An Inevitable Evil

Mr. Das was ranked as one of the most senior IAS officers. He had a big house in “Madhuban”, a posh colony in Delhi. But he committed suicide on the August 3, 1985, by putting a noose around his neck.

His wife, Hena Das, entered his room around one o’clock in the afternoon and found his body hanging from a ceiling fan. He was 54 when he died. He had recently been appointed the Chairman of the Delhi Tourism Development Corporation and was receiving the highest scale of salary.

In spite of all this, why did he commit suicide? On this issue Hindustan Times and The Times of India, both dated August 4, had this to say:

“A businessman friend of Mr. Das said that the deceased bureaucrat was dissatisfied with many of the postings he was given. He said that Mr. Das often used to say that he was always given insignificant and ordinary positions. He was also depressed because he felt that he was not being given his due in the administration.”

Whether a person belongs to a majority group or a minority group, is an ordinary employee or a senior officer, in every situation, he will often experience what he considers unjust treatment. In this world, one can seldom escape the thought that one has not been assigned the position one deserves. In this situation, one should simply accept the situation. Because refusing to do so can lead a person towards total frustration or ultimate suicide.