What should have been a day of celebration has turned into one of sorrow for the Lamsal family. On the 21st birthday of Prakriti Lamsal, a young Nepali student whose death earlier this year shocked two nations, her family is still searching for justice.
Her father, Sunil Lamsal, had hoped that on this day, justice would be served for his daughter’s death. But instead, he is overwhelmed with grief. The man accused of abetting her suicide, Adwik Srivastava, has been granted bail for just INR 100,000 — a decision that has added to the family’s heartbreak.
“Today is her birthday, but she is not with us,” Sunil said. “If justice had been delivered today, I could have felt I gave her a birthday gift. Maybe our hearts would have found peace.”
Prakriti, a computer engineering student in her third year at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, India, was found dead in her hostel room on February 16. Her death drew widespread attention in both Nepal and India. She was 20 at the time.
Prakriti’s parents, Sunil and Sarita Sharma Lamsal, had welcomed their daughter into the world on June 18, 2004. Sarita recalled the joy of her birth, calling it the arrival of “goddess Laxmi” into their lives. Over the years, Prakriti became more than a daughter to Sarita — she became a close friend.
“She was emotional and sensitive,” Sarita said. “We shared everything.”
In past years, birthdays in the Lamsal household were moments of family bonding, with cakes, outings, and simple joys. This year, the family spent the day visiting a local care home, distributing fruits, milk, and biscuits in Prakriti’s memory.
“She isn’t here with us, but we still celebrated her birthday,” Sunil said. A garlanded photo of Prakriti now stands in their home in Dhapasi, Basundhara.
Friends of Prakriti also visited the family and shared memories. Her childhood friend, Riti Shrestha, recalled school birthday parties and how special they were. Others paid tribute through social media, leaving her family emotional once again.
The bond between Prakriti and her parents was especially deep. For 11 years, she was their only child, until her younger brother Prayas was born. Sunil had worked abroad in the UAE to support the family and ensure Prakriti had a strong foundation.
“She was everything to us,” Sunil said. “She had dreams. She wanted to get a good job, move to Canada, and one day return to buy her father a car.”
Just weeks before her death, she had asked her mother to teach her how to cook. It was a small gesture that now carries deep meaning.
On the day she died, Prakriti spoke to her mother around 3 PM, telling her she was going to a festival and that she was happy. Only hours later, the devastating news reached the family.
They later learned she had faced harassment from Srivastava, the accused. Complaints had been made at her hostel and college, but her parents were unaware.
“If she had told us, we could’ve helped her,” said Sunil. “We believe the college is equally responsible.”
Now, with the accused out on bail and justice still out of reach, Sunil and Sarita are left with memories and regret.
“I couldn’t give her justice on her birthday,” Sunil said quietly. “But I will keep trying. That’s all I can do now.”
