On 1st April, like every other day, I logged into my Facebook account. To my surprise, apart from the April fool trolls, there was a piece of news that really shocked me and it was the suicide news of the young famous television actress Pratyusha Banerjee. But, until I could believe the news was true, farmer suicide news and a Kota student ending life, added to my disturbance and made me question, Is India struck with a new threat called “Suicide”?
It’s true that with technological advancements, economic development, competition in career and education, the change in lifestyle choices and the unending demand for agricultural commodities, the pace of life has become too fast. Survival of the fittest has been the mantra. Be it career choices, lifestyle or relationships, the youth of the country is in the rat race to fulfill the intended desires. But, not all see the light of the day and choose the path of ending their life. But, while these youngsters are succumbing to the comparatively easy way, the farmer suicide still remains the ever big issue persisting in the country, which is unheard. Here is a glimpse of this multifaceted epidemic that has plagued the Indian society.
The unending saga of farmer suicide
With Maharashtra and Telangana leading the charts, the farmer suicides still remains one of the severe issues India is facing. As per National Crime Records Bureau, (NCRB), about 5,650 farmers committed suicide in 2014, out of which 2,568 are alone from Maharashtra. While Bankruptcy, indebtedness, and the recent droughts, have been cited as the key issue for the major suicides, still 15 suicides per day don’t you think is an alarming rate?
Now, I just read a post in one of the leading news websites, where the CM of Maharashtra informed that the government has allocated about Rs.100 crores funds for the drought-prone areas to compensate the loss. Also, the water wagons heading towards drought prone Latur had delivered about 25 lakh litres of water. But, the farmer suicides seem no ending. With about 65 suicides solely in three weeks of April 2016, you can comprehend the circumstances that are forcing farmers to embrace death. Thus, the government's so-called efforts seem to go in vain to stop the never ending trail of pain.
Education and career choices too heavy to sustain
Now, while I could barely get over from the farmer suicide issue, another facet of suicide depressed me and it was the student and professional suicides, which is another major issue in our country. Kota has become a suicide hub, where a student or two commits suicide every day succumbing to the educational pressure, but the suicides in major metros due to the peer pressure of making the right career choice, is no way behind in taking the life of many. We know, education and career invite stress leading to depression and anxiety but it can be taken care of. But, is the mere guilt of not making it to the desired position, enough to take such a drastic step. Shall we blame the students or their parents, who bombard them with expectations? I don’t say parents are responsible for the kid’s death, but can there be some mid-way that would help both students and parents to address their respective guilt and expectations and thus put an end to at least this growing side of suicide.
When friendship and love turned into your worst enemy
Now, be it Jia, Pratyusha or Viveka, all these three successful beauties from tinsel town ended their lives at the cost of betrayal in love. Now, if observed, one could conclude that relationships and friendships today, lack the essence of trueness. So, embracing death in a fit of depression and loneliness would heal everything? I don’t say it is easy, heartbreaks are obviously painful. But, committing suicide for that friend or partner for whom your death might be a joke too, is insane. It is true that people today don’t have time for dear ones, which invites loneliness and the need to have someone to care for you. But, what if that person turns out to be different from your fantasy? Then would you choose to get over and take a stand for yourself or vanish in the darkness of death? Well, I know it is difficult, but it was also difficult for Deepika Padukone. The world knows of her depression fight and today she has bounced back as one of the most successful actresses in Bollywood and has become a global name. She embraced life, then what is stopping you?
Now, on tallying all three facets, I realised that, be it student suicides or the ones due to relationship setbacks, we have people around us to talk to and also facilities to help is come out of these problems but those farmers and their families, they have been waiting for ages for help and attention both financial and emotional. Well, we know it is better said than done, but suicide is still not the solution. Look around for help, you will definitely find it.
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