Kolkata: A case has been filed against one of Kolkata's best-known schools, La Martiniere for Boys, accusing its principal and several teachers of abetting the suicide of a 13-year-old student.
On February 12 this year, Rouvan Rawla, a Class VIII student, had committed suicide at his home after returning from school, where he had allegedly been humiliated, harassed for days on end and even caned for indiscipline.
Rouvan Rawla was not the kind of kid who went crying to his parents. But after his death, his friends told his parents that Rouvan had been slapped by a teacher, was made to stand for days outside class by another and finally, on February 8, was caned by the school Principal, Sunirmal Chakraborty.
On February 12, Rouvan was told to bring his parents to school to meet the Principal. That afternoon, he returned home and hanged himself. His father, Ajay Rawla, has now filed a case against the school, Principal Chakraborty and other teachers for abetting his son's suicide.
"I think constant victimsation, abuse, ridicule, humiliation...combined with beating (led to the suicide)...Rouvan was a proactive, happy, energetic, positive kid. To break a kid like that....everyone has elasticity, right...? But at some point of time it snaps," says Ajay Rawla.
The student's death angered classmates, school alumni and others, who used a social networking site to condemn corporal punishment in the school and demanded the Principal's removal.
In response to a complaint filed with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a team arrived in Kolkata to probe the incident. "The parent has made a complaint saying that the child was insulted, caned, harassed and humiliated, and that led to suicide. That's a very serious thing what is happening in the school. We are inquiring into that," said NCPCR advocate Ashok Agarwal.
Sunirmal Chakraborty, the Principal, was not available for comment. The school's Board of Governors, headed by the Bishop of Kolkata, did launch an inquiry into Rouvan Rawla's death, but would not disclose what action, if any, had been taken.