If you have visited hilly places, you must have come across different suicide points. These are named so because of their altitude and the scenic beauty that you manage to grasp from these points. My trips to Nainital, Ooty and Sikkim have introduced me to three different types of suicide points; each a class in itself. Among these, I enjoyed most in the Nainital suicide point. The scenic beauty that you manage to view from here is enigmatic and unparalleled. In my interaction with the guide who had guided me to the destination, I had asked him whether people do really commit suicide from the place. The fact remains, one needs lots of courage to jump from such an altitude. After some research and studies I reached to the conclusion that suicide points are named so, because of their exclusive features and has nothing to do with suicides.
Let me introduce you to another suicide point, which is very much in our own city, Kolkata. Surprised, Kolkata has no mountains or hills, then where the suicide point comes from. Yes there is a one lying at the heart of the city and in its real term, i.e., people do really commit suicide here. Yes, I am talking about the Metro Rail and each station is a suicide point. Definitely, the rate of suicides have gone down these days, but few years back suicides in the Metro were very common and still taking place.
In 2003, I boarded a metro, which was bound to Rabindrasandan. It was so crowded that I boarded down in Girish Park and was waiting for the next train to come. A boy, of my age then, was standing beside me; he was wearing a white shirt. All the passengers were looking towards the end from where the train was supposed to come. The train’s light reflected on the track, which indicated that the train was gradually entering towards the platform. As the train entered, this boy who was standing beside me jumped onto the track and within seconds his body was dilapidated under the iron wheels. I was horrified with the whole scene; couldn’t believe my eyes for sometime. The metro service was then disrupted for an hour or two. I had postponed my work for that day and returned home.
The Metro suicide is still going on in Kolkata, through this write up, I would like to request everyone, not to take such daring step ever, no matter how much frustrated you are. Our lives are gift of God, so let it decay naturally. It’s a known fact, that people commit suicide after a certain point of frustration. But there are several other ways through which our frustration level can be brought down, killing oneself is not the remedy according to me.
