A 20-year-old medical aspirant from Maharashtra, Anurag Anil Borkar, died by suicide just before traveling to Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, to begin his MBBS at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Gorakhpur. He had secured an All India NEET rank of 1475 and obtained the seat under the OBC quota.
Anurag had taken NEET twice. On his first attempt, he got an MBBS seat but chose to reappear for a more prestigious institution, eventually gaining admission to AIIMS Gorakhpur.
Police reports state that Anurag’s mother found him hanging at their home at 4 am. A suicide note revealed his unwillingness to pursue medicine: “I do not wish to do MBBS. A businessman can earn as much as a doctor. Five years of study, then MD… I do not want to do all this.”
Investigations indicate that academic pressure and the long medical training path may have contributed to his decision. Despite his achievements, Anurag lacked interest in a medical career.
Coming from a high-achieving family, his sister had topped the district in 12th grade the previous year. This tragedy has sparked discussions on student mental health and the intense societal pressure faced by aspirants in competitive academic environments.
