Farmers committing suicide ~ remembering MGR today

With two more farmers taking their lives, the number of farm suicides has gone up to 10 in the delta districts due to wilting crops this year.  The other day, there was the news of the husband of a famous singer jumping to death in the coovum river……. very sad to hear such stories.  Suicide is no end solution ~ it is cowardice, one tends to say…. But sometimes, the perpetrator is pushed to the end, and gives up one’s life, extremely frustrated and not knowing what to do ~ while few do it in a fit of rage, unable to rein in tempers. Whatever be the reason, there can never be a justification for putting an end to human life by self. May be the committer goes scot free but his family lives in penury thereafter ~ undergoing more harrows than even before.

Suicide (Latin suicidium, from sui caedere, "to kill oneself") is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair, the cause of which can be attributed to a mental disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder,schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse. Stress factors such as financial difficulties or troubles with interpersonal relationships often play a significant role.

India’s backbone is villages and it is sad to hear of the plight of the agrarian. More sad that they are happening in our own Tamilnadu in the rice belts where once rice was grown thrice a year.  The latest suicides were reported from Kadambakudi near Kudavasal in Tiruvarur district and Karakathikottai near Manamelkudi in Pudukottai district. While Sakthivel consumed poison on Friday night and died in a hospital in Kumbakonam, Rengasamy (54) from Karakathikottai was missing since Friday morning. His family members searched for him throughout the day. His body was found near a canal in the village on Saturday. Kottaipattinam police retrieved the body and sent it to the government hospital at Aranthangi for autopsy. Police said initial investigations revealed that he had planted paddy on three acres. Due to lack of water, the crop began to wither. Dejected, he killed himself by consuming pesticide. A case was registered by the police.

While Pudukottai has recorded its first suicide, this is the third case in Tiruvarur district. Three farmers committed suicide in Nagapattinam district, which is the tail end of the delta area.  There is more concern as those connected to farming apprehend that the number would go up further as the crisis worsens.

People sometimes are too sentimental and react violently… do you know or remember that way back in 1987, many committed suicide on hearing the death of MGR.  It is nothing strange that even today [24^th Dec being the day of MGR’s remembrance] one can see posters of his death in 1987 and in many places, people especially rickshaw wallahs keep a photo of MGR and offer floral tributes playing loudly his film songs.  Chief Minister and AIADMK functionaries visiting MGR Samadhi and remembering him is but natural – but the commoners still love him, in indeed a special news…

Here is what was observed on the roads this morning at some places – MGR picture with flowers – loudspeakers blaring his hits….. and here is something on the efforts that were made to take him to US for treatment posted on my blog earlier… http://www.sampspeak.in/2012/12/flying-out-mgr-safe-and-something-on.html

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

24^th Dec 2012.