Student who killed herself over fear of failing clears MA

Bhayander businessman PR Shetty, 55, broke into tears as he picked up his daughter Priyanka’s mark sheet from the Kalina campus of the University of Mumbai on Wednesday.

She had cleared her Masters in economics with 50%.

But Priyanka, 23, would not join the celebrations. She had hanged herself at her home on June 18.

“She left no suicide note. She never showed any sign of depression or stress. Later we found out that she was stressed as her papers had not gone well. Her teachers at Wilson College, where she did her graduation, admitted that Priyanka often called them up and asked whether she would pass or not,” said her father.

“My daughter was a lively girl. She never told us that she was worried about her results. There was no pressure from our side either.”

Priyanka’s classmates, too, were clueless why she would take such an extreme step when results were yet to be declared.

“We both were worried about our results and careers. But, what she did was not right,” said a friend, who did not wish to be identified.

A distraught Shetty appealed to all students not to get stressed by exams. “Please speak out. Your parents are there for you. Life is the most important thing and one must not lose confidence just speculating exam failure,” said Shetty, who had to rush home to prepare for the Pitrupaksha puja for his daughter the next day.