10.10.2019
We had this man in our neighbourhood in Sangameshwar where I spent my childhood. He was a total entertainment for children. He could be seen roaming around bare chested and only with his underwear on, soaking in the Konkan monsoons or shivering in the winters. Half of the Konkani men used to be half naked during the summers. So, this guy was no surprise in summers. I have seen him in full clothes only once or twice on an Ashadhi Ekadashi day when we had a very big event at the local Vitthal Temple. Otherwise he was half naked. He was continuously blabbering something gibberish all the time. Nobody would ever understand what he was talking or why he was talking or whom he was talking to. He also never hoped anyone to. He was talking to himself. He would go to any house, sit in the yard. Hosts would serve him with food or water. Sometimes he ate. Sometimes just would sit, stare, blabber and leave. Obviously, such a person must have been an embarrassment to his family. He belonged to a well to do family. But I have never seen his family cursing him. They would talk to him and care for him.
We would chase him and make fun of his walk. He had very peculiar walking style. He would clutch both his palms together, stretched to the top of his hips straight and walk with a slight slouch. He was always bare footed on those muddy roads. He was very thin and his hair was always cropped as a soldier. We used to walk like him beside him and talk. And then laugh. Sometimes, he would not even bothered. Sometimes, he would scold. All the town called him by his name. No child would refer to him as uncle as it was otherwise. He never was offended. He was beyond that. He was lunatic.
Some people would tell the stories that this man was not always like that. Something happened and then he turned that way. But this ‘something’ thing had no cure then. I remember one of my father’s students who was also lunatic in his own way. I heard he couldn’t bare the shock of his girlfriend leaving him. I remember that if you turn lunatic, all you could be treated was with an electric shock – a kind of capital treatment for mental illness. But then that was it.
Earlier people were either sane or insane. There was no grey area.
Later in my life, I came across such people who were insane, because they weren’t sane.
Change is inevitable. 1991 brought many new entrants into Indian lifestyles and money was one of the most visible of them. Urbanisation was another. Cities expanded and families divided. Men had to rush to bigger cities to earn the due of their education. Urban nuclear families needed more money and both in a couple started going out and earning. This was a good sign for economy. But then life became all about running and running short. Salaries came in in multi folds as compared to the earlier generation. Wants became necessities and jobs became targets. Urban lives were filled by insecurities, competition and jealousies. And I think this was the time when India started seeing more spiritual gurus and psychiatrists.
Gurus asked you to listen. But they were psychiatrists who offered you a much needed ear. This was the time insanity was started being considered as a mental state. A state that had cure other than shock treatments and mental hospitals.
Unfortunately I had to deal with this illness with someone really close to me. I could experience the amount of trauma these people go through. There were hundreds of reasons as causes for a deteriorated mental health.
Human mind works mysteriously. It can think in the weirdest possible ways. The person who faces these problem isn’t even aware what they are going through. They believe their imaginary world and fears in it. One needs good psychiatric help along with the trust of the people around. They need to be felt considered, included. Most of the times, our lifestyle makes us forget that we have someone who needs us.
Communication is the key.
Meet in person regularly if possible. Video call. Talk over the phone. Or at least chat with them. It’s ok even if it’s just a WhatsApp. Keeping in touch is really important.
Back in Sangameshwar, we had only one or two of such people who needed help. Unfortunately, they might not have gotten it then. But now this ailment is right among us.
It’s World Mental Health Day today. This proves that you are not alone. It’s worldwide. Believe me, mental illness is curable. I met some wonderful doctors and I have seen people getting normal and leading an even better life.
If someone gets scared for no valid reason or someone is not happy even when there’s nothing to be unhappy in your opinion or if someone’s silent all of a sudden, all they need is your help. Go talk to them. Listen what they have to say. If you can’t make them talk, take medical help. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be scared. It’s that person’s life which is more important than your image in the society. Nobody is lunatic these days. People are sane or people are sick. They may be psychologically unstable. Let them get calm. Help them being healed.
