The death of Yashaswini, 23, a dental student, occurred at her home in Chandapura, Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Yashaswini was a third-year undergraduate student at Oxford Dental College in Bommanahalli in the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. The only daughter of Parimala and Bhodevaiah, Yashaswini had been described as a hardworking young pupil. But her unexpected death has sent waves through the student community and unleashed intense claims against the college administration and faculty.
Allegations of Systematic Harassment
After learning of her death, Yashaswini’s mother, Parimala, launched serious allegations against the college administration. Yashaswini was experiencing constant mental torture within the department, the family said.
Among the family’s specific allegations are:
- Academic Sabotage: Yashaswini was allegedly excluded from seminars, a vital element of the dental curriculum.
- Clinical Obstruction: Staff allegedly declined to assign her radiology cases, a process that was likely preventing the student from experiencing practical learning and applying clinical needs.
- Targeted Torture: The mother claims the principal and select lecturers, whom she believes have intentionally created an environment that was antagonistic and made it difficult for her to continue her studies peacefully.
Public Humiliation: The Final Straw?
The situation reportedly escalated in the first half of this week. On Wednesday, Yashaswini had taken leave from college for a persistent eye infection. When she got back to campus on Thursday, she reportedly was teased and laughed at in front of her classmates by a lecturer.
“They mockingly asked her which eye drops she’d used and how many drops she’d put in. They even asked if she had poured the whole bottle into her eyes,” a grieving mother said.
The public humiliation on her part, after months of academic pressure and harassment, is believed to have been the breaking point for the young student. Pained by the insults, Yashaswini went home, taking the plunge.
Protests Erupt at the Mortuary
The news of Yashaswini's death gave rise to instant outrage among her classmates and fellow students. Dozens of students gathered outside of the mortuary to protest against Oxford Dental College management.
Slogans calling for "Justice for Yashaswini" filled the air. Protesting students shouted that the culture of "academic bullying" in professional colleges has to stop. They have called for an investigation by the police and an expeditious case against the principal and lecturer behind the alleged humiliation.
Investigation By Police and Next Steps
The Anekal Police are now collecting evidence — and the case has been registered. The statements of Yashaswini’s friends and the alleged faculty members are likely to be recorded shortly. Family members have fought back and insisted that the culprits involved should be held legally accountable for driving their daughter to the brink.
That tragedy, like so many others in recent years, has brought a grim reality to the mental health crisis and high-pressure environments that characterize medical and dental schooling in India.
