Greater Noida: A wave of grief and outrage has engulfed Sharda University in Greater Noida after a 21-year-old dental student, Jyoti Sharma, died by suicide inside her hostel room late Friday night. The second-year BDS student from Gurugram left behind a chilling suicide note that blamed two of her professors for persistent mental harassment and humiliation.
The Final Words
In her handwritten note, Jyoti alleged that she had been suffering for months due to the behaviour of two faculty members referred to as Mahendra Sir and Sharg Ma’am. According to police sources, the note read:
“They mentally harassed me. They humiliated me in front of others. I have been under stress for a considerable amount of time. I can't take it anymore. This is not a decision I took easily, but I can't live like this.”
Her body was discovered late Friday inside her hostel room on campus. The news spread quickly across the university, sending shockwaves through the student community and sparking protests demanding justice.
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Campus in Turmoil
As word of her death spread, hundreds of students gathered outside the hostel and the administration block through the night. Candlelight vigils turned into emotional outbursts. Some students clashed with police while trying to prevent faculty members from leaving the premises.
Jyoti’s parents, devastated by the loss, joined the students in demanding immediate arrests and a transparent probe.
We sent her here to become a doctor, not for this
Father of Victim
Swift Police Action
The Greater Noida Police registered an FIR based on the contents of Jyoti’s note. By Saturday morning, both faculty members named were taken into custody. Forensic teams examined the hostel room, and Jyoti’s phone and other personal items were seized for investigation.
We have arrested the two accused and initiated further inquiry under relevant IPC sections. We will ensure a fair and fast investigation
Sudhir Kumar, ADCP
University Responds
Sharda University released a statement expressing deep sorrow over Jyoti’s death. The administration announced the suspension of the two faculty members and the formation of a “high-power” committee to conduct an internal inquiry.
“We are cooperating fully with police and promise complete transparency,” the university’s statement read.
But students are sceptical. “This is not the first time we’ve heard of such issues. The administration only acts when it’s too late,” said a student representative who knew Jyoti personally.
A Larger Crisis?
This incident brings renewed attention to student mental health and the often-unchecked power dynamics within university departments. Many students, both current and former, took to social media sharing similar stories of pressure, shaming, and anxiety within academic circles.
The case bears similarities to recent tragedies across India, where students ended their lives after facing alleged harassment by educators. Activists and mental health professionals are calling for structural reforms, starting from grievance redressal cells to trained counsellors and better accountability mechanisms.
What Lies Ahead
Jyoti’s post-mortem has been conducted, and her body has been handed over to the family. Her last rites were held quietly in Gurugram on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, the investigation continues. Back on campus, her classmates gathered at the college amphitheatre, lighting candles and placing notes in her memory.
One message stood out:
“You deserved help, not silence. Justice for Jyoti.”