A 23-year-old engineering graduate and gold medalist allegedly died by suicide in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after reportedly failing to secure a government job despite around 50 attempts, according to Indian police.
The deceased, identified as Anand, had completed a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Electrical Engineering from a private engineering college in 2024. He was awarded a gold medal for academic excellence and also secured third position in Uttar Pradesh. He received the medal during a college function on August 13, 2024.
According to police, Anand was alone at home when the incident occurred, as his family had travelled to Bihar to make arrangements for his elder brother's wedding. The incident came to light after the family's domestic worker found the door locked from inside and alerted neighbours and police.
Police forced open the door and found Anand hanging from a ceiling fan. A handwritten five-line note was also recovered from the room.
According to investigators, the note read: "Sorry Papa, I tried about 50 times to get a government job, but could not succeed. Forgive me."
The body was shifted for a postmortem examination, while his funeral was held on Saturday evening.
Anand's father, Raj Kumar, said his son had completed a one-year apprenticeship with Power Grid after graduating and had since been preparing for competitive examinations for government jobs.
He said Anand had repeatedly appeared in recruitment examinations conducted by the railways, banks and the education department but was unable to secure employment. The repeated setbacks had left him under severe mental stress over the past several months.
Police said preliminary investigations suggest the young graduate was struggling with emotional distress related to his unsuccessful job search. However, officials said the investigation is continuing to examine all aspects of the incident.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or severe emotional distress, reaching out to a trusted family member, friend, or a qualified mental health professional can make an important difference. Immediate support is available in many countries through local crisis services.