After suspending classes for two days, Bombay Cambridge School speaks to those Andheri teen Manpreet Sahans, who committed suicide, was close to; teachers remember him as a standout student
Illustration/Ravi Jadhav
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The tremors of Andheri teenager Manpreet Sahans's suicide, allegedly because of a controversial Internet game, the Blue Whale Challenge, were felt across the city, but more so in the Bombay Cambridge School, where the 14-year-old studied. For two days, the school didn't conduct any classes and just helped its students cope with the shock. Sahans's close friends were counselled and only on Wednesday did the school started easing students into regular studies again.
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Bombay Cambridge School in Andheri East. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Even though there isn't any definitive proof yet that Sahans killed himself as part of the Challenge, after talking to his close friends, the school found out that he certainly was big on Internet games. Brilliant in studies and an active participant in the school's basketball and cricket teams, Sahans, they said, had shown no sign of depression. He had not even missed school for anyone to suspect there was something wrong.
Life a game, gaming his life
"He was a happy child, leading a perfectly normal school life. He was regular in school and did very well in academics as well as extra-curricular activities. He could be found cracking jokes and having fun with his friends. There were no signs of depression at all," said a school official.
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"It was only after the incident when we spoke to his friends, we came to know that he was hooked on online games. But he had become very secretive about what he played and when he played it. Regarding that specific game, the Blue Whale Challenge, however, his close friends said they didn't notice any telltale signs that he was involved in it. So, it cannot be said with absolute certainty that that was the reason behind his drastic step.
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"The school was equally shocked, and hence, it was only right to give the children a breather to deal with the loss of their dear friend. We kept regular classes aside for a couple of days. However, even before we could speak to the children about it, they were aware of the game," added the official.
"During his friends' counselling sessions, they told us that he used to play online games till late into the night regularly; at times, even till the wee hours. He had even been coaxing some of them to join him in some online football games, generally played only at night to match clocks of specific countries. But none of his friends had access to gadgets at night."
The vulnerable lot
Sahans, the son of a pilot, used to talk about becoming a pilot on growing up passionately and was very knowledgeable about aircraft and trivia.
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Talking about how students from Stds VI to IX were the most vulnerable to the addiction of online gaming, a teacher from the school said, "After the incident, we spoke to students of higher classes and what they told us was a revelation. They said they were past that age and that the gaming craze existed only until Std IX."
The school is now planning to hold workshops by experts for the students to explain the responsible use of technology.
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