Gimme Some Sunshine...!

‘3 idiots’ – the biggest blockbuster of Indian Cinema; is in true sense a motivator. There are lots of good things about it, which one might have never tried to convey through films, Bravo! Amir Khan – the perfectionist, the real hero of India. I can bet, you might have gone through similar incidents in your college life too, except that last ‘too dramatic situation’ of a woman delivering a baby on a pool table.

The film portrays an engineering student who failed to complete his project work hanging himself to death from his hostel room. “I QUIT” the camera zooms in to make it much clear from faded; I consider it as the touchiest scene of the film.

It not only was presented nicely, but it also indicated the most dangerously alarming situation of India.

I remember few days back on 20th May 2010; the tragedy I have seen in my family, when my cousin Avdhesh got his results of 12th science. It was few marks short to make him eligible to get an admission through medical science.

He had studied science, and ever since he had been a child, he had wanted to become a Neurologist. I wondered how he knew the meaning of a neurologist at the tender age of 9. But he knew. That day I have seen a strange smile on his face fighting with lots of emotions. He was mustering all his courage to face his father, who was on the way back to home from office. He was feeling guilty as he never expected in his wildest dream that this could happen to him.

He gathered all his courage together to tell his father that he couldn’t become a doctor then. He could see in his father’s gazing eyes a dream which is shattered in million pieces. That was still alive, despite him having had to accept it.

I don’t blame education system, but I blame the desire, the wish and the dream that parents impose upon their children. And the victims – the children hardly know how difficult it is to see your dreams scattering with that one deciding academic moment. Avdhesh would have not known this, had he passed it with those glittering stars. This is deep. Because ever since I knew him, my eyes had always seen him in that medical apron and my tongue had addressed him ‘Dr. Saa’b’. This was life altering. This can lead to anywhere. Thank god, we are safe.

Thousands of students committed suicides in last few years; the numbers are growing like anything. Exams and exam related stress, parental problems and dignity issues have been the reasons for this rampant increase in adolescents and young adults committing suicides. Fierce expectations from parents, teachers, friends and family has led enormous amount of pressure on young minds.
This is an age group that one would normally associate with potential, energy, passion, promise and commitment, where a spate of suicides is creating its way.

Someone writes
“I will come back and revenge.”

While the other writes
“I quit.” As if he was imitating 3 idiots.

“I can’t face my parents and friends after failing this exam” is what one mentioned in his suicidal note.

As an audience this may be an incident for us. But think of the parents who lost their child. Some would call it ‘a psychological problem faced by the weaker-minded young’, but think about that weaker mind who survived that struggle for a long and drove his tortured soul to take the final plunge.
It would be easy to blame the education system, but who would heal those thousands devastated families and several thousand more friends and relatives who will carry those scars and that grief for a lifetime.

Better we wake up today…! And work for a happier tomorrow. Don’t expect but expel them to shine in their dream career. Dismiss demands, and arise the hope of living to the fullest. Avoid unachievable, and practice the practical. Be the companion, not the parents. Guide to be strong, not to be successful. Teach the meaning not the means of life. Discover professionalism not the professionals. Grow to give not to achieve. And last but not the least – Give them some sunshine….!