Parentclass class variables becoming null in child class java.

[adzbharadwaj]

Hi, I am using java for step implementation in parent and child classes but the child class gives null pointer exception.
Running in Intellij , gauge Version 1.6.9

Example:

class ParentSteps{
String str;
@BeforeSuite
public void beforesuite(){
str ="gauge";
}
}

class ChildSteps extends ParentSteps{

@step
public void step(){
System.out.println(str); //gives null pointer exception
}
}