commit suicide should be seen as a condition needing treatment, not punishment.

But in a rapidly developing India, pressures remain high to get good grades and high-paying jobs.

"Parents and schools do not make a child mentally and psychologically strong enough to handle pressure," John says. This leads to a "feeling of worthlessness," he adds.

'I'm so much better now'

One 20-year-old man in the city of Pune, near Mumbai, talked about reasons behind his brush with death.

The man, who declined to be identified, said he never fared well in school and had few friends.

He had problems with his girlfriend and felt his parents didn't understand him.

In his depression and desperation, he would cut himself, he said, showing the scars.

He attempted suicide but was saved by a timely medical intervention.

Nowadays, he gets"Is there a festival today?" "I don't think so." "And yet, every year for 27 years she comes on this day, to feed the poor." "How could Bharati possibly forget?" "Those were momentous times." "Her father Ramnath Rai was the state's Chief Minister for 1 4 years but her generation's heady romance with leftism had turned Bharati into a rebel." "Together with her charismatic mentor the idealistic Bhaskar Sanyal, she stormed her father's public rally." "Indian politics was going through a historic churning... but Ramnath Rai was blissfully complacent." "Only his astute political advisor and..." "Bharati's foster-brother, Brij Gopal had sensed the turning winds." "Comrade Bhaskar will try to draw you into an argument." "Do not fall into his trap." "I've been a politician for 20 years, Brij