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While I do not
condone suicide for many reasons, I cannot but help understand what may have
led Jiah Khan to take such a drastic step so quickly. It is hard to get a taste of success and then just sit back. It seems that her professional life and
personal life did not seem to be going well. I can relate to that. However, what
she failed to realize or recognize is that there are a number of people who
cared deeply for her.
Despite being
talented, having done some good films, she didn't get the kind of work she
deserved. The nature of her work also did not provide her stability. Quite
often, actors like her completely devote themselves to a project. And when the
project gets over, it is over. The wait between two projects may be long. And
it might not end. That leads to a lot of despair. Usually, when one's
professional life is not working well, one can always feel successful in one's
personal life. However, when it is rocky in one's personal life too, it must
definitely get difficult. The problem really is that most often some women tend
to make the man in their life the center of their universe. And when situations
turn sour, they feel worse than lonely. There seem to be no ‘telos’ (purpose) for them. The parameter
of success is judged by them by their relationship with the man in their lives
and their standing in their professional realm. These women ignore the fact
that they also have a set of friends and family, which dote over them. They
seem to forget that life can have more meaning, in one's personal and
professional life. If only they realize that their personal life should not be
dependent on one individual and that there is not necessarily that one
profession for them, they would find life worth living. Currently, my life too
seems to be at a stagnant point, personally and professionally. I am a single
woman (not defined by the presence of a man in my life) who is currently not
associated with anything professionally despite having a hell lot of work
experience at some of the best places in my field. Jiah Khan went for
auditions. I go for interviews and I apply wherever I deem fit. She was told to
shed a few pounds. I am told to shed a lot of pounds regularly. I have every
reason to be depressed. I am not. I am quite alright with this stagnant phase
too. I learn to enjoy it. I plan my day, each day. I do the things I love. I love myself. I am proud of my credentials. I love my body. I love my mind. I love my smile. I am
optimistic that something will happen when the time is right. My optimism is
not blind. I do oscillate between an optimist and a skeptic. Even so, when the
skeptic devil takes over, I still feel glad. Though single and out of work, I
still get to do what I love. I plan each day. And I enjoy each day. And while I seldom resort to religious prayers, I
do pray that Jiah Khan's soul rest in peace. And I would like to be thankful to
a God, if there is one, or perhaps my own subconscious, to allow me to enjoy
each day of my life.
Never in my life
do I ever want to take the path taken by Jiah Khan and so many other deceased
personalities.
And there is good reason for that. Some are cited below:
1. Does our live
really belong to us? If birth is not a choice, death shouldn't be either.
2. There is no
guarantee that an after-life is not going to be just as bad if not worse. So,
there is a probable possibility that the act of suicide itself will defeat its
purpose.
3. It is selfish
to die and haunt one's loved ones and caregivers and care getters stranded with
a horrible and haunting memory of one's last moments.
4. Just about
anything can be a reason to kill oneself. And if one rationally analyses it,
each such reason can be found to be a non reason to kill oneself. It is
conceivable to live or not live due to some hypothetical reason. So, it is
really hard to be driven rationally to take such a step to end one's life.
5. As death is
an inevitable fact, everybody can be replaced. Everybody will be replaced. The
only way we can make our lives treasured is to let people register our presence
in their lives.
