Parents
are the ones who introduce a new born adolescent to the world. They are the guiding
light in the dark astonishing journey of life. Parent’s love is patient and
forgiving when all other are forsaking, their love never fails or falters even
though the hearts are breaking. They are the roots of the grown, strong,
alluring and elegant young trees. They are the sunset that soothes and
slumberous, which energizes for the upcoming aurora of a new sunrise. They
devote their present, to shape their offspring’s future. They evade their
meagre joy to fulfil their child’s massive wishes. In spite of all their
dedications and sacrifices, do we really have the courage of showing the
setting sun a new sunshine?
THALAIKKOOTHTHAL
is a tradition that not just stops us from recognising their endure but even
abolishes all the frames of humanity. It is the traditional
practice of senicide (killing of the elderly) or involuntary euthanasia, by
their own family members, observed in some parts of southern districts of Tamil
Nadu state of India.Thalaikoothal is no random act of extermination, but a
well-oiled death ritual provoked by poverty and abetted by custom.
It’s said that invalid elders are given a final oil bath and forced to drink tender coconut juice, followed by tulsi juice and then milk (a customary pre-death drink), with the relatives standing around chanting, ‘kasi’, ‘kasi’. In some cases, even hard pieces of murukku (a savoury) are forced down a resistant individual’s throat, causing them to choke to death. In fact, mud mixed with water is also used, with hopes that the watery Hemlock would cause indigestion — brutally fatal to an already compromised body. And even as preparations for the Thalaikoothal are under way, families actually start arranging for the funeral anyway.
It’s said that invalid elders are given a final oil bath and forced to drink tender coconut juice, followed by tulsi juice and then milk (a customary pre-death drink), with the relatives standing around chanting, ‘kasi’, ‘kasi’. In some cases, even hard pieces of murukku (a savoury) are forced down a resistant individual’s throat, causing them to choke to death. In fact, mud mixed with water is also used, with hopes that the watery Hemlock would cause indigestion — brutally fatal to an already compromised body. And even as preparations for the Thalaikoothal are under way, families actually start arranging for the funeral anyway.
Unfortunately,
the victim’s ‘consent’ isn’t an issue as they are either terminally ill or
almost unconscious and the community takes the decision on their behalf.
Even
though the truth behind these deaths can be brought to the limelight by the
better investigation, they are almost always signed off by a certifying doctor
as death due to natural causes — old age in their cases.
Some say that though Thalaikoothal is practiced under the wraps in fear of being caught, it is more prevalent now than ever before, citing greater employment as one of the reasons. They say that in the earlier times, there would be someone at home to take care of the elders.
Some say that though Thalaikoothal is practiced under the wraps in fear of being caught, it is more prevalent now than ever before, citing greater employment as one of the reasons. They say that in the earlier times, there would be someone at home to take care of the elders.
It’s
important for us to understand that in this cycle of life we all have to reach
the same predefined sunset of old age, where all have to face the same gloaming
dark night. We need to understand that a tree cannot cherish its artistry
without the strong grounded roots. Parents are the roots, so now it’s time to
hold their hands strong and enter new phases of life and cherish all the
upcoming victories along with their grace and love!