“There were moments when I wanted to end my life. I did not know why I was living,” said S. Sreesanth, often introspective, mellowed, and emotional.
The cricketer was addressing a large crowd of youngsters in connection with a World Suicide Prevention Day programme organised by Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at Baselius College here.
“But I felt the soft touch of an arm on my shoulders and heard an inner voice reassuring me to hold on,” he reminisced about his hard days in Tihar Jail.
Most of the youngsters wanted to know how he overcame the hard days. “You are reminding me of the hard days of Tihar. I shall try to hold back my tears,” said the cricketer, chocked with emotion.
He said his life had always been a struggle, right from the age of six months when he was diagnosed with a tumour and underwent surgery. “May be because of these struggles I was deeply spiritual,” he said and added that it was his spiritual bend of mind and prayers of his parents and wife which saw him through his hard days. “But even now I ask gods why they put me through all these,” he said.
“Every tragedy brings with it a great educational component. Now, I know who my friends are and whom I can trust and depend,” he said. What was he looking forward to in life now? he was asked. “I have another eight years in cricket, when I will turn 40. And there is one world cup coming in between,” Sreesanth said.
“But often, I focus on enjoying the present,” he said. He even keeps away from social media. “After knowing what my friends are achieving in life, I may feel odd. I don’t want that,” he said
The cricketer told the youngsters to be more communicative, especially with their parents, close relatives and friends. “Learn to be happy with oneself and spread the energy and enthusiasm only as the youth can,” he said.
