Psychological perspective
The suicide of 34-year-old techie Atul Subhash in Bangalore has shocked and angered the nation. It is disturbing that someone would feel so tormented and hopeless, allegedly due to domestic violence by his ex-spouse. Without prematurely assigning blame, let us examine this tragedy through psychological, historical, legal, and philosophical perspectives to understand what happened and how such incidents can be prevented.
From a psychological perspective, what stands out about this suicide is the meticulous planning. Suicide is often a spontaneous act driven by overwhelming despair and defeat. However, in this case, Atul’s act involved considerable contemplation and preparation, as seen in his 24-page suicide note, an hour-long video, and detailed checklists. He seemed to view his suicide not merely as an escape but as a way to free his family from their suffering and to highlight what he saw as the failings of the legal system.
Atul ascribed a higher purpose to his action, seeing it as a sacrifice for a larger cause. This reflects not just hopelessness but a calculated intent to make his tragedy a form of protest. Philosophical traditions describe actions in terms of three modes: sattvic (goodness), rajasic (passion), and tamasic (ignorance). While suicide is often categorized as tamasic because of its destructive nature, Atul’s act was a mixture of modes, combining elements of calculated purpose and despair.
The philosophical context helps clarify the nature of such actions. Even seemingly noble activities like austerities can turn tamasic if they are destructive. Conversely, under certain conditions, actions like fasting to death might be seen as meaningful. Atul’s calm deliberation before the act suggests that his decision was not a rash reaction but a deliberate attempt to spotlight his perceived grievances with the system.
Historical perspective
From a historical perspective, modern narratives often portray history as a chronicle of patriarchy, where men systematically exploited women. Feminist movements are seen as addressing these historical wrongs. While there is truth in the need to redress past injustices, this view oversimplifies history.
In pre-modern times, survival required intense collaboration between men and women. Life was too harsh for systematic exploitation based on gender. Exploitation often occurred along power lines, with the privileged exploiting the underprivileged, irrespective of gender. For instance, male laborers in farming, mining, and factories often endured grueling conditions under the hands of powerful elites.
Both men and women lacked autonomy in rigidly structured societies. Arranged marriages left men with little say in choosing their partners, just as women were often confined to domestic roles. It was only after the Industrial Revolution that men began to gain significant autonomy, followed by similar freedoms for women in subsequent centuries.
Reducing history to a simplistic gender conflict ignores these complexities. The Bhagavad-Gita describes this as knowledge in the mode of ignorance, where one aspect is misrepresented as the whole. Such reductionism distorts the past and influences the present in harmful ways, particularly in the realm of legal frameworks.
Legal perspective
The legal dimension further highlights these issues. Historically, patriarchal norms often left women without recourse against domestic violence. Addressing these injustices is crucial, but it is equally important to avoid creating new imbalances. In some modern legal systems, this balance has tipped too far, neglecting the rights and struggles of male victims.
In India, for instance, domestic violence laws focus solely on violence against women, leaving male victims without legal remedies. While men are generally perceived as stronger, this does not mean they cannot suffer abuse. The Bhagavad-Gita’s 16th chapter emphasizes that divine and demonic qualities exist in everyone. Power, when concentrated, invites abuse regardless of gender.
The societal presumption that men are inherently tough further complicates their ability to report abuse. Men are often stigmatized for admitting victimhood, which compounds their struggles. As patriarchal norms loosen, statistics reveal alarming trends. In the U.S., nearly 44% of men report being victims of intimate partner violence. In Finland, male victims accounted for 31% of domestic violence cases from 2010 to 2022.
These figures underscore the need for balanced legal frameworks. Addressing female-to-male violence does not diminish protections for women; it broadens the scope of justice. Both male-to-female and female-to-male violence are significant issues that require acknowledgment and action. This is not a gendered battle but a human struggle against lower instincts.
Justice must transcend gender conflicts and ideological divides. Legal systems need not only robust laws but also a culture of fairness. Laws can be manipulated when enacted without consideration for balance. Exploitation of such laws by opportunistic individuals perpetuates unfairness and undermines justice.
Philosophical perspective
From a philosophical perspective, the Bhagavad-Gita emphasizes that true wisdom lies in cultivating virtues, not merely accumulating knowledge. Wisdom in law involves fostering an ethos of justice that transcends political and ideological divides. By focusing on cultivating the virtue of fairness for all, not just debating over the technicalities of specific laws and agonizing over which laws favour whom, society can address issues like domestic violence more comprehensively.
The Bhagavad-Gita’s virtue-based approach offers a holistic vision for life and law. Cultivating virtues in individuals and systems is essential to countering the tragedies stemming from domestic violence, whether the victims are male or female. This ethos can guide society toward genuine justice, fostering harmony and fairness.
Chaitanya Charan has been a monk for nearly three decades. He gives around 400 talks across 100 cities in four continents every year and has written some thirty books on science and spirituality, life lessons from Indian epics and social commentary.
