Suicide is the intentional destruction of one´s own life. The most people who commit suicide do it with the hope for rescue, because in reality they don’t want die. This self-destroying act is rather a cry for help and a desperate attempt to change hopeless situtations. Only less of all suicides happen deliberate without chance for help. In general men use harder methods to kill themselves than women, e.g. very often men shoot or hang themselves and women use more likely an overdose of sleeping pills (Digel, Werner (Hg.), Kwiatkowski, Gerhart (Hg.) 1987: 96). This informations would stand for that men are more determined to die definite than women who more likely hope for rescue. Indeed the rate of suicide committed by men is in the most countries in general higher than that of women (www : WHO 2001 b).
The general causes of suicide and high- risk groups are mostly aged people, divorced, unemployed, social isolated, addict (especially alcoholics), psychically unbalanced and those who already attempted suicide in the past. Problems of women are often lovesickness, marital and family conflicts, problems of men are economic and social (especially professional) difficulties. The best prevention against suicides is the support of social relationships and organizations, which should be accessible for all people who need help (Digel, Werner (Hg.), Kwiatkowski, Gerhart (Hg.) 1987: 96).
In the following chapters I descibe different kind of suicide in India. After general informations about suicide, I explain suicide in the context of religion, politic and society. Therefore I make following categories: a) religious suicide, b) political suicide, and c) social suicide. The chapter about social suicide is more detailed. Social suicide is seen as a public health problem. Positive changes can be achieved through prevention and care programs which I deal with at the end of this essay. I will not make a detailed comparing between India and other countries. I make no specific separation or detailed comparing between different groups, like young-old, men-women, different castes, different social strata, etc.
My informations are hold very general.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The legal consideration of suicide
2. Statistics about suicide
3. Suicide, homicide or accident? The unrecorded and untrue recorded cases
4. Religous suicide
5. Political suicide
6. Social suicide
6. 1. Causes for social suicide
6. 2. Methods of suicide
6. 3. Suicide Prevention
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the multifaceted phenomenon of suicide in India, analyzing it within religious, political, and social frameworks. It explores the legal status of suicide, the sociocultural factors driving self-destructive acts, and the evolving role of prevention programs.
- The influence of religious texts and historical traditions on the perception of self-sacrifice.
- Political manifestations of suicide, including hunger strikes and the role of militant organizations.
- Social pressures and systemic factors, such as the dowry system and patriarchal structures, as drivers for despair.
- The efficacy of current suicide prevention initiatives and the role of mass media.
- The complex intersection of gender, status, and economic hardship in suicide statistics.
Excerpt from the Book
1. The legal consideration of suicide
Attempted suicide and suicide is illegal in the Indian penal code. The most families will not report about attempted suicides (Rao 1983: 212). It is a problem that families very often cover up suicides as accidents, because for fear of being punished by law. Therefore the estimated number of unknown cases must be very high. The consequences of families in which attempted suicide or suicide occurred stand beside legal penalies for social disadvantages:
“Survivors of suicide attempts and family members are looked upon with suspicion, and such a family ‘taint’ can damage marriage prospects. Society’s attitude toward the suicide and his family is compounded of fear, censure, shame and condescension, all of which may injure a family’s economic and social status” (Rao 1983: 212/213).
The prohibition of attempted and committed suicide by law is obviously no solution for the problem of suicide. Rather it intensifies the social pressure to the person who attempted suicide and to the family concerned, because for fear of being punished and to lose social status.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Defines suicide as the intentional destruction of one's own life and outlines the paper's focus on religious, political, and social contexts in India.
1. The legal consideration of suicide: Discusses the illegality of suicide in India and how legal repercussions lead families to hide suicides as accidents to avoid social stigma.
2. Statistics about suicide: Examines the challenges of data accuracy regarding suicide rates in India and the prevalence of suicide among different demographic groups.
3. Suicide, homicide or accident? The unrecorded and untrue recorded cases: Explores the difficulties in determining the real cause of death when incidents are obscured to protect family honor.
4. Religous suicide: Analyzes historical and religious attitudes toward self-sacrifice in India, including exceptions made for ascetics and ancient practices like Sati.
5. Political suicide: Details how organizations utilize self-destruction, such as hunger strikes or suicide attacks, as political weapons.
6. Social suicide: Investigates the primary drivers of desperation in everyday life, focusing on family tensions, dowry, and gender-based violence.
6. 1. Causes for social suicide: Breaks down the socioeconomic and psychological triggers, including lovesickness and marital conflicts.
6. 2. Methods of suicide: Looks at common, accessible means of suicide and the spontaneous nature of most cases.
6. 3. Suicide Prevention: Reviews existing support structures and the necessity of media responsibility and crisis management programs.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, distinguishing between religiously sanctioned acts, strategic political suicides, and socially driven acts of desperation.
Keywords
Suicide, India, religious suicide, political suicide, social suicide, Sati, dowry system, patriarchy, mental health, crisis intervention, LTTE, family pressure, social stigma, prevention, gender-based violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work provides a comprehensive ethnographic and sociological overview of suicide in India, categorizing the phenomenon into religious, political, and social dimensions.
What are the primary themes discussed in the paper?
The paper covers legal implications, historical religious traditions, the use of suicide in political conflict, and social pressures affecting women and men in modern India.
What is the main objective of the author?
The primary goal is to analyze how different sociocultural contexts influence the incidence and perception of suicide in India and to highlight the need for improved support systems.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author employs a qualitative research methodology, synthesizing existing literature, historical case studies, and modern social data to examine the topic.
What is the focus of the main body?
The main body examines three specific categories of suicide: religious, political, and social, while offering a detailed look at prevention programs and their limitations.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include suicide, Sati, dowry, patriarchal society, political violence, mental health, and social stigmatization.
How does the author interpret the role of Sati in a modern context?
The author highlights the tension between Sati as a historical, religiously justified practice and its modern transformation into a commercialized and controversial political spectacle.
Why is the "scapegoat syndrome" mentioned in relation to family dynamics?
It explains the internal power struggles within families where a victimized mother-in-law projects her own frustrations and pent-up feelings onto her daughter-in-law.
How does the author view the media's influence on suicide prevention?
The author suggests that while mass media can raise awareness, it also carries the danger of glamorizing suicide, necessitating the implementation of strict reporting guidelines.
- Quote paper
- Marion Zimmermann (Author), 2002, Suicide in India in a religious, political and social context, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80758
