 2024 and the first few months of 2025. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of student suicides increased from 13,044 in 2022 to roughly 13,089 in 2021, and the trend continued to rise steadily in 2023–2024. According to a recent March 2025 survey of over 8,500 college students, 12 percent had seriously considered suicide—nearly one in ten—and more than 5 percent had attempted it. Between 2019 and 2023, 491 student suicides were reported in major newspapers alone. Coaching hubs like Kota, which reported 26 student suicides in 2023, saw a decline in 2024, and then recorded six in January 2025, are particularly affected by the crisis.
Anxiety, depression, burnout, and tragic outcomes are being fueled by academic pressure, along with strict high-stakes testing, financial strain, bullying, caste discrimination, and the stigma associated with therapy. The following urgent reforms are required to address this growing crisis: policymakers must regulate coaching culture, require emotional wellness training, and diversify assessment methods away from exam-centric models; parents should encourage emotional support, open communication, and value children's holistic growth over grades; and schools and coaching centers must integrate mental-health programs, regular screenings, and on-site counselors. The only way to start relieving our children of the constant weight of academic expectations is for families, schools, and the system to work together.
Concerns regarding emotional intelligence, parenting, and the pressing need for systemic change are also brought up by the incident. Although ambition is not always bad, it needs to be balanced with kindness and encouragement. Without fear of violence, humiliation, or desertion, students must be inspired to strive for excellence.