26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil was an EY India employee

Her death has ignited a nationwide conversation on workplace stress

Her family remembers her as a 'canary in the coal mine'

The tragic death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, an EY India employee, has ignited a nationwide conversation on workplace stress and overwork. Anna, who allegedly succumbed to excessive work pressure, was due to get married this month, according to her cousin, Sunil George Kuruvilla.

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Kuruvilla, an assistant director at Acuity Knowledge Partners, revealed that Anna had initially debated between pursuing an MBA or chartered accountancy. She chose the latter and joined EY India after completing her studies. Quoting Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, Kuruvilla said, “And that has made all the difference,” reflecting on her path and its tragic end.

Following an open letter from Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, he vowed to address the issue and create a more harmonious workplace.

In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Kuruvilla expressed his grief over his second cousin’s death, describing her as a “canary in the coal mine” – a warning to others about the dangers of overwork. He suggested that Anna’s death could serve as a wake-up call to save other young lives “from the clutches