Kolkata: It took a 12-year-old to commit suicide for the principal of La Martiniere school for Boys in Kolkata to say that corporal punishment would never again be practiced in the school.
Speaking to NDTV, Sunirmal Chakravarthi, the Principal of La Martiniere, admitted that it was a mistake to cane Class VIII student Rouvanjit Rawla.
"It was a mistake. I am ready to face the consequences, Chakravarthi said.
(Watch: La Martiniere Principal speaks to NDTV)Earlier, speaking to Kolkata based daily Telegraph, Chakravarthi had said, "The board made it abundantly clear that corporal punishment was strictly prohibited. I apologised to them. It will not be practised any more."
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.
Speaking to NDTV, Rouvanjit's father Ajay Rawla said an apology is just not enough. "I have no reason to believe that the principal has any remorse. I have not received an apology but if he has in fact apologised, it is a huge start for a better environment for kids in the school."
After Rouvanjit's death, his friends told his parents that he 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 Chakravarthi. The boy was told to bring his parents to school to meet the Principal.
A critical part of the investigation focuses on whether Chakravarthi's demand to meet Rouvan's father about discipline problems motivated the child's suicide.
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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.