Joseph Lewis D’Silva
In Japan, during times of famine, due to poverty, there are accounts suggesting that some families carried elderly relative to a mountain and left them there to die. It was called ‘ubasute’. This practice has been depicted in folklore, but it’s unclear how widespread or institutionalised it truly was. But I remember one such folk tale: A man along with his son walks his tottering father with a walking stick into the forest to die. On reaching their journey’s end; but before they could return, the young boy insisted upon bringing back the grandfather’s walking stick back home.
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Father asks his son, “Why?” The son replies, “I will need it to abandon you into this forest when you become old.” This reply, opened the eyes of the man and brought back his old father home.
The prime purpose of life is to help others in difficulties and no one has the right to take another person’s life directly or indirectly by abandoning them to die, such an act, can be viewed as equivalent to murder because it disregards the essential value and self-respect of the victim.
Ubasute has been debated by historians and those who study the customs and beliefs of human beings. They considered Japan’s family piety as highly valued and it is unthinkable to abandon family members even in difficult circumstances. May be, the idea of Ubasute was more an imaginary reference often used in literature and theatre, rather than a common accepted cultural practice.
Today, Japan has a robust system of nursing homes, hospitals, designed to assist the elderly. In the modern world, there is a growing trend of arranging home care services, so that elderly people can remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
Nowadays, we see many helpless people in their old age, are treated with disrespect. A few, due to financial problem, create a cheerless miserable world for the elderly. They leave the old persons to fend for themselves. This is due to breakdown of families or migration of the younger generation for better prospects. Often, during these declining years, in their ‘slow-consuming age’, some suffer from illness; fear of shame, or do not wish to be a burden to others; therefore, it drives the old people to ask for Euthanasia (assisted suicide). If someone helps the suffering person to end their life as an act of kindness, it amounts to murder and not pity as no one has the right to take another’s life. Such acts amounts to assisted suicide and cannot be acceptable acts of mercy. Mother Teresa of Kolkata said, “No human hand should be raised to kill life since life is God’s life in us. The prime purpose of our life is to help others, not kill other. Pope John Paul II stated: Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the intentional killing of a human person; because certain people such as physicians or legislators, use their power to decide who ought to live and who ought to die. Such acts take the form of a murder committed by others as the victim person never consents to it.
The practice of ‘ubasute’, is a thing to see about life and death and dignity. In today’s world, we face similar moral tests as assisted suicide. Despite advancements in medical care and social system, old people and the weak continue to face disrespect and neglect, pushing them to seek the end of their life. The duty to care for elders is important; assisting them to take their life, directly or indirectly is a grave moral violation.
