Dhurkot (Barnala), May 30
About four months ago, poverty and indebtedness compelled a Jat Sikh, Bhola Singh (37), a marginal farmer from Dhurkot village, about 20 km from Barnala, to accept a job at Rs 1,800 per month in a harvester factory at Handhiaya, near Barnala. Now, five days ago, the same reasons forced him to commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the village cremation ground.

Today when this reporter visited the house of Bhola Singh, situated in the middle of a field, there was complete silence. Women and men were mourning his death at two different places there. Women were consoling the widow of Bhola Singh as she was in a state of shock even five days after the death of her husband.

Bhola Singh had left behind wife Binder Kaur (36), daughter Gurpreet Kaur (15) and son Sukhpreet Singh (14). Sukhpreet Singh and his grandfather were not in the village today as they had gone to immerse his ashes. After hearing about the death of her father, Gurpreet Kaur also suffered another personal setback. The result of her Class VIII examination was declared on the same day. Unfortunately, she could not pass the examination.

According to Hakam Singh, an uncle of Bhola Singh, the deceased had altogether only one and a half acres of land. Out of this, only half an acre was fertile. He was under a debt of about Rs 2 lakh. He owed the money to an arhtiya of Tapa Mandi. He also owed some small amounts to other persons of the village.

Hakam Singh said during the recent harvesting season, Bhola Singh had sold about six quintals of wheat to the arhtiya, which was insufficient to repay his loans and run the affairs of his family.

Bhola Singh had not discussed his problems with anyone before committing suicide. Of course, many people knew that he had been suffering from depression.

Hakam Singh said, on May 26 last, Bhola Singh got up early in the morning and visited the village gurdwara at about 5 am. Later, at about 5.30 am, he committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the cremation ground. He also alleged that when on May 29 he visited the village high school to get Bhola Singh’s son and daughter admitted in eighth class, the school authorities refused to admit them on one pretext or another.

He said both Bhola Singh’s children were studying in a private school and it was very difficult for the family to ensure that they continue their studies in that school.

Bhola Singh’s widow Binder Kaur alleged that some days ago the arhtiya had come to their house to collect money.

When she expressed her inability to repay the debt, he suggested that she repay the debt by selling her buffalo.

She requested the state government to give the family financial assistance for the studies of the children and stop the arhtiyas and others from visiting her house to seek the loan amounts at least at this stage.