Suicide - The Greatest Tragedy

Anuvrat Samiti, Delhi

ANUVRAT CURE:

The greatest tragedy of this era is that in search of success, todays youth is embracing death by committing suicide. Statistical data says that India tops the list of maximum suicides between the age group 15 to 29. As the results of class X & XII board exams are out, students succumbing to the pressure starts resulting in suicides. According to National Crime Record Bureau between year 2012-2014 the number of students ending their lives was 22, 319. That means 7480 students ended their life in a year i. e 20 every single day. These innocent kids try out different ways to succumb to pressure-from hanging oneself to the ceiling to taking sleeping pills or poison, they find out hundreds of ways from internet to finish their life. Suicide can rightly be called as the epidemic of Death by oneself.

Suicides are taking the form of an infectious disease where not only the innocent youth but even the highly educated trained professional is embracing his own death. Whether its IAS or military, media or celebrities everywhere the suicidal tendency is on the rise. The latest to succumb to pressure situations is TV personality Pratyusha Banerjee aka Anandi of "Balika Vadhu" fame. Even the Society is shocked by these untimely deaths and the ones who are alive suffer the most -parents, family, and friends. It’s not just a family or social loss but it’s a national loss. The reasons that may compel a person to take such an extreme step may be many:

*Low self esteem

*Negative outlook

*Comparison between siblings, peer group

*Comparative behaviour of society

*Lack of value education

*Career pressure

*Cut throat competition

*Coaching Institutes selling deceptive dreams

*Physical, Mental, Emotional weaknesses

The question now arises that how can we troubleshoot these, what is the cure for this fast spreading epidemic.

 Lets to go to way back in 1947 when India had just gained independence from British rule after a long, struggle for freedom. Independent India saw the rising of a Great Social Reformist: Acharya Shri Tulsi. Acharya Tulsi knew that the joy of freedom could lead to an unrestrained and undisciplined society and thus when the leaders of this nation were busy mapping the country's future infrastructure while largely ignoring the brewing crisis of immorality, Acharya Tulsi proclaimed an Invention to fight the social illnesses that had begun to invade the society "ANUVRAT" -a strong antibiotic with the aim of re-establishing moral values, starting with individuals and thereby the society and nation at large. A capsule not to be gulped with water but to instill in oneself through 'small resolutions'. The Anuvrat movement seeks to inspire small, achievable steps to build values, purify life and develop and strengthen will power. It seeks to transform attitude towards crime and corruption using the power of individual self-realization.

 The first of the prescribed 11 capsules of "Anuvrat Code Of Conduct" is

* I will not commit suicide
  I will not commit foeticide

To eradiate the disease of suicide this capsule in the form of a resolution should be made mandatory to be given from primary classes to all students, parents, etc. But only this may not be enough. We need to prescribe some more steps:

The goal has been set but now these children need to create ways to achieve it - live a sober lifestyle with regular practice of yoga and meditation, say NO to addiction and YES to Vegetarianism. With such a strong willpower one shall only embrace life over death.

Parents are the biggest guiding force behind a child. They need to acknowledge that life is precious. Avoid Comparison as every child is unique. A positive outlook and belief in your child will raise his confidence and self-esteem.

Friends have a pivotal role in ones life. Instead of pushing one to addiction in times of depression, a friend needs to show the right path - positive attitude towards life even in adverse circumstances.

Its time the society changes its perception. A person is always judged on success ratio, financial status, etc. This is a social illness which can be eradicated by following the aphorism of Anuvrat:Sanyamay khalu jeevanam "Restrain your life". All the different organisation of Anuvrat need to come forward and spread the Anuvrat philosophy in all sectors of society and then only we can eradicate this disease called suicide.

Dr. Kusum Lunia.