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The Silent Epidemic: Embracing the Impact of Self-Destruction

Judgment on any kind of delicate subject matter has never been a piece of cake. Tears keep on surfacing at the time of analyzing these matters and getting nowhere. Self-killing—Sui-cide! The act of taking one's own life voluntarily due to multiple reasons, which the particular person had thought was justifiable at the time of the very act! It couldn't be resolved. It couldn't be fixed. It…could…not…be…avoidable!

Until and unless experienced, one could never envisage the precise trauma of the soul just before the action! What triggers the person to accept the defeat? What triggers the person to accept the scenario that there's no hope beyond? What thoughts could be so prevailing that it succumbs all the happiness and any scope of liveliness from the person…





Two faces…


First Face—Mark self-killing with a lack of integrity and courage

Often, self-killing is deemed as a cowardly act, designating the victim a weakling—not strong enough to face the reality of life or its train of bullets. Antipathy arises from some domain of the crowd because these crowds believe that life has a value and should be given such importance. Ending it would result in nothing and will get you nowhere. However, some of these crowds get commiserative towards the victim's immediate relatives, and friends, for they are the ones left alone and will have to live with the guilt of not being aware about the mental issues of the said victim. A fair thought though, from the spectator's perspective. Losing a life on something might seem less valuable at a time when there is a lot of stuff to cherish and depend on.


Second Face—Mark self-killing with empathy and respect

Huh? Really? People believing in the "First Face" would react with such questions, or rather retaliate aggressively! They might provide a couple of complementary expressions to support the weirdness of the "Second Face".

But then, why must the act of self-killing should only be marked with a lack of integrity and courage, and not with empathy and respect?

Well, understanding and relating to the pain of the victim is one aspect, but embracing it in such a way that you have actually experienced it…is a revelation. Only then, you can relate to the decision taken by the victim. Considering the thought process of the victim, where the act of taking their own life is nothing but an act of defiance against the life—the cruel life, will actually allow you to get comfortable with their actions, if not compliable. The voters of the "First Face" might revolt and be adamant about their perception, however, it does not nullify the objective of the "Second Face" and their rationality of the pain point.


 

Destructing oneself on the account of misery and harm
Self-Destruction

The Verdict

How often have you talked to a person who is about to take their own life? Have you ever interacted with a person knowing that they are about to indulge in self-killing? Have you ever felt a premonition about any person just by looking at them, as if they are about to initiate self-killing?

Have…you…ever…been informed by any person who's about to go into self-killing mode?

If not, then you have no right to be under the umbrella of the "First Face". You carry no right to judge the victim who has undergone death with self-killing, for you do not have the precise details about their mindset at or before the time of action. Because if you had, then you would either try to stop the action, or automatically shift to the umbrella of "Second Face".

Nevertheless, does this mean that the action performed by the victim is fair? To end one's life just to end the intensive misery and burden! Only to relieve oneself from the misery! A way out, and nothing more! Actually no. It's not fair! As much as one should respect the decision of the victim in these cases, self-killing should not be appreciated for ending one's misery, even if it's the only way out. Why?

Because it's not the only way, even if it seems like one, at the time.

Factoring out the very reason, because of which, one is planning to indulge in self-killing, the victim might see something worth living for; something that can provide a light; something that could be happiness, even if it's in disguise. It's not easy, of course, to see such a picture at one's downfall, but that does not mean that the picture is not there.

Now, if the victim is not able to see such a picture because of the overwhelming pain and misery, then that would be checkmate, where death would always win over.

At the end of the day, the "will" factor would play a vital role in the final hour! And all the people of the world who are on the other side must pray that this hour shall and will turn in the favor of light!


 

Grounds for penning down the above thought—the POV…

1. Mass suicide across the world for ages, where the reason was the defeat by the opponent and the victims had no other way out—for instance, Jauhar/Jowhar/Juhar. 

   Some of the famous mass suicide cases are:

  • 1945 Demmin: - On 1 May 1945, about 1,000 residents of Demmin, Germany committed mass suicide at the occurrence of the Red Army's capture of the town.

  • Japan suicide tradition: - From seppuku ceremonial self-disemboweling to kamikaze warriors flying their aircraft into Allied warships, Japan is known for its centuries of infamous suicide tradition. The people of Saipan committed suicide, many jumping from places later named "Suicide Cliff" and "Banzai Cliff" due to the fear of American troops deadly invasion of manhandle and murder. Similar pattern of mass suicide by Japanese civilians and colonial settlers also transpired during the subsequent Battle of Okinawa and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria.

  • Balinese mass ritual suicide: - Puputan is the term for Balinese mass ritual suicide birthed from puput—"ending" or "finishing". Extreme cases of these mass suicides transpired in 1906–1908 when Balinese kingdoms faced Dutch colonial forces.

  • Religiously motivated suicide, for say, Peoples Temple in Jonestown (1978), Solar Temple in Switzerland (1994-1997), Heaven's Gate in California (1997).

  • Surat, Gujarat (28th Oct 2023): - In a horrifying incident, 7 members of a family died by suicide in Gujarat’s Surat on October 28.


2. Kota suicide cases: - With double-digit cases every year, Kota has been a pain point. A desire to become something; a zeal to be somewhere; a need to fulfill the high hopes of their peers, they become so immersed in it that a mere failure is enough to convince them that life stands no importance, and there would be no future. Family plays a vital role in this case—the status, the presence, the emotional connection, and the pressure. However inevitable it might seem; these cases could be avoidable if support and a vision to live are at hand!


3. Self-killing across the world, even if it was coerced or not.


PS: - Refrain from making any rash and unrelenting decisions at the time when an unforeseen event has touched you. If you are unable to talk to somebody, then immerse yourself in temporary happiness and strengths, which can allow you to resurface.

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