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This is the essence of what Anton Chekov said, about a hundred years ago. People continue to live in the same deteriorated, corrupt and decomposed ways. Their minds always peer through the dark chambers of this world, in an attempt to retrieve the lives they have lost, to make a living. Values like love, peace, truth, friendship, justice, good relationship are pushed to the back seat while larceny, cold-blooded murder, incest, fornication, take charge of the steering wheel. Newspapers paint the cruelly distorted face of humanity. Everyone is busy in losing what they search for. All are busy, seeking the light with their eyes blindfolded. The momentum of the search has reached its crescendo and it would appear that it is not possible to stop this drift. Is it possible for this society to live its life peacefully and purposefully? 'No. It is not possible for a society that sells itself, sells its values to appease its baser instincts to lead its life in its fullest sense,' affirms Dr. Rudran, noted psychiatrist - or shall we call him a specialist in mental health? He is a multifaceted personality. He is an artist. He is interested in literature. He has written a number of books on mental health. From a conversation with him… ChennaiOnline (COL): Some believe that the mentally deranged are insane. Is this correct? Dr. Rudran (Dr.): Generally speaking there is no difference between insanity and derangement. But it is not decent to call them insane. The correct way to describe such people - intellectually, scientifically and linguistically - as persons with affected mental health, the mentally diseased. COL: Whom do you consider more prone to be mentally affected? Male or female? Dr.R: Both are equally susceptible. COL: Is the mental disease a result of internal conflicts or are the external conditions responsible for it? Dr.R: Both. Changes in the body's internal chemical balance cause chronic cases. Generally, there would be no reason for this condition. A person would have all kinds of luxuries and a happy home. He would still be affected and depressed. This occurs due to the change in chemistry. Acute cases are a result of external pressures and problems. The mind refuses to acknowledge the external conditions and withdraws itself into a cocoon. It is a kind of self-defence. May be there is a problem in the family. May be a quarrel with a friend. It is natural to be depressed in such circumstances. They normally do not require medical attention. They return to their own selves in a matter of time. But sleeplessness it is a common condition in both cases. Insomnia. There won't be peace of mind. Inattentiveness, lack of concentration would prevail. Medical assistance can alleviate these conditions. COL: Whom does the word psycho refer to? Dr.R: The word was coined by Ananda Vikatan and Co. (Smiles) It was used by Alfred Hitchcock, originally. COL: There is a kind of criminals referred to as psycho, by the press. These criminals excel the intelligence of the police. How is it possible for a person with a mentally affected condition, to remain intelligent? Dr.R: When someone is mentally affected or diseased, his intelligence remains unaffected. When intelligence is affected, it is mental retardation. Mentally retarded and mentally affected are different kinds of people. When someone is mentally affected, his intelligence remains intact. It is the perception that makes all the difference. His outlook, philosophy of life changes entirely. Chemical imbalances are responsible for such conditions.
