A supporter of Donlad Trump set himself on fire across the courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial.
Actually, the practice of self-immolation was started in India many centuries ago thru sati. This was a practice in which a widow sacrifices herself by sitting atop her deceased husband's funeral pyre. This practice was stopped by Lord William Bentinck in 1829. He was the first Governor General of British-ruled India.
In modern history, the first self-immolation was conducted by Thich Quang Duc during the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese monk set himself on fire in Saigon in 1963 in protest of the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government. A few others in USA self-immolated as a means protest during the Vietnam War.
Many Tibetans set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese rule in Tibet.
Self-immolation was not just to protest war. During the 1960s several people in Tamil Nadu self-immolated in protest of the implementation of Hindi as a national language.
Some psychologists call self-immolation is a form of suicide and due to mental illness.
Do these people achieve their goal by doing self-immolation. I know, at least in one instant, they did not. And here are the details.
Vaiko was an upcoming leader in the DMK party. Karunanidhi thought Vaiko may become a competition for his son Stalin. So Vaiko was thrown out of the DMK party. He formed his own new party called MDMK. Many people who followed Vaiko came out of DMK and joined Vaiko’s new party. 5 followers of Vaiko who could not bear him being thrown out of DMK self-immolated and died.
Vaiko kept the photos of these 5 guys in the living room of his home. But what is happening today! The same Vaiko begged Stalin for a single seat for his son during the recent Lok Sabha election. Those 5 guys would be spinning in their graves.
I know a couple if cases where people self-immolate themselves briefly and then are 'saved'!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh. But the fire burns are very painful and difficult to treat.
DeleteAs per Indian history, Raja Ram Mohan Ray abolished Sati system. The political self immolations' beneficiaries are only the parties and their leaders. Most of the party cadres and the right hands of Vaico have left him and joined DMK and ADMK. Poor guy is all alone now. That's why he has fallen at the feet of Stalin
ReplyDeleteBentick being the Governor at that time helped Raja Ram-Mohan Roy to stop this practice of sati system, child marriage, etc.throughout British India
DeleteThanks for your comments Gowri. You are correct. Only the political parties and their leaders are benefitted by such act.
DeleteVaiko's son Durai vaiko got the election symbol (Match box) (Fire) - Refused to accept to contest with the DMK symbol. Embarassment, stock market loss, etc
ReplyDeletePeople set fire to the self for various reasons (example High Debt with interest, love failure,
Thanks for your comments seema.
DeleteThat's not a good way to protest.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Pradeep. You are correct.
DeleteSelf-immolation although attracts attention to an issue, it's uncertain what long-term achievements on policy change or societal transformation it could bring. Such a waste to LIFE!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Swarna. And, welcome to my blog. I agree with you 100%.
DeleteSwarna, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.
Self-immolation is nothing but a suicide and more often than not a sort of arm twisting protest. Sadly an irretrievable step.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP.
DeleteThat is sad.
ReplyDeleteThere should be dialogue and discussion.
Watched one of the recent Hindi movie- Dunki. There, a character goes for self-immolation :(
Thanks for your comments Anita.
DeleteNicely expressed... In recent times self immolation is done jus to attract some attention...in order to bring change one has to live the journey to see the change. Social media has brought good platform to put forward your point along with discussion, debates...nothing comes easily.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Vrinda.
Delete