A deeper Understanding of Indian Diaspora: The Axis Around which Suicide amongst 4th & 5th generation Indian Indenture descendents can be understood

A PUBLIC HEALTH VIEW!

How should we contemplate looking at the high suicide rates within the Hindustani Communities in Suriname!

http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/gezondheid-welzijn/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2006/2006-2042-wm.htm

The Journal of Dutch Medicine reports that: "The most striking suicide pattern is found among Surinamese people. Although suicide attempts among Surinamese women receive much attention, the suicide rate for Surinamese women does not differ a great deal from the suicide rate among native Dutch women. Suicide is relatively common among Surinamese men until they reach middle age." 

---Joop Garssen and Jan Hoogenboezem (1)

 - but these numbers reflect the a population of Surinamese men living in the Netherlands, Europe & then the differentiation amongst various ethnic groups of Surinamese men is not specifically pointed out! The questions arises then: What does ethnicity have to do with suicide. Which other variables play a big role?

Decoding Myths!

Is Race, Gender, Ethnicity, Culture and Historical descendants important at looking at suicide rates within a community in Suriname?

• marginalization process of the role and identity of men of Indentur edescent through 4 or 5 generations that took place while shifting from their own cultural identity to the western identity & social role

• generational patterns that's been handed down because of reaction to this stress of marginalization from - through male role models

• difference between Surinamese Hindustani men of Indian descent and Surinamese Black men from African descent is that the marginalization process goes in different paths due to racial disparities - eg. in Hindustani men, it's most self-destructive reaction and in Black men it is criminalization expressed outwardly

• fact that British Guyana was predisposed to British Policy at onset of history of the late 1900, at which the marginalization process was equally distributed among every racial group

• while in Suriname each racial and cultural group has had its own variety of social historical oppression through Dutch colonization

• Even though British Guyana has had mostly conversion to Christianity of the Hindustani Indenture labor, unlike those from Suriname - re-adopting back to religion of descent Hinduism and Islam happens much more with greater will power and confidence of adapting back to the identity of origin.  

• In Suriname, descendants from Hindustani Indenture Laborers were subdued to a different form of power structure that shoved the main Hindustani inherited cultural identity to the inferior social disposition of marginalization and identity confusion.

• That's why it is assumed that British Guyana Indian have slightly better resistance towards social stress compared to Surinamese Indians. (note: no obvious/empirical data collected on this study was obtained)

 Although race seems insignificant -in looking at suicide rates with a community- it is a relevant variable among several countries and societies; It plays a big role within the configuration events and social development of a multi-ethnical structured society - while it has had its rooting within historical & cultural context.

The main stressor for Hindustani Men in Suriname is:

Hindustani Indenture descendant coming from a native India culture with Eastern cultural values; The emphasis is placed more on the emotional aspect of deep rooted customs and beliefs. With the move to a foreign South-American Dutch Colony in the late 1900s, there was to some extend a disconnection from the cultural context of the land of origin namely India from that historical time frame.  This reflects on the practices of Hinduism and Islam in Suriname - the re-confirmations Religious codes happens while interacting through Pilgrimage at the land of origin, but adjusted to the social, cultural and political context of Suriname.

Comparison with the next door neighbor British Guyana:

the main differences of social historical discrepancy between Hindustani men in Suriname and British Guyana: 

Diaspora awareness! The right to be called Hindustani first and second of Dutch descent.

Me, my land, my culture, my politics ......me in the center......

not me hiding in the Banana tree........

In USA weapon violence vs. In Suriname weed killer! Where do men need to "GROW UP?"

Another myth that needs to debunked: Men have greater suicide rates because they "need to grow up." The whole debate of the brain function and stress response of the male gender in general lies in open.  It can be said most likely that suicide rates are higher in men, because women cope better with stress psychologically. 

The weapon of destruction varies from country to country.  In United States it's the second amendment, in Suriname it is the easy accessibility of weed killer toxins.

Debunking the BOLLYWOOD MYTH!!!!

It would be fun to a study of comparison Japanese people -who love & watch a lot of Bollywood Movies too- to Surinamese, British Guyana Hindustani people & Indian itself - all Eastern Cultures embedded with high suicide driven motives.  Even though Japanese have a high capacity to contemplate suicide to keep family honor, Bollywood movies are not suggestive to create suicidal intention within the Japanese  (note: no obvious/empirical data collected on this study was obtained).  So, even though Bollywood movies reflect the Hindustani Indian suicidal motives - it is still not conclusive to say that Bollywood movies create suicidal intentions within Hindustani communities of Suriname.  

http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/gezondheid-welzijn/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2006/2006-2042-wm.htm

Although the usage of weed killer is a one shot deal -either in small or in large amounts- it is not clear how intense the suicide motive was of the individual or whether it was committed in an altered state of mood.