
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh: A 23-year-old BTech gold medallist died by suicide at his home in Kanpur on Saturday, police said. The man, a topper from a local engineering college, had been struggling to secure a government job.
Officers found a suicide note that read 'Sorry, Papa, I tried but...'. Family members said he had appeared for over 50 government job examinations in the past two years but did not clear any of them.
The note, addressed to his father, expressed regret for not living up to expectations. Relatives told police that the pressure of repeated failures had taken a toll on his mental health.
Police have registered a case and sent the body for post-mortem. No other suspicious circumstances have been reported so far.
The incident highlights a grim trend in Uttar Pradesh and across India. Thousands of engineering graduates compete for a limited number of government jobs each year, often facing years of uncertainty.
Experts point to a mismatch between the skills taught in colleges and the requirements of the job market. Many graduates end up taking multiple exams without any backup plan, leading to financial and emotional strain.
Counselors say that families and institutions need to recognise early signs of distress. In this case, neighbours said the young man had become withdrawn and stopped meeting friends in recent months.
Senior police officials are questioning family members and friends to understand the sequence of events. They are also examining the deceased's phone and laptop for any clues.
Authorities have appealed to the public to not treat such incidents as isolated cases. They urged students to seek help if they feel overwhelmed by academic or career pressure.
What happens next: The post-mortem report is awaited. Police are expected to close the case as suicide unless evidence suggests otherwise. The family has not made any allegations against anyone.