Malavika G NairAIR 45 · CSE 2024 · 237 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Durkheim defines suicide as an act of omission or commission resulting in the death of an individual directly or indirectly through any positive or negative action knowingly. He develops the idea of Regulation and Social Integration as the twin suicidogenic currents in society.
Elevated Suicide Rates in India:
Body · points and prose
(1) Regulation: Excessive regulation by the society leads to fatalistic suicide. The cases of rising farmer suicides due to vacillating policies of MSP, farm laws etc.
(2) Excessive Integration leads to altruistic suicides by individuals e.g. Suicide Bombers in Jammu and Kashmir, Maoists etc. Traditional Actions of Sati, Jauhar and guards of king dying in funeral pyre, suicide among students in Kota, entrance exams etc.
(3) Lack of social Regulation and rise of 'Anomic' due to multiple factors. → Globalization and breakdown of norms e.g. Rising fuel prices, inflation. → Policies which create anomic and social upheaval e.g. Suicide rates during demonetization. → Protest ideologies and suicide as a means to counter them.
(4) Lack of Integration: Egoistic Suicides due to alienation, normlessness, power-lessness [Seeman] etc. Rejection of social values by individuals in India → Farmer suicides due to feelings of despair, powerlessness. Rising suicide rates among educated youth due to unemployment etc.
Close · a summary
Durkhemian framework shows how integration and regulation leads to bigger societal issues of rising suicide. The constant rate of suicide and declined rates during times of crisis e.g. Kargil war is also observed in Indian society.