Amol Girish Bakshi
9822667577
We had this man in our neighbourhood in Sangameshwar where I spent my childhood. He was a total entertainment for children. He could be seen roaming around bare chested and only with his underwear on, soaking in the Konkan monsoons or shivering in the winters. Half of the Konkani men used to be half naked during the summers. So, this guy was no surprise in summers. I have seen him in full clothes only once or twice on an Ashadhi Ekadashi day when we had a very big event at the local Vitthal Temple. Otherwise he was half naked. He was continuously blabbering something gibberish all the time. Nobody would ever understand what he was talking or why he was talking or whom he was talking to. He also never hoped anyone to. He was talking to himself. He would go to any house, sit in the yard. Hosts would serve him with food or water. Sometimes he ate. Sometimes just would sit, stare, blabber and leave. Obviously, such a person must have been an embarrassment to his family. He belonged to a well to do family. But I have never seen his family cursing him. They would talk to him and care for him.
We would chase him and make fun of his walk. He had very peculiar walking style. He would clutch both his palms together, stretched to the top of his hips straight and walk with a slight slouch. He was always bare footed on those muddy roads. He was very thin and his hair was always cropped as a soldier. We used to walk like him beside him and talk. And then laugh. Sometimes, he would not even bothered. Sometimes, he would scold. All the town called him by his name. No child would refer to him as uncle as it was otherwise. He never was offended. He was beyond that. He was lunatic.
Some people would tell the stories that this man was not always like that. Something happened and then he turned that way. But this ‘something’ thing had no cure then. I remember one of my father’s students who was also lunatic in his own way. I heard he couldn’t bare the shock of his girlfriend leaving him. I remember that if you turn lunatic, all you could be treated was with an electric shock – a kind of capital treatment for mental illness. But then that was it.
Earlier people were either sane or insane. There was no grey area.
Later in my life, I came across such people who were insane, because they weren’t sane.
Change is inevitable. 1991 brought many new entrants into Indian lifestyles and money was one of the most visible of them. Urbanisation was another. Cities expanded and families divided. Men had to rush to bigger cities to earn the due of their education. Urban nuclear families needed more money and both in a couple started going out and earning. This was a good sign for economy. But then life became all about running and running short. Salaries came in in multi folds as compared to the earlier generation. Wants became necessities and jobs became targets. Urban lives were filled by insecurities, competition and jealousies. And I think this was the time when India started seeing more spiritual gurus and psychiatrists.
Gurus asked you to listen. But they were psychiatrists who offered you a much needed ear. This was the time insanity was started being considered as a mental state. A state that had cure other than shock treatments and mental hospitals.
Unfortunately I had to deal with this illness with someone really close to me. I could experience the amount of trauma these people go through. There were hundreds of reasons as causes for a deteriorated mental health.
Human mind works mysteriously. It can think in the weirdest possible ways. The person who faces these problem isn’t even aware what they are going through. They believe their imaginary world and fears in it. One needs good psychiatric help along with the trust of the people around. They need to be felt considered, included. Most of the times, our lifestyle makes us forget that we have someone who needs us.
Communication is the key.
Meet in person regularly if possible. Video call. Talk over the phone. Or at least chat with them. It’s ok even if it’s just a WhatsApp. Keeping in touch is really important.
Back in Sangameshwar, we had only one or two of such people who needed help. Unfortunately, they might not have gotten it then. But now this ailment is right among us.
It’s World Mental Health Day today. This proves that you are not alone. It’s worldwide. Believe me, mental illness is curable. I met some wonderful doctors and I have seen people getting normal and leading an even better life.
If someone gets scared for no valid reason or someone is not happy even when there’s nothing to be unhappy in your opinion or if someone’s silent all of a sudden, all they need is your help. Go talk to them. Listen what they have to say. If you can’t make them talk, take medical help. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be scared. It’s that person’s life which is more important than your image in the society. Nobody is lunatic these days. People are sane or people are sick. They may be psychologically unstable. Let them get calm. Help them being healed.
Amol Girish Bakshi
9822667577
