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Saturday, February 22, 2025, 9:30 pm

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 9:30 pm

Tragedy of Dreams in Kota: A Grim Reality

Tragedy of Dreams in Kota: A Grim Reality
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The city of Kota, Rajasthan, once celebrated as a hub for students chasing their dreams of cracking India’s most competitive exams, has tragically become a symbol of an education system gone astray. With the recent suicides of two students, January’s tally has risen to six, exposing the crushing mental and emotional toll of a system obsessed with academic success. Despite interventions from coaching institutes, hostels, and the district administration, the relentless pressure of this pursuit continues to claim young lives.


Pressure Cooker of Despair

Kota’s coaching institutes, which draw tens of thousands of students annually with promises of IIT and medical college admissions, have become high-pressure zones for adolescents still navigating the challenges of growing up. Hostel rooms, ironically equipped with “anti-suicide” measures like collapsible ceiling fans and barricaded windows, fail to address the root causes of students’ psychological distress. These measures only underscore the profound flaws in the system.

At the core of the crisis lies the government’s policy shift that prioritises competitive entrance exams over board exams for college admissions. This has turned education into a grueling, rote-learning marathon, creating an industry of coaching centres that often thrive on dreams but deliver despair. For many students, failure in these exams translates to a perceived loss of self-worth—a mindset compounded by societal and parental pressures.


The Role of Parents and Society

Parents, too, shoulder a share of the blame. Many send their children to Kota with unrealistic expectations, tying their success as parents to their child’s admission to a prestigious institution. This narrow focus often ignores a student’s individual talents, capabilities, and mental health. Such tunnel vision creates a toxic environment where failure is viewed not as a stepping stone but as a final verdict on a child’s future.


A Call for Change

The tragedy of Kota reflects a system that places results above resilience, perpetuating a dangerous obsession with ranks and marks.

  1. Counseling and Mental Health Support: Coaching institutes and hostels must offer professional counseling services and train teachers to identify early signs of distress.
  2. Parental Awareness: Parents must recognize that clearing an entrance exam is not the only measure of achievement. Success must be viewed as unique to each child.
  3. Policy Reform: Policymakers must rethink the heavy emphasis on high-stakes competitive exams and foster a more holistic educational approach.

Compassion Over Competition

Kota’s story is not just about toppers; it is also about those whose dreams are extinguished by a system that values competition over compassion. Until society collectively shifts its focus from marks to mental health, the city will continue to produce not only success stories but also heartbreaking tragedies. To truly save Kota’s brightest minds, we need a cultural revolution—one that celebrates individuality, nurtures resilience, and prioritizes well-being over rankings.


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