Ahmedabad: Nearly two years after IIM Ahmedabad student Akshith Bhukya died by suicide on the campus, his father, Hemant Bhukya, has built a temple in his son’s memory, saying it will help keep him going in his quest for justice for his deceased son.On Sept 26, 2024, Akshith (26), a second-year PGP student who was the coordinator of an event in IIM-A, was found hanging in room number 28 of dorm number 21. His father Hemanth Bhukya, a sociology teacher and resident of Hanamkonda in Warangal district of Telangana, alleged that Akshith faced intense pressure and harassment from institute authorities regarding an issue over the use of the IIM-A logo by a third party for an event.“Due to various obstacles in police investigation, no FIR has been filed yet in Akshith’s death case. I have now decided to fight this till the end. My son was among state toppers in Class 10 and Class 12; he was a man with a strong personality. He gave counselling to people to live their lives fully during the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdown. If he has committed suicide, then tremendous pressure must have been exerted on him,” Bhukya told TOI.The bereaved dad said that as his hopes were fading, he decided to keep Akshith alive in his memory and preferred to build a temple in his native village Chandiya Thanda.“I built this temple around eight months ago and every day I come to meet my son here. I have built it to keep him alive in my memory and for my family members who are still in trauma, especially my wife who has been undergoing treatment. This gives us strength to keep going,” said Hemanth.The father said he has failed to get justice in this case so far as no action was taken against a “responsible person” against whom he has filed a court complaint also.The probe has seen two investigating officers replaced without any breakthrough. Various students have also given their statements which were accessed by TOI about the circumstances in which Akshith committed suicide and people behind it.Hemanth’s family regularly visits the temple, where Akshith’s photograph serves as a lasting reminder of the son they lost.Akshith was a BTech graduate in computer science from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal. He worked as a software developer for more than a year in Hyderabad before joining IIM-A in 2023.
