Schoolgirl suicides after Facebook photo issue - UPDATES 3

Schoolgirl suicides after Facebook photo issue -- UPDATES 3

The recent news of P.B. Venusha Imandi Bandara who was studying in grade 10 in the mixed school of Sir John Kotelawala had committed suicide by hanging herself with a sari was an incident which created an uproar among the public. While on the one hand reports were published that she committed suicide because she could not bear the accusation of the Principal, while on the other hand it was
understood that she died in this manner because she was undergoing a period of mental pressure.

However, according to the letter written before her death states that the Principal of Sir John Kotelawala mixed school had reprimanded her in harsh language, degrading her by saying "We ...." which had affected her mind directly as she was supposed to have been in a depressed state of mind which may then have made things worse for her as was made to understand.

To whatever extent a Principal of a school happens to administer discipline, a sudden case of uncontrollable temper released in the presence of problems relating to girl students could end up in tragedy .... which happens to be the message conveyed under these circumstances.

Venusha happened to be living in a somewhat strange family background where her father and mother of the house had not been on talking terms had made her school the location of her happiness instead of her own home, which she may have thought was a better choice. Further, the house and property had been bestowed on the children even before they became majors.

Venusha was engaged in outstanding activities such as dancing and singing in school and was loved by many. Under such circumstances the aggressive behaviour of the Head of the school affected her in a terrible manner.

Venusha's letter also draws attention to an incident where she and an elder brother had gone to see a film; which had reached the ears of the Principal and without inquiring further, this same Principal had reprimanded her in public.

The Principal may have scolded her by using "We ...." for the second time, it can be assumed because of the conclusion he had drawn about her from the previous incident. After the tragic incident the Principal had expressed his ideas to the media saying that the problems she was facing were identified and that she was directed to a Psychological Counsellor 6 months before. Knowing her situation if the Principal had taken care to handle the issue without using harsh words, this incident would not have taken place.

She may have included photos of the Principal and the school she cherished as her lovable abode in her Facebook may be for this reason only and not for any other. Venusha who was just 16 years in her butterfly age of course was lacking in experience. She would not feel that including such things in the Facebook as something wrong. A photo where she and her boy friend had gone on a picnic while a friend of theirs who had taken an interest in portraying it on the page of the Facebook and she has had no desire to remove herself from it or in removing that tag.

It maybe that sometimes she may not have known how to remove the tag. In such a background, she may have not thought that her Facebook account would ever reach as far as the Principal.

In this instance the Principal continues shouting at her saying, "We ...." without any idea of technology as if the whole thing had blemished the website of the school. Though she asked him not to scold her without any valid reason, it only fell on deaf ears of the Principal and that was not a moment where she could explain how to share photos and of tagging photos to the Principal. She had become totally helpless. That was how Venusha became helpless in the presence of two teachers and in front of the harsh and aggressive Principal who was equipped with Army training of the Jathika Shishya Balakaya and was a teacher who had trained cadets as well. If parents were to be summoned, she should then be at fault. But what had happened was something else. The truth too could not be explained either. It was at this point that she arrived at a decision.It may be that she was too quick. Her final breath was mixed into the air in the midst of a mental condition of rapid-moving thought without any support and thus a 16 year old left the world by tieing a sari round her neck and became silent forever, leaving a black mark on the good name of the school which this Principal strived to protect.

Venusha from her last letter reminded that not only Principals but even parents and elders in the case of the young generation should think twice in dealing with them and in communicating with them.

Venusha's last letter -- previous article from HERE