Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru-based tech professional originally from Uttar Pradesh, tragically died by suicide recently, leaving behind a 24-page note and a 1.5-hour video message. His case has sparked significant debate on social media and beyond. Atul Subhash’s case is a poignant reflection of some broader issues in modern Indian society and its legal, social, and cultural frameworks. Philosophically, it invites discussion on justice, equity, the dynamics of gender, and societal transformation. Here’s a layered perspective:

The fabric of Indian society, deeply rooted in tradition, family values, and community, has transformed in recent years and not always for the better. Many subtle forces are accelerating the decay of cultural identity, promoting isolation and increasing socio-economic complexities.

The first and foremost is the dramatic shift from collective values to an emphasis on individual success. This has impacted the family structure — the bedrock of Indian culture. The proof of this is a drop in the fertility rates signalling a shift in priorities and lifestyle. Single-parent households have been on the rise further eroding the stability once offered by the traditional family. Data suggests that Juvenile delinquency rates have also risen, suggesting the profound impact these fractured homes have on young lives. And it is strongly believed that a vast majority of Indians are suffering from mental health issues.

As family structures transform, societal norms and traditional values that guided past generations have started to erode, prompting questions about whether these changes are true progress or symptomatic of deeper issues. There is a growing disconnection from our roots as the velocity of change continues to accelerate, rendering traditions obsolete and values outdated. The arrow of misguided modernity flies into the future, leaving a collapsed society in its wake. The constant derision and consequent erosion of culture and ethos is taking its toll. These traditions, rooted in industriousness, courage, compassion and tolerance, have weathered time, and guided generations through political, religious, and social upheavals. However, today they are dismissed as outdated. An increasingly clinical, detached outlook labels them as restrictive and the institutions that promote them as anachronistic, further fuelling the drift from what once kept communities grounded.

In today’s India, the disintegration of traditional family values, rising individualism, moral ambiguity, and cultural polarisation have cumulatively contributed to a weakened societal fabric. Gaping abyssal fault lines caused by self-centred myopia have stymied human connection. As a result, negativity, grudges, fake news, and misinformed judgments make a home so much so that we no longer attempt resolution through outreach, dialogue and patience. The complex interplay of identity politics, gender hostility, the diminishing role of faith, the hyper-sexualisation of society and other cultural dynamics paints a sobering picture of contemporary India’s cultural landscape.

The rise of feminism, for example, has been a significant force in reshaping gender roles. Contrary to what it has become today, feminism was a concept developed largely for commercial reasons. In the 40s, tobacco companies promoted cigarettes to women, aiming to double their customer base. Soon after, governments encouraged women to join the workforce, as men were off fighting in World War II.

Later, fashion and lingerie brands tapped into this shift, promoting idealised femininity that linked self-worth to attractiveness, subtly suggesting that looking "womanlier" could improve one’s lot by attracting men. Nothing in nature exists without purpose. Nature intended the creation of distinct sexes. Gender, therefore, is natural, and gender biases emerge as an extension of how humans interpret and interact with the world. But what began as a call for understanding and addressing gender inequality due to faulty interpretation has, in many cases, morphed into a divisive force that challenges traditional gender roles, often at the expense of societal harmony.

Misaligned Feminism perpetuates the idea that traditional roles are oppressive, reinforcing a mental bias of dependency and subservience. Crafty narratives serve vested interests rather than uplifting women, deepening gender-based burdens under a pretence of support. The idea that women need to be elevated further reinforces gender-based hostility and suspicion.

Movements such as “Smash Patriarchy” not only diminish the importance of gender-based roles but also demonise masculinity, labelling all of it as toxic and harmful. This war on masculinity has led men to suppress their natural instincts, eroding their roles as leaders, protectors and providers. Consequently, it has created a generation of young men clueless due to a gap in traditional male role models and disrupting familial structures. Such demonisation of masculine traits has caused widespread confusion about what it means to be a man in modern society, leading to an increasing number of effeminate men.

Rather than embracing positive masculinity, the stigma surrounding men’s traditional roles has contributed to passive and compliant behaviours, leading to the absence of assertive leadership within the family structure. Atul’s case is a classic example of vile militant feminism weaponised by biased laws and legal loopholes.

