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"From School Topper to Tech Star And a Life Cut Short"

I was deeply moved by the tragic news of IIT Mumbai and Microsoft engineer Pratik Pandey. As a tribute to his noble soul, I feel compelled to share a message with our community: If this message encourages even one meaningful shift toward prioritizing mental well-being, life balance, and true purpose, it will have served its intended impact.

Who Do We Blame? Parents, Schools, or Society?

A young mind soars through school with near perfect marks. Everyone beams with pride: “He’s destined for greatness!” From Class 10 onwards, the path is mapped, engineering or medicine, nothing less. He lands a desired job at Microsoft, celebrated as one of their top engineers. And then, tragically, his story ends before his life truly begins.

The world asks: Who is responsible? 

Parents who demanded perfection? 

An education system obsessed with ranks and grades? 

A society that equates success with a few narrow careers? 

The truth is uncomfortable, it’s all of us.

1. The Parenting Pressure Cooker

Parents love their children. But love can become control when it’s driven by fear—fear of their child “falling behind,” of not being able to boast in WhatsApp groups or family weddings.

  • The subtle message: Your worth is your percentage.

  • The cost: Children lose the freedom to experiment, fail, or discover what truly excites them.

Encouragement is vital, but so is acceptance. A child who knows they can come home with a 75 % and still be loved unconditionally is a child who can breathe.

2. Schools that Chase Scores, Not Souls

Our education system rewards memory more than curiosity. 

Boards and institutions flaunt toppers like trophies, because it attracts admissions and investors.

Personal branding, creative risk, emotional intelligence all the skills that make a balanced adult are treated as “extra-curricular,” not essential.

What if we measured a school’s success not by how many students get into IIT, but by how many uncover their true passion and purpose?

3. A Society with Tunnel Vision

We clap the loudest for engineers, doctors, and gold-medal athletes. 

We whisper when someone chooses fine arts, social work, or a trade. 

The narrative is clear: Prestige over passion. Children absorb it early. They learn that an unconventional dream invites ridicule.

But today’s economy values adaptability and creativity more than a fixed career ladder. A society that ridicules “different” paths is a society robbing itself of innovators and healers in countless forms.

The Human Cost

When brilliance is chained to relentless expectations, mental health suffers. 

Anxiety and depression are no longer rare exceptions; they are the hidden epidemic of our classrooms and offices. By the time we notice, the damage is often irreversible.

A Call to Action

  • Parents: Love your child for who they are, not for the marks they bring. Ask them what excites them, not what will earn bragging rights. 

  • Educators & Edupreneur: Your mission is to nurture whole humans, not just future test scores. Integrate life skills, creativity, emotional literacy, and career exploration into every curriculum.

  • Young People: Your life is bigger than a job title. Success is not a single exam, it’s a lifelong journey of learning, relationships, and self-discovery. Seek help when the pressure feels too heavy; vulnerability is courage.

Closing Thought

Pratik Pandey’s story should not become just another headline we mourn and forget. It is a mirror held up to us all. If we continue to worship only marks, medals and publicity, we will keep losing our brightest lights.

Let’s choose differently today. Let’s raise a generation whose worth isn’t measured in percentages, but in passion, kindness, and the courage to live life on their own terms.

Let’s shift our focus from just grades and college admissions to nurturing well-being. Schools, parents, and communities can create environments where children:

  • Learn the value of balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate rest.

  • Build habits that support physical and mental health every day.

  • Develop emotional intelligence, self-awareness, empathy, and resilience to handle stress and setbacks with confidence.

Crafted By:

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Thalari is a consultant in Learning – Skills training – Development – Coaching, working at different levels of individual personal and professional development. Having around 23.5 years of industry and academic experience, worked at different levels of teaching and skills training. A Doctorate in Business Management, Master graduate in Psychology, Train the Trainer certified, e-Trainer certified, qualified in UGC National Eligibility Test, Qualified in State level eligibility test of Andhra Pradesh and a certified soft skills trainer.

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