Dr.R: It is not only the philosopher. The poet too looks at life from a different angle. "The lunatic, the lover and the poet are of imagination all compact" said Shakespeare. The poet goes into such a condition for a while the philosopher remains in such a state always. In the case of poets and philosophers, this condition leads to a refinement of their life, talent and expression. It works in the reverse direction, in the case of the mentally affected. And there lies the difference. COL: What is your perception of today's society? Dr.R: The society of today moving without a sense of direction. Each country has a cultural heritage. In the present circumstances, not a single nation can have a unique and distinct heritage it used to have. This is a kind of cultural globalisation. The economic globalisation has brought in a cultural conglomeration. This is a natural. But a society, which loses its touch with its roots, and does not know what it means, is bound to go directionless. COL: And, what about our society at this moment? Dr.R: It is highly confused. It has no clarity about its past. No understanding of its present. And it does not have an iota of interest in knowing its future. COL: What in your opinion is the reason for the weakening of human relations? Dr.R: There is actually no strength behind any relationship. COL: Why? In the first instance, one should have a good relationship with oneself. Be comfortable with oneself. One who is not self-confident, or has any interest in himself or herself, cannot maintain good relations with others. A large majority of our people belongs to this category. They have a false sense of relationship. They are just made up. Social and peer pressures keep them on. These would not last long. They would weaken with time. COL: Do you mean to say that even the relationship between a father and his son is unreal? Dr.R: It sure is unreal. Unless people realise that the father and the son are two different people, the relationship won't work. May be the son resembles his father in many respects. Physical similarities. But the life and lifestyle seen by the father is not the same that his son is attuned to. There will be differences in perception, outlook, and the angles from which both look at life. Therefore, father and son cannot have the same views. After all, what we label as our relationship are our personal likes. I am conversing with you now, because I have time and it is convenient for me. Supposing you come to see me tomorrow when I am otherwise engaged, I may not be able to speak to you like this. That would lead to a change in our relationship. May be that would be the end of it. Individual is the basic unit of humanity. Being individualistic is not selfishness. It is love for the self. If you cannot love yourself, you cannot love anybody else. I cannot share something with you, that I have not experienced myself. If relationships weaken, it is all due to the individual. COL: Why is that women make progress in all walks of life, as compared to men? Dr.R: Necessity. They have been suppressed for thousands of years. Therefore their desire to climb up the ladder is keen. Both men and women have this desire, in common. The opportunities are thrown open for women in today's society and they make use of it. That leads to their progress. COL: It is agreed that both have a common desire. Generally men complain that many a woman gives herself as a price to reach where they want. What do you think of this?
Nobody is ashamed of making a commodity of his or herself. You bribe the press to write something good about you. Is that not a sale? What difference would it make between the two sexes, when the act remains the same? Self-promotion is considered a social necessity by many. After all, man cannot be a tree and stay where he is. He has to move forwards. That is the reason behind all this. Self-promotion at the sacrifice of one's self is a malady of the modern times. COL: Some women who uphold feminism do not lead their personal life as per accepted social norms. Their conduct and character remain questionable. What is your opinion on this? Dr.R: This question sounds something like 'Do the psychiatrists who speak so much on mental health, remain mentally healthy? Won't they ever be mentally afflicted?' Even a doctor who looks after the mental health of others be afflicted by mental illness. If a woman who upholds feminism goes astray, it is her personal weakness. You cannot tar the entire womanhood with the same brush. A female should not be confused with womanhood. Womanhood stands for Sakthi. Energy. Power. Sakthi can never be weak. She can never have any weakness. COL: But many of them justify their misconduct…. Dr.R: What is unjust can never become just, if someone justifies it. Most of the justifications and reasons that we give out are based on our personal needs, to suit our convenience. If some of the feminists have personal weaknesses, the liability is on the individual and not on womanhood. Neither manhood nor womanhood is weak. COL: Illegitimacy is on the increase. Is there any psychological reason for this? Dr.R: This has nothing to do with psychology. It is in the nature of Man. Man is an animal. An intelligent animal. This intelligent animal has created a society and has laid out what is wrong and what is right. All relationship is based on honesty. If I have illicit relations with a second woman, when I my wife loves me, I am dishonest. Then I am guilty. One who cannot govern him can never be a winner. One who takes charge of his own self, does not hinder or cause difficulties to others is a man of calibre. The desire to elevate oneself too is in the nature of everyone. It is therefore not necessary to indulge in illicit relationship. If a person does so, it may be due to the hormones. His ego and pride are also responsible for such conditions. (To be continued) Interviewed in Tamil and pix by Sinehidhan |
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I wanted to tell the people that they lead their lives in scruffy, dingy and filthy ways. I wanted to draw their attention to this fact. It is more important to make them understand that. If they become conscious of their ways, I am sure that they will transform into much better individuals.
COL: It would appear that the lunatic and the philosopher have the same kind of perception of life. Some of their activities are similar too. What is the difference between these two?
Dr.R: I don't think they do so. If there is truth in the statement, then it goes to show that men are also responsible for this situation. Do you mean to say that men do not offer themselves for a price? While one pays the price for money, the other does so for popularity. You may sell your body or your Self. The fact is that you are in the market too, for a price.
