Tragic End for Acclaimed Jujitsu Star: Family Points to Job Torment in Wake of Suicide
In a heartbreaking turn, Rohini Kalam, a 35-year-old international jujitsu athlete from India, was discovered deceased in her family home in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, under circumstances that point to suicide, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The incident has sparked a police probe amid allegations from her relatives that relentless workplace harassment contributed to her despair.
Kalam’s body was found hanging in her bedroom at the Arjun Nagar residence in Radhaganj by her younger sister, Roshni, who immediately summoned help. Paramedics at a local hospital declared her dead upon arrival. At the time, their mother was visiting a nearby temple with another sibling, while their father—a retired employee of the Bank Note Press—remained absent from the house. Investigators noted the absence of a suicide note, though a post-mortem report is pending to clarify further details.
Roshni recounted to police that Kalam, serving as a martial arts instructor at a private school in Ashta, had endured mounting pressure at work. Returning home to Dewas just a day prior on Saturday, Kalam appeared composed during breakfast and tea on Sunday morning. Yet, a tense phone conversation soon preceded her withdrawal to her room. “She was worried about her job. The faculty at her school were troubling her. Her school’s principal was troubling her. She was worried about her job. I could sense it from the way she was speaking on her phone,” Roshni shared, as reported in various media outlets.
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As the eldest among five siblings, Kalam had steadfastly turned down marriage overtures, her sights set instead on joining the Indian Police Service as an officer. For two years, she pursued the prestigious Vikram Award without success, a pursuit that underscored her drive. Her health had faltered recently; five months earlier, she underwent surgery to remove a stomach lump and battled ongoing recovery issues.
A formal complaint has been filed at the Bank Note Press police station, where officers are scrutinizing potential links between the alleged mistreatment by her school principal and the fatal outcome. The family has voiced deep concerns over the unchecked toxicity in her professional environment.
Kalam’s legacy in jujitsu gleams with distinction. She entered the sport in 2007, turning pro in 2015. Representing India alone at the World Games in Birmingham, she also shone at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Her medal haul boasts bronzes in the 48kg division at the 2022 Thailand Open Grand Prix in Bangkok and in the duo classic category during the 8th Asian Jujitsu Championship in Abu Dhabi this year. Poised to compete in the upcoming Combat Games in Saudi Arabia, her abrupt departure leaves a void in the nation’s combat sports scene.