Hima's Pages

15-year-old Mihir Ahmed’s suicide and the following unravelling of the incidents that could have possibly led to the tragedy is deeply unsettling. A ninth standard student from Tripunithara (Kerala, India) committed suicide on 15^th January 2025 and the family alleges bullying from his school mates to be the reason behind his death. To say the least, it was unnerving to see the changing times and how it is making our young generation cold and brutal. How are our children learning to be this cruel? Where are they learning it from?

One of the WhatsApp screenshots that Mihir’s mother shared shows how the children at Mihir’s school are referring to Mihir as ‘nigga’ or nigger quite casually while talking about his suicide. Is it underlying colourism in our minds or the blind aping of the western shows to look ‘cool’ that we are seeing in this ‘nigga’ usage? It is heartbreaking to read about the cruel ways in which Mihir’s fellow school mates treated him. It makes you wonder if we are talking about children or monsters. But then, it is children. So, we, the adults in the society, are to be blamed for how these children are turning out.

Teach your children to be kind.