From a modest village on the Odisha-West Bengal border, the 20-year-old had high hopes when she left her home and family around two years ago to pursue a degree at a leading government college in Balasore, northern Odisha.

On July 12, when she set herself on fire on the college campus because her complaints alleging sexual harassment by a professor were ignored, her dreams of a better life were shattered. She died two days later.

“When she got admission into a five-year integrated course in the college, she proudly remembered the eminent persons who had studied there. She was happy being a student of such a reputed institution,” her father said, describing her as “strong-willed and industrious”.

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He recalled her affinity to activism and her desire to both help and teach others. “My daughter was brave, which is why she raised her voice against the injustice done to her. She fought against the system until her last breath. I will never get back what I have lost, but other parents shouldn’t suffer like me,” he said.

The younger of two siblings, the woman had associated herself with the ABVP, the student affiliate of the RSS, since school. Even before formally joining the organisation, she would participate in every ABVP programme near her village.

Locals recalled how proactive she was during cyclones in the area in her capacity as an Aapda Mitra (friend during disaster).

“She probably learnt nationalism and volunteerism because of her association with ABVP — always happy to help others and motivating them never to give up,” said her friend, who shared a room with her in a private mess in Balasore for the past two years.

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Barely a month ago, they shifted to a new mess, where the woman celebrated her birthday. “We’ve known each other for four years as we were in the same institute during higher secondary,” the friend said.

Her roommate said the woman had been “tense and upset” since June 30, the day she submitted a complaint to the college principal against the professor. “Though we didn’t belong to the same course, she used to call me didi and shared almost everything. She was distraught the evening before she set herself on fire. Around 8 pm, she called her mother and shared her ordeal. Her mother asked me to console her,” said her friend.

Until late night, the woman was on the phone, crying. She refused dinner. “She was awake until 3 am that night,” her friend said. “She told me about her meeting with the principal and checked if I could join her. I couldn’t as I had a class.”

“We rely on food from a small eatery near our mess. They deliver food around 2.30 pm every day, but she asked them to send it by 1 pm that day. Why would someone plan lunch before setting herself ablaze? I am still looking for an answer,” she said. The accused assistant professor, Samir Kumar Sahu, and principal, Dillip Kumar Ghose, have been arrested.

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Batchmates said the woman was a trained self-defence expert and would teach other women on campus. “She was an all-rounder. A good painter, singer, actor and human being,” said a batchmate. Students recalled she had been facing attendance issues for several reasons, including her mother’s surgery and a grandparent’s death. Her friends claimed she was being bullied online ever since she complained against the professor. “That possibly added to her mental pressure,” said a friend.