The Fire-Bath

I don't know what it is with people here in Tamil Nadu,  we like to take fire-bath.

Yet another man immolated himself, unable to bear the suffering of Tamils in Eeelam/ Sri Lanka.

Considering that not even one man has done that in Sri Lanka, this latest addition to people doing this, I think he is number six or seven, is a bit overwhelming.

What kind of pain makes you do that?

And also, what makes this special to Tamilians- I don't think anyone elsewhere in the world does this as often as we do.

If you read a Tamil newspaper, you are certain to come across one or two news items that say a woman set herself on fire, or that a stove burst, killing the wife, and husband and the two year old child.

These are no accidents, there is nothing psychologically unique about the people of Tamil Nadu (Yesterday, I heard a nari korava- Romany like people- say this, "We all will vote for DMK only. If even one of us vote for any other party, I say this now, and I will say this later- I will immolate myself". Just like that.)

Only, the word that the nari korava youth used was not immolate- he said, thee kulippaen, which means I will bath in fire.

I think this is the issue: the romantic label that describes self-immolation: they are all described as having taken fire bath.

For a potential suicide, just mulling over this, "should I take a fire-bath... how would it feel to take a fire-bath...", would be irresistible.

Any responses?