PUNE: Marathi film producer, Atul Tapkir who directed Marathi film Dhol Tashe took to Facebook to voice domestic troubles before consuming poison at a hotel in Pune on Sunday. Police said problems with his family had led him to take the extreme step.
Following a dispute, Tapkir's wife had cast him out of their family home about six months ago. Atul Tapkir had booked into the hotel two days ago and police, alerted by staff, broke open the door on Sunday morning to find him dead.
Dhol Tashe which was produced two years ago had won several awards and was appreciated primarily for its political plot, but failed miserably in the box office. In addition to this, he allegedly also had a troubled family life which he narrated in his parting note on Facebook.
In the past few months, Facebook has become a voice for those opting to end their lives, choosing to let the world witness their last few moments.
Last week, a female lawyer in Mumbai tried to record herself committing suicide but her attempts were foiled.
However, a 23-year old student from Mumbai had live-streamed a Facebook tutorial on how to commit suicide, before jumping to his death from the Taj hotel.
These recent incidents have raised a much larger question; the absence of mental health awareness, and the little importance given to the issue in India. "People who have lost connect take to social media in search of support. Or in cases like today's they just want to convey their sorrows and sufferings to the world," said noted psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty while speaking to the New Indian Express.