LOG KYA KAHENGE?
Like many of us, singer Papon, too, has been spending a lot of time with his family during this lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He says that this is the first time in a while, that he got to spend time with his wife and daughters. “This lockdown was spent by doing household chores mostly. Me and my wife had to get used to managing everything on our own and we also have two little girls so we had to manage them as well. We tried to maintain as much discipline as we could so that none of us felt lost. And I think we have fared well. We actually enjoyed ourselves a lot with everything slowing down. And it was after several years that I got to spend so much time with everyone,” says Papon.
The singer also released a couple of singles during the lockdown and his latest single Haaye Rabba, he says is a very simple sweet and honest melody. “The reason I got attracted to this song was because of its simplicity and a the simple chorus. I don’t remember singing something like this in a while. It tells a sweet love story and it has it’s soul in the right place,” he says.
The singer who has sung songs such as Jiyein Kyun (Dum Maaro Dum; 2011) and Kaun Mera (Special 26; 2013) is also very popular in the live music circuit. But Papon is worried about artistes, now that there will be very few live performances because of the pandemic.
“The lockdown has affected the economy very badly, and I can’t say for sure in what way and for how long it will affect the music industry, but it is definitely already affecting everyone. Everyone is on the edge including us. We have not had any earnings for months. We actually earn from shows and gigs but those are not going to happen until the end of this year I think. So, it is going to be a big setback. I don’t know if we can expect the government to support artistes and our industry, but some relief should ideally be given because we, as a community, are also doing a lot of charity and fundraisers,” says Papon adding that without music and art, our society will lose its essence.
“Music is something that people look to during difficult times. If there is no music, people will not be very happy. And that is going to lead to a downfall of our culture also.
So, music, art and culture should definitely be looked after,” says the singer.
World Health Organisation (WHO) data claims that close to 70% of people suffering from mental health ailments in India don’t get treatment. The fact remains that anxiety and depression are still considered something you can just ‘get over’. According to a 2018 survey by actor Deepika Padukone’s mental health nonprofit organisation, 47% of respondents were not only judgemental of people with mental health issues but also likely to stay away from those who were depressed. Given how media and public are analysing the reason behind his depression, it is clear that most of us are clueless about the illness. Across platforms, his fans ask why he took the drastic step instead of confiding in someone. system. While those with milder forms of depression may find relief in self-help strategies such as exercise and meditation, severe cases need medical intervention. But here’s the thing about depression: At times, the person suffering from it doesn’t realise that it is treatable. And a chemical imbalance in the brain, a trademark of depression, is to blame. No one chooses to be depressed. Their brain just doesn’t allow them to snap out of it.
Understanding the symptoms of depression and encouraging those who exhibit them to seek treatment is the first step. Knowing the red flags for suicidal thoughts and the willingness to help someone showcasing them is what can save a life. Saying “I’m depressed!” when you’re just sad sends the message that tomorrow you might wake up feeling mood-disorder-free — which is contrary to what this illness allows.
Educating people — who think depression is a choice — is the need of the hour. While reports suggest Rajput was seeking psychiatric help, not everyone has that liberty — many can’t even talk to their family about what they are feeling.with India boasting of the highest suicide rate in South-east Asia, it’s time to take mental health advocacy off social media and practise it in real life — by talking about it to family, friends, colleagues, and whoever else is willing to listen. This is the least we can do to honour Sushant Singh Rajput’s memory.