The recent case of a Bengaluru techie’s methodically documented final moments raises profound questions about the human psyche under extreme distress. A 24-page suicide note and a 90-minute video testimony that went viral on social media have shaken the nation to the core. Atul’s video and actions show a pattern often observed in cases where individuals face prolonged systemic pressure.
Here’s what such detailed documentation tells us about an individual’s state of mind as shared by Dr Chandni Tugnait, Life Alchemist, Coach & Healer, Founder & Director, Gateway of Healing.
1. Need for justice and truth: The meticulous documentation indicates a powerful desire for justice that supersedes personal survival. When someone takes the time to record their experiences in detail during their final hours, it shows a deep-rooted need to ensure their story remains uncorrupted and properly understood. This level of thoroughness reflects a lifelong commitment to truth and accountability.
2. Paradoxical calmness: The ability to maintain composure while creating extensive documentation might seem contradictory. This calmness typically appears after someone has moved beyond initial turmoil to a state of resignation. Such composure often develops after extended periods of stress, especially in situations involving prolonged legal battles and family conflicts.
3. Protection of loved ones: Detailed documentation often serves as a final act of protection for family members. By providing clear context and evidence, the individual attempts to shield their loved ones from future complications or misunderstandings. This behavior shows a maintained sense of responsibility even in moments of extreme personal crisis.
4. Control mechanism: The act of organizing and documenting thoughts and experiences serves as a way to maintain control. When individuals feel helpless, this methodical approach becomes their final assertion of agency. It represents an attempt to bring order to chaos, even when all other options seem exhausted.
5. Focused distress: The apparent calmness in such documentation shouldn’t be mistaken for emotional detachment. Instead, it represents a transformed state of distress where constant pain evolves into intense focus. This state emerges after lengthy periods of stress, indicating extensive processing of their situation.
6. Systematic breakdown: These cases reveal how prolonged systemic pressure can methodically break down even the most composed individuals. The detailed documentation shows how legal and social systems can create sustained stress that leads to carefully planned exits rather than impulsive actions.
7. Final statement of purpose: The presence of detailed documentation often represents more than acceptanceโit’s a final attempt to create meaning from suffering and a last cry for justice. This comprehensive record-keeping shows a desire to ensure their experience serves a greater purpose, even if they won’t be present to see it.
8. Evidence of long-term stress: The thoroughness of documentation often indicates someone who has endured prolonged periods of stress and has had time to process their thoughts and experiences. This isn’t a decision made in haste but rather the culmination of extended suffering.
The presence of such detailed final documentation should serve as a powerful reminder of the need for more humane and efficient resolution systems in legal and social conflicts. The calm, methodical nature of such documentation isn’t truly serenityโit’s often the final manifestation of deep despair, where clarity and hopelessness converge in a tragic intersection.
(Discussions on suicides can be triggering for some. But suicides are preventable. If you are looking for help, some suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-40769002 from Sanjivini (Delhi-based, 10 am – 5.30 pm) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based, 8 am – 10 pm), +91 9999666555 from Vandrevala Foundation (Mumbai-based, 24×7).
