SUICIDES

Soon after I witnessed the natural death of Lawrence, Rajamma, our neighbour, informed us that   Devassy, a youth in the neighbourhood hanged himself on the ceiling of his house. We wanted to see the body but both ‘Appachan’ and ‘Ammachi’ did not permit us. They told us that dead bodies of these unnatural deaths might not have a pleasant appearance. Some of them even look scary to haunt you all through your life. Some children seeing these horrifying sights might develop mental disorders and they might even pass it on to the next generation. We saw reason in this and refrained from going to the site; instead we sent Rajamma to get the detailed reports of this unfortunate incident. We understood from her that the police who arrived at the scene found a note in his table and it clearly stated that nobody but he alone was responsible for his death. The note stated that he had a heart ailment. This worried him as he did not have a job and money for his treatment; he therefore decided to take his own life. When the police were convinced of this they handed over the body to his relatives after post-mortem and recorded it as a suicide. I wondered again why people were afraid to face the harsh realities of life. He could have tried to get monetary help from compassionate men to help him.

Since the opening of the railway line for traffic through Kumbalam Island commissioned in 1988, a lot of youngsters have committed suicide by throwing themselves in front of moving trains. The local administration, with the help of a research faculty in CUSAT (University,) needs to conduct an enquiry into the reasons for such mishaps. You may also consult Dr. Philip John, Panampilly Nagar, a renowned psychologist in Cochin. Despair, depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism or drug abuse is the reasons attributed to such suicides. They have to look into whether they had any family, financial, health or professional stress or strain or other problems. I have noted in news reports that crop failure is a major reason for agriculturists to commit suicides. Necessary steps have to be taken to avert such mishaps in future.  Prevention is always better than cure. The relations of such persons may be advised to keep away poison, fire-arms and other materials which might tempt them to take away their own life. Probably these youngsters might not have had a close friend to comfort them. Perhaps, a fate they cannot escape.

Suicide and attempt to commit suicide are crimes under the Indian Penal Code. I have grave doubt whether it is a crime. Anyhow the western world has started changing their attitude and suicide is no more a crime. The society or the government shall not encourage people to commit suicide.  But nobody shall frown upon persons committing suicide; it is their personal choice or freedom. Serious deliberations are necessary on this matter.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

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