Futility of suicide for a political cause
RAVI SAMUEL
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When it becomes obvious that unrealistic expectations cannot be fulfilled
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Emile Durkheim, eminent sociologist, coined the term ‘altruistic suicide’ for suicide committed by an individual for the betterment of society. Over the past two months in Tamil Nadu, there have been multiple reports of suicide. Among the victims were a junior journalist and an office-bearer of a political party. A few people attempted suicide, including three higher secondary school students. Also, cases of alleged suicide and other forms of death were reporte
d over the issue of the death of Tamil civilians in the Sri Lankan war, including a party activist’s death during a demonstration and another person’s in an accident. The ‘suicide notes’ left by these two individuals clearly show their unrealistic expectations about the impact of their death: one suicide note suggests using his corpse in the struggle to end the war and another demands the President of the United States and other world leaders to go to Sri Lanka to get first-hand information about the war!
Showmanship
It is obvious that these expectations cannot be fulfilled. The very fact that these ‘suicide notes’ contain unrealistic expectations shows that these persons were not in a normal state of mind.
Such suicides and suicide attempts provide instant popularity — news reports, cover stories, interviews and articles. Of course, it does not make any difference to the dead, but it can certainly convey a wrong message to people who are looking for opportunities for showmanship.
The media can create an impression in the minds of vulnerable people that they can attain instant publicity and influence. Political leaders who garland the bodies or visit those who have attempted suicide only glorify such acts. If the reports of the death of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka are not going to have any effect on the war in Sri Lanka, how can a few suicides in India affect the situation? It has been observed clearly that these suicides and suicide attempts did not achieve any of their intended purposes. They only helped some politicians to appear on television and give interviews in the print media.
The fact of the matter is that politicians in India have had very little impact on the people, the militant groups and the government of Sri Lanka. When the Government of Sri Lanka had multiple problems with the militants, our politicians were not able to offer any help as leaders.
We need to understand that the Sri Lankan government launched an offensive only after repeated failure of efforts to bring the militants to the negotiating table, though this does not justify the killing of innocent civilians. Raising a hue and cry now after having failed to offer constructive solutions to the problems either of the Sri Lankan government or of the Tamil people makes one wonder whether the focus of our politicians will always be on gaining political mileage rather than on solving the ethnic problem.
Rightful approach
The media giving much publicity and politicians endorsing such acts will only lead to increasing numbers of gullible individuals committing suicide. It seems the victims nurtured an exaggerated hope that their suicide would influence matters in Sri Lanka over and above diplomacy, political and military action.
Thankfully, the Tamil Nadu government has stopped giving solatium in such cases, so as to discourage such acts. Normally there is vulnerability among individuals who are lonely and who are disappointed with their personal life and careers. Similarly, those facing severe financial difficulties are at risk of suicide.
On hearing the news of civilian deaths, some individuals can get very emotionally overwhelmed and might try to end their life. At that point of time their logical reasoning can totally cease to function and do things very emotionally. So, strong disapproval is necessary to dissuade such people from taking such measures. Also, when there is a suicide, it motivates susceptible individuals to end their lives too.
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