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Self-immolation cases on the rise in Coimbatore

Our correspondent in Coimbatore

Suicides are on the rise in Coimbatore district. Self-immolation seems to be a favourite, as against death by poisoning or hanging.

The police said that 57 persons were involved in self-immolation in three months. Of them, 43 are females.

For every self-immolation that succeeds, there are three that fail, involving the victim and family in court cases and leaving scars that are difficult to wipe out- physically, emotionally and financially.

"These are cases that do not come to our notice," said a police official. "Self-immolation is more conspicuous than other forms of suicide and suicide bids," he added. "More often than not, a self-immolation victim is taken to hospital, when the police come to know about it."

The reasons for suicide attempts are varied: family quarrels over a 'love triangle', inadequate expense money, health problems, love failures, problems with creditors and debtors, unemployment...

There are as many married women in self-immolation cases after being 'discovered' with paramours, as there are men caught in extra-marital affairs.

Sociologists attribute the rising suicide rate in Coimbatore to its socio-geographical proximity to Kerala, which has the highest rates for any state in the country.

They also refer to economic recession of the past years, which has affected people in the upper crust and lower strata of society, pushed out of jobs.

Coimbatore being an industrial town, jobs are hard to come by for those retrenched or those who have lost jobs otherwise. On the one hand is the textile industry, which has been going through a recession for over a decade.

It is also known as the ancillary city of South India, where waterpumps and motors, kitchen-mixers, and every other ancillary part for major industries are manufactured and sent across the country.

"Many families have been hit by loss of jobs. Not many have the resources, wherewithal or even willpower to fight back. They just succumb," said a psychologist.

He added, "Unlike other forms of suicides, in self-immolation, you make a statement, for the world to notice. Given changing moods of society, where even illiterate villagers take to the streets to protest against poor sanitation and inadequate water supply, individuals are seeking to make out a case for themselves."

He referred to recent cases of self-immolation attempts by college students in other parts of the state, unable to tolerate ragging by seniors. "They are obviously making a 'political statement' for society and the authorities to take note of their plight and that of others in their position. By crying for attention, they are also seeking positive action."

"This is the land of Kannagi, remembered for burning the Pandyan capital of Madurai, to avenge injustice to her by the wrongful execution of her husband, Kovalan, on the king's orders. This is also the land where Sita landed from Sri Lanka, at Rameswaram, after the agni pravesh. Maybe, that's the sociological, emotional cause for Tamils resorting to self-immolation to make a political statement, be it on the death of Annadurai or M G Ramachandran, or to protest against the imposition of Hindi."

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