Reflections on the demise of Jiah Khan

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.