CHENNAI: Did you know that there are websites and YouTube videos that give you step-by-step instructions on suicide? Varied instructions on how to die slow or how to die without suffering? Story of a Suicide, an online novel written by Sriram Ayer, founder of NGO Nalanda Way, has a trailer video that crossed over 3 lakh views in a week.
“The idea was to tap into the way young people look at depression. For many, the circle of information is on social media. Whatever I see and share through Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter is news to them. They don’t know anything else beyond their newsfeed. So, I’ve used that to my advantage to reach out to them. I want to keep everything provocative. Nudity and expressions of sexuality are included in the story but I can assure you it is not a depressing one,” opens up Sriram as we discuss the need for raw truth to be told.
“Many students commit suicide everyday for need of attention or the most common reason – relationship complications. One of my characters Mani, who attempts suicide, is inspired by a real life incident of a college student in Dharmapuri. Another incident I’ve experienced was at mid-night when my friend from Pakistan called me and said she wanted to commit suicide. I was shocked. I quickly spoke to a counsellor who asked me to make her get out of her home into a public space where she will be afraid and not commit suicide,” he says.
Many don’t understand how to handle a situation when their friend goes through depression or a panic attack. “To address this, on the webpage of my novel there is a space called ‘How Do I?’ Depending on the content of the chapter, there is a series of questions like how do I deal with thoughts of suicide, how do I help victims of rape or how do I recognise my sexual orientation. We have looked at a lot of research papers and data,” says Sriram about the list of 70 questions, which prescribes a set of dos and don’ts. Apart from suicide and relationships, the story also deals with the subject of homophobia. Sriram admits to City Express that he was homophobic. “Six years back, I was one of those who found it unnatural. My prejudice came from ignorance. It was only after conversations with the gay community and moving along with my friend’s gay friends in US, did I understand about alternate sexuality! When I was just 23, I saw an old gay couple kissing while standing in a queue at a coffee shop in California. I was shocked then, but now I understand their love,” he smiles.
Story of a Suicide is a raw realistic form of modern Indian literature that can either empower or least make you question society and understand different perspectives. Sriram hints that a film will go on floors soon based on this story.
Read his story at www.storyofasuicide.com