As Tamil Nadu has been reporting suicides by students over the fear of NEET, actor Suriya has on Saturday released a video in his bid to rescue students from ending their lives. In his video that was released by the Tamil Nadu government, the actor has appealed to the students not to commit suicide and that no exam is bigger than life.

His video has come in light of three suicides that the state had recorded in a span of five days. While one student ended his life last Saturday, a day ahead of the NEET exam, the two others had committed suicide after writing the exam. The inquiries had revealed that they had taken the extreme step over the fear and frustration of clearing the NEET exam and pursuing medical admission. Such incidents had become rampant in Tamil Nadu where at least one NEET-related suicide is being recorded every year, following the hasty introduction of the national entrance exam. 

Beginning the video with Bharathiyar's poem 'Achamillai, Achamillai, Acham Enbathu Illaye', Suriya said, "All students should live without fear and with confidence and I am humbly appealing to you as your brother." In the video that runs for two minutes, Suriya stated, "An exam is not bigger than your life. If you are depressed, please approach the people who you are close with, like parents, teachers, and friends. Fear, anxiety, and depression will disappear. However, the decision to end your life is a lifetime punishment to your parents who love you. Don't forget this." 

Suriya has also touched upon how poorly he had performed in education. He said, "I have failed in all the exams and have scored very low marks. And I can say this as someone who can associate with you- Life is not just about marks and exams. There is a lot to achieve and there are more people to love you. If we have confidence and courage in ourselves, everyone can win in life, and achieve big." He has ended his speech with the same Bharathiyar's poem. 

It must be noted that Suriya has been a staunch critic of the NEET and he has been running the 'Agaram' foundation that helps the backward students in education. This June, Suriya has said that NEET loots the future of poor students. He said, "NEET exam had fired the dreams and ambitions of thousands of students who dreamt of becoming a doctor. The scar caused by the pain of losing the dream will never disappear. The entrance exams like 'NEET' are dangerous for the interest of students and states". "In a diversified country like India, it's imperative that education should remain under state's right. That's the only and permanent solution. I am appealing to all the political parties to jointly work in the policy of "Education is the state's right", he added.

Recently, Chief Minister MK Stalin had also made an emotional appeal to the students not to take such a decision of ending life. The Chief Minister said, "Your life is invaluable not just to your families but also to the nation as the nation's future depends on your future. I appeal you to do not to give up such a precious life. You will become doctors and you will be able to fulfil your dreams." MK Stalin has also appealed to the teachers, social workers, and celebrities to join hands towards encouraging the students and developing their self-esteem. 

Exactly three days after the appeal from the Chief Minister, actor Suriya has now released a video appealing to the students not to give up their lives. Over the past week, three students - Dhanush (20), Kanimozhi (17), and Soundharya (17) had committed suicide. While Dhanush had died last Saturday, a day ahead of the NEET exam, Kanimozhi had died on Monday, a day after the NEET, and Soundharya had committed suicide on Wednesday. They were reported to have died over the fear of not being able to clear the NEET exam. 

According to reports, Tamil Nadu had reported 17-NEET related suicides so far since 2017, during which Anitha of Ariyalur, who scored 1176 marks out of 1200 in Class 12, had died of suicide after failing to clear the NEET. On Monday -September 13, Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a bill to repeal the NEET in Tamil Nadu and to enrol students in medical colleges based on their Class 12 marks. The bill has come two months after the state government-formed committee, headed by retired judge Justice AK Rajan, had disclosed its report that the NEET is affecting the students from poor and backward families. 

.@suriya_offl voices out for students.#Suriya pic.twitter.com/upwwFiMNoU

— Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) September 18, 2021