Hope makes us suffer more, opines Enakshi, in the backdrop of the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, in the recent past. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Hope is contagious. Once it infects a person, it spreads like wildfire. Often in the times of distress, hope might seem the only way out. But when you are fighting a losing battle, hope, if it is able to invade your mind, makes you suffer more. Consequently, the suffering becomes so enhanced that the mind and the heart are not able to bear it anymore. They give up. Then even hope isn’t enough to salvage what’s left.

We have seen so many young artists committing suicides and giving up on hope lately. It pains my heart to even list their names. But one thought that I cannot eliminate from my mind is that all these young people were victims of hope. Whether it was the hope of getting more likes or followers or the hope of getting good projects or the hope of not being made to feel like a fish out of water –– the hope kept them running.

We have seen so many young artists committing suicides and giving up on hope lately. It pains my heart to even list their names. But one thought that I cannot eliminate from my mind is that all these young people were victims of hope. Whether it was the hope of getting more likes or followers or the hope of getting good projects or the hope of not being made to feel like a fish out of water — the hope kept them running. But when the odds didn’t seem to favour them at all, these people became victims of hope and ended their life.

After Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, many people speculated foul play in his death. I do not know the facts and that’s why I would refrain from giving my opinion here. But what we all should think about is the hope that this young actor had in his heart — the hope that had kept him going so far. It is easier to be an armchair critic and ask random strangers to call you up (even if it is midnight) and discuss if that stranger has any problem. It is even sillier to believe that this could help. Why would I discuss my personal problems with a stranger in the first place? How can I expect a complete stranger to understand my plight? Even if this was to work out, wouldn’t the stranger also give me hope- hope to dream of better things? Am I not back to square one then?

After Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, many people speculated foul play in his death. I do not know the facts and that’s why I would refrain from giving my opinion here. But what we all should think about is the hope that this young actor had in his heart –– the hope that had kept him going so far.

The recent flood that has engulfed social media is scary. It seems like empathy and sympathy are being sold for free. It seems like people are reaching out to the victims in the garb of helping angels. It is petrifying, for the traps are more and the saviours are minimal.

The purpose of life is not only to be happy but to be honourable, compassionate and useful. We need to find/ identify our purpose in life and live with the satisfaction of fulfilling that purpose. Sadly, people take the concept of mental illness lightly. They are under the assumption that just by asking people to open up before a stranger, they will be able to solve the problem. Suicides cannot be prevented unless we come together as one large community that strives to live together in harmony. As long as there are leeches and parasites amongst us, some of us will succumb to the failures, some of us will succumb to the indifferences and the remaining will never be able to achieve the peace of mind.

Giving false hope to a person, who has already treaded that forsaken path is of no use. It is like lighting a lamp that has run out of the oil. It is like racing in a car that is out of petrol.

Giving false hope to a person, who has already treaded that forsaken path is of no use. It is like lighting a lamp that has run out of the oil. It is like racing in a car that is out of petrol. External help will last for a short while. And then exhaustion will overtake the will to go on.

No one is responsible for our happiness because happiness is just a state of mind. Pointing finger at someone seldom solves a problem. Hence, it is important to allow yourself that space and create an atmosphere that doesn’t house stressors. At the same time, it is also important to be good and kind to others. Everybody is battling with something or the other. Living in a cove that is built on trust, equality and hard work is all that is needed to overcome the pressure. Only then having hope will be fruitful.

Photo from the Internet