The Story of Anna Sebastian
A 26-year-old woman named Anna Sebastian, from Kerala, tragically passed away due to extreme work pressure, countless sleepless nights, anxiety, and deteriorating physical and mental health. While the full details are not yet known, it’s clear her death was primarily a result of a toxic work environment. Importantly, there is no mention of any history of physical or psychological illness, though her employer may attempt to shift the blame if they face a lawsuit—which, in my view, they should.
Anna was a Chartered Accountant by profession, a school topper, and had recently joined a prestigious Big 4 firm (EY). It took just five months for the corporate system to break her. Some might label her weak, but I would argue she was one of the strongest, finest, and kindest individuals. Unfortunately, that made her an easy target to be used, abused (with pressure to work even at odd hours), and then discarded. The classic "use and throw" corporate technique, all too common in India. It’s telling that none of her colleagues from the firm attended her funeral.
The Corporate Exploitation of Freshers
Though I didn’t know Anna personally, I understand her plight because I’ve been in her shoes three times. People like Anna, who strive for excellence, are professional, keep their heads down, and push their limits to grow, are often the ones most exploited in today’s corporate world, where money is God, hierarchy is power, and sycophancy is virtue.
Anna likely believed that working harder would help her prove her worth, especially since she was likely on probation. But she was clearly taken advantage of. Freshers who are intelligent, naive, and devoid of cunningness often end up doing not only their work but also that of their colleagues—including their managers, seniors, and even incompetent juniors who offload their tasks.
It’s highly probable that those around her—her managers, colleagues, and supervisors—knew what she was going through. Distress is often evident in a person’s face, tone, and behavior. Yet, no one cared. This highlights the harsh reality of corporate success and glory—nobody cares about you. It’s all about year-end bonuses, promotions, and pay hikes, which freshers and juniors rarely receive.
Hierarchy and Sycophancy: The Reality of Corporate Life
In the corporate world, you need to stay with the company for at least 3-4 years and build a reputation (often by sucking up to seniors and doing favors) before you can reach a position where they "rely" on you. In reality, you are simply a step on the corporate ladder that others use to climb.
This is the second truth of corporate life: You don’t work for the company or the clients—you work for your immediate boss. The top-down hierarchical system of oppression and suppression is nothing but a glorified pyramid scheme.
Partners and executives bring in business by making big promises and lying to clients, then dump the burden of delivery on the middle managers, whose salaries are tied to impossible performance targets. To cope, middle managers push the work onto their teams, and this trickles down to freshers.
Surviving as a Fresher in a Big 4 Firm
Surviving as a fresher at a Big 4 firm is a feat in itself. Building a career from the ground up in such an environment, where you're drained every day and paid peanuts compared to the massive workload, is no easy task. Anna was likely doing the work of 4-5 people daily, which is a fair assumption based on the experiences of many freshers in the IT and corporate sectors.
During our formative years (0-3) in the industry, many of us are taken advantage of. We’re fed hollow promises of quick promotions, cheap awards, and public recognition. This creates a culture of false accomplishment, where freshers believe they’re progressing in their careers when in reality, they are being exploited by their superiors.
Corporate Culture: Tricks and Tactics
These tricks and tactics are designed to squeeze every last drop out of “cheap talent.” Ironically, this system thrives in countries like India and China, where the endless supply of graduates, often from lower or middle-income backgrounds, provides a steady stream of fresh talent.
Anna’s story is not new. This kind of exploitation happens every day. Both men and women suffer, but men are often more equipped to handle the physical and mental toll because of their rougher upbringings. Many men who survive this "corporate ragging" end up becoming bullies themselves when they reach positions of power.
Gendered Experiences in the Corporate World
Women, however, often don’t experience the same harsh upbringing in India. Personally, I was discouraged from playing outside and avoided conflicts at school and college. This laid the foundation for my "soft" nature, which became a disadvantage early in my career. I wasn’t taken seriously, and being intelligent at work didn’t earn me respect—it invited envy, mockery, and resentment.
I can fully empathise with Anna’s situation. She likely had no friends or colleagues she could confide in at work to vent her dissatisfaction and anger. It’s a sad reality that, in a country of 1.45 billion people, finding genuinely kind and supportive individuals feels like a treasure hunt.
The Bigger Problem: Corporate Culture and Indian Society
We could analyze Anna’s case for hundreds of pages, uncover the culprits, and even punish them, but it wouldn’t solve the underlying issue. The problem is deeply rooted in Indian society, where women and children are dominated, ridiculed, and abused daily. The corporate sector, which runs on lies, deceit, and greed, exacerbates this issue.
This power-hungry and narcissistic demographic is not only causing problems in India but also tarnishing our nation’s image abroad. I’ve worked with Western colleagues, and I can confidently say that in countries with higher living standards, where lives don’t revolve around squeezing junior colleagues dry for personal gain, people are generally more respectful and considerate.
The Solution: How to Navigate the Corporate World
After going through similar experiences myself, I’ve learned an important lesson: Do not give any F's. You’ll get what’s in your fate, regardless. Many people, later in their careers, do little yet reap the benefits of their experience. The most challenging task for a fresher is to survive the turbulent early years (5-7) in the industry without breaking down.
If you fall, get up. If you get fired, find another job. Low salary? Don’t worry—keep improving your skills. I’ve seen people jump from 4 LPA to 20 LPA. It’s possible if you have the experience, skillset, and, most importantly, the confidence and courage to take ownership of your work.
Conclusion
I hope Anna’s story serves as a wake-up call to parents, urging them to stop pressuring their children into prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs, or UPSC. Not every child is the same. Anna was brilliant, but she was still pushed to her breaking point.
Blaming individuals won’t solve the problem. Instead, we need systemic changes. The firm should at least offer condolences to Anna’s family and perhaps even compensation for this clear workplace hazard. But that’s unlikely to happen, as it would open Pandora’s box and lead to endless lawsuits.
India needs better IT laws that protect both employers and employees, fostering a sustainable and harmonious environment for a peaceful and productive workplace.