The Death of Prashanth Nair: Bengaluru's Silicon Dream Is Turning Into a Mental Health Nightmare

 “He was just 40. A well-respected tech professional. A father. A son. And now—just another name in a rising list of tragedies unfolding in India’s tech capital.”

On April 7, 2025, Bengaluru woke up to devastating news. Prashanth Nair, a senior marketing manager at Lenovo, was found dead in his North Bengaluru apartment. Hanging. Lifeless. Another brilliant mind silenced forever.

Behind the closed doors of his flat in Ganigarahalli (Chikkabanavara), what unraveled wasn’t just the suicide of one man. It was the chilling reflection of an epidemic of mental exhaustion, emotional trauma, and systemic ignorance that is slowly consuming Bengaluru's tech workforce—one death at a time.

Who Was Prashanth Nair?

Prashanth, originally from Kerala, had built an impressive career. At 40, he was well-established in the industry, working at Lenovo. He had been married for 12 years to Pooja Nair, an employee at Dell. The couple had a daughter. From the outside, it was the textbook image of a middle-class Indian tech family—until it wasn’t.

His father, M N Kutty, discovered his son’s body after repeated phone calls went unanswered. Prashanth was found hanging in the hall of his residence. No suicide note. No official final words. Just silence.

According to early police reports, an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) was filed. Initial findings ruled out foul play.

But when you look closer, the silence screams volumes.

What Drove Prashanth to End His Life?

All available evidence points to deep emotional distress, exacerbated by a long-standing marital rift.

•  Prashanth and Pooja had been living separately for over a year.
•  Family members had reportedly urged reconciliation, to no avail.
•  One report mentions a heated argument between the couple on the Friday before his death.
•  Prashanth’s father confirmed that marital discord was ongoing and deeply troubling.

While there was no suicide note, the circumstantial evidence speaks to a man overwhelmed by personal conflict and emotional fatigue—possibly worsened by the pressure cooker environment of Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem.

This is no longer a one-off tragedy. This is a pattern.

The Dark Pattern Emerging in Bengaluru’s Tech Scene

Let’s not sugarcoat it.

Bengaluru has a suicide problem.

And tech professionals, often seen as the poster children of India’s digital dream, are silently cracking under the weight of relentless performance pressure, toxic personal relationships, and the crushing loneliness of urban isolation.

Prashanth Nair’s case is not isolated.

🔻 Just Two Months Earlier...

Atul Subhash, 34, a senior techie, died by suicide. He left a 24-page suicide note and a video, accusing his estranged wife and her family of harassment. His words:
"Justice is due."

🔻 A Week Before That...

Another tech employee in Bengaluru allegedly murdered his wife, stuffing her body into a suitcase before attempting to take his own life. The reported cause? Repeated fights stemming from her unemployment.

🔻 And Then, This One Hit Home:

Bengaluru Techie Jumps from 12th Floor After Startup Losses – A Story of Struggle, Hope, and Tragedy

This was your article, Mahendra—and it was hauntingly prescient.

The story of a young entrepreneur who couldn't withstand the double pressure of a failed startup and a deteriorating personal life. Another mind lost. Another avoidable tragedy.

How many more?

Mental Health in the Tech Industry: The Invisible War

Here’s what research tells us:

 
•  43% of Indian tech professionals suffer from work-related health issues.
•  Over 50% work an average of 52.5 hours/week—well above national norms.
•  45% experience chronic stress, anxiety, or depression.

And yet… less than 20% seek help.

Why?

 Because asking for help is still seen as weakness.

Because therapy is still “only for the mad.”
Because HR departments still bury mental health under yoga workshops and occasional webinars.

Bengaluru’s tech culture thrives on burnout.

It glorifies overwork. It promotes hustle porn. It demands peak performance—even at the cost of your peace, your family, and your life.

When Love Fails and Work Cracks: The Dual Burden

What’s frightening about Prashanth’s case—and others like his—is that it wasn't just work or just home. It was both.

 
•  A broken marriage.
•  A demanding career.
•  A daughter caught in between.
•  A society that encourages men to “man up,” not speak up.

India’s male suicide rate is rising—especially among married men. Bengaluru is emerging as the epicenter of this emotional catastrophe.

And the tech industry? It pretends it's all okay as long as the targets are met and the Slack pings keep coming.

What Can We Learn from Prashanth’s Tragedy?

This isn’t about Prashanth alone. This is about every tech professional who’s one bad day away from a breakdown.

It’s time to stop whispering about mental health and start screaming for change.

What Tech Companies Must Do:

•  Implement genuine Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), not just token mental health sessions.
•  Offer anonymous therapy access.
•  Conduct regular mental wellness check-ins, especially for employees working remotely or living alone.
•  Train managers to identify early signs of burnout or distress.

What Employees Must Know:

•  You’re not alone.
•  Therapy is not weakness.
•  Talking to someone could save your life.
•  Your job is not worth your life.

What Government and Policy Makers Must Act On:

•  Mandatory mental health policies in workplaces.
•  Tax subsidies for therapy sessions and wellness programs.
•  Mental health curriculum in universities and corporate training.

The Bigstartups Call: Let’s Not Wait for Another Obituary

As the founder of Bigstartups.co, you have already begun to tell the stories others ignore.

This article is more than a report. It's a call to action.

Let’s launch a campaign around:

 
•  #StartupStrongInside – Mental health awareness for tech professionals and entrepreneurs.
•  A monthly feature on stories of burnout, survival, and recovery.
•  A verified mental health helpline directory updated quarterly.
•  Partner with mental wellness startups like Wysa, YourDost, and TheMindClan to bring services closer to your users.

Support is Available – Don’t Suffer in Silence

Here are some critical helplines anyone can call:

In Memory of Prashanth Nair

Let us remember Prashanth not just as a victim of suicide, but as a symbol of everything we must fix in Bengaluru’s tech world.

Let’s remember him every time we:

 
•  Skip a lunch break to meet deadlines.
•  Snap at loved ones due to workplace stress.
•  Keep quiet when we feel like we’re drowning.

Let his story be the final wake-up call.

We can’t afford to lose any more Prashanths.

If this article struck a chord, share it with your HR team, your founder, your friend, or your sibling working in tech.
Let’s normalize the conversation. Let’s save lives.