Math fever snuffs out teen life

Jaiswar/Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 9

In a shocking incident, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, identified as Pawanpreet Kaur, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her residence in old cantonment area here on Saturday evening. She was perturbed as she couldn’t do well in her mathematics exam. She studied in a reputed school, located on main GT road. Her father Kuldeep Singh is an Army head constable.

Sukhjinder Singh, SHO, Cantonment police station, said action had been initiated under criminal procedure code and further investigation was under way. He said the body of the deceased would be handed over to the family after postmorten examination on Sunday.

He said Pawanpreet appeared for her maths exam on Saturday. Though she had prepared for it, she couldn’t perform well in the paper. So she was very upset. Her family said she was quiet after the exam and did not talk to anyone after reaching home. When her mother asked about it, she replied that she couldn’t do well in the paper.

In the evening, she went to her room and bolted from inside. When she did not come out even after a long time, her family members went to her room and found her hanging, the SHO added.

Not only family and friends, educationists too are in shock over the incident as they say that academics isn’t the only tool that shapes career. There are numerous instances, such as great American inventor Thomas Alva Edison and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, wherein education couldn’t hinder their success.

Upasana Mehra, Principal, Senior Study II, said, “A child should not get disheartened. There are multiple career options available. Parents should spend time with their wards. There is so much to do in life.”

According to Vinodita Sankhyan, Principal, Shri Ram Ashram Public School, “We as a society have failed our children. We have to make our children strong to meet the challenges of life. The world does not end if just one door shuts. There are other avenues as well. Be confident of yourself. Live your life to the fullest.”