My son didn’t speak of any problem: Father of Dalit scholar

KANPUR: Karan Singh, 67, father of IIT-Kanpur Dalit scholar who committed suicide on Wednesday, said he was hurt by the behaviour of the PhD supervisor under whom his son Bhim Singh was pursuing research.

“I wanted to meet the research guide professor J Ramkumar but was told that he was out of station. When I called him on his mobile, he refused to talk. He did not even offer a word of sympathy. This has pained me,” he said while insisting that he will talk to him to know if Bhim had any problem relating to his research.

“A day before committing suicide, Bhim had a talk with his elder brother Kailash Kumar. He, however, did not give any indication of tension in his life. When he visited home a fortnight ago, then too he did not speak of any problem. I am shocked and have no idea as to why he took such an extreme step,” he said.

Since the police has sealed his room in the hostel, Karan could not see the room and his son’s belongings like mobile phone and the laptop.

Now only the police would be able to solve the mystery behind his death, he said.

He said he would take any action, if needed, after getting the police report based on the mobile messages, laptop correspondence and other chits police recovered from his room and also after talking to his guide J Ramkumar.

“At present I have no complaints to make against anyone,” he added.

HE HAD VERY GOOD ACADEMIC RECORD: IIT-K DIRECTOR

The IIT-K director, Abhay Karandikar, who took charge only on April 18, said Bhim had a very good academic record and hence his academic performance could not be viewed as the reason of his suicide.

“I would have definitely instituted an enquiry in his suicide matter had there been little possibility of his academic achievements putting him under depression,” the director said.