Unable to book Nano, LIC agent hangs self

It’s compact, comfortable and affordable — the stuff middle-class dreams are made of. But the Tata Nano, the new symbol of upward
mobility in India, is also fuelling some despair.

And Arun Kumar Tiwari’s story proves just that. A small-time LIC agent from Jamshedpur, Tiwari hanged himself at his Agrico Colony home on Sunday afternoon after he was unable to book his Nano.

Tiwari had been dreaming of driving the showpiece small car for months. But the wish was futile: he would not be able to pay the monthly instalments. He didn’t earn enough and his last hope was his wife, who works for a private firm and brings home around Rs 10,000 a month. But she refused, prompting him to take his life.

“He had been trying to convince me to book the Nano. Since I’m already repaying a two-wheeler loan, paying Rs 1,800 monthly as instalments, I was in no position to book a car and pay another Rs 3,000 every month,” said Dulari Devi, his wife.

No one was at home when Tiwari hanged himself. While Dulari was out on work, their only son was playing with boys in the neighbourhood. “When I told him that we’d first pay the two-wheeler loan and then book the car, he seemed convinced. But God knows what happened to him that he suddenly took this drastic step,” Dulari said, tears in her eyes.

According to police, Tiwari was probably depressed after his wife refused to pay the booking amount. “The preliminary investigation suggests that he was a very emotional man. He probably couldn’t accept the refusal and went into depression. He tried to raise the money on his own, but didn’t succeed. It was then that he decided to hang himself,” said a senior officer.

Rajendra Dubey, officer-in-charge of Sidhgora police station, refused to comment till the investigation was completed. “A case of unnatural death has been registered, based on the statement of the victim’s wife and an investigation started. I can speak on the case only after we reach a conclusion,” he said.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com