As men and women alike are pushed toward career success and individual achievements, the roles of parenthood and nurturing that once defined families are diminishing, leaving children to grow up in emotionally distant environments. In the age of pervasive technology, children now learn more from electronic mediums than humans, thus further disconnecting and emotionally stunting them. The products thus produced are sophisticated yet anchorless, rudderless, lonely ships sailing right into what can be best described as a perfect storm. The devaluation of family and gender roles contributes to a culture of individualism at the expense of connection and community, resulting in deep-seated emotional consequences for children.

Atul in his message talks about wanting his son to be with his parents so that the child can be instilled with “values”. What does he mean to say?

Indians are increasingly encouraged to dismiss traditional values grounded in faith and spirituality as antiquated or repressive, elevating secularism and atheism as the enlightened alternative. The decline of faith and traditional systems further exacerbates this sense of isolation.

Today, social media influencers frequently dismiss faith as outdated or repressive, despite it once providing a moral compass and a sense of purpose that transcended individual desires. The disintegration of values has left many without a moral anchor, susceptible to hedonism and consumerism as they search for meaning in a world driven by material wealth and power. This detachment leads people to prioritise superficial achievements and transient pleasures over genuine fulfilment.

Another major factor contributing to societal fragmentation in today’s India is the rise of identity politics. Identity politics, which should encourage inclusivity, has instead created divisions. Viewing oneself as a part of specific oppressed or oppressor groups based on caste, gender, language or class increasingly encourages individuals and communities to pit against each other.

This divisive narrative often overshadows broader, systemic issues, drawing focus away from unified goals and solutions. Society becomes fragmented as people view one another with suspicion or resentment, reinforcing an “us vs. them” mentality rather than fostering collaboration and mutual respect.

Then comes modern hyper-sexualisation which poses another challenge. The normalisation of pornography and casual sex in Indian culture has distorted societal views on intimacy, love and relationships. Instead of emphasising genuine connections and emotional bonds, a culture steeped in hyper-sexualisation has left many individuals emotionally disconnected and numb. They become emotionally detached, often struggling to form authentic connections and increasingly vulnerable to loneliness and isolation.

For younger generations, these superficial approaches to intimacy create unrealistic expectations, leading to a cycle of disconnection and emotional dissatisfaction further fuelling gender hostility.

To add fuel to the fire, social media platforms and their offspring "reels" have exacerbated the problem under the guise of freedom of expression. What these social media platforms are is a society-sanctioned digital brothel peddling soft-porn and crude sexual innuendos to impressionable minds who are already bereft of any balanced guidance, education, moral compass, and faith. The marketing of independence and self-expression is a digital-age exploitation that prioritises appearances over dignity and self-respect. The focus on superficial attributes rather than intellect or skills has created a culture that values aesthetics over substance, further distorting perceptions of self-worth and reinforcing damaging stereotypes.

Without the grounding influence of faith, society becomes a sea of individuals in pursuit of personal gain, drifting without a clear sense of collective direction and easily susceptible to manipulation. Such environments create contempt for anything even vaguely resembling an institution or formal structure, and more importantly for oneself. The iconoclastic outrage often witnessed today can be attributed to this contempt.

As cultural and emotional sterility grows, society – especially urban centres – teems with people with muted morals and suppressed beliefs. They keep them fiercely private due to a prevalent misconception that overt display could be divisive and uncomfortable in a society that is becoming excruciatingly politically correct, woke and secular. This misconception is dangerous because it is these very morals, idea, and culture which make an individual tick. Beliefs and morals espouse the greater good everywhere. Discord arises when they are suppressed.

Urbanisation promising better lives has ever too often delivered isolation and alienation. The emerging Indian urban landscape, with its gated communities and car-dependent infrastructure, has distanced families from one another, turning close-knit neighbourhoods into isolated units. Urban life has fostered a reliance on consumer goods and extended commutes, promoting a sense of disconnection from both neighbours and the environment.

Instead of community bonds, Indians now increasingly rely on superficial interactions and consumer comforts eroding the foundation of social unity. The value of family and tradition diminishes as the pressure to prioritise career and personal achievements increases, weakening the social fabric that once united communities. This trend has contributed to a growing demographic crisis and rising rates of mental health issues, delinquency and hopelessness. Indians face the challenge of navigating an increasingly chaotic society independently with minimal prospects for stability or a sense of belonging.

Not to be left behind, the Indian education system has played a significant role in perpetuating society’s decline. The Indian education system, right from grassroots to top universities has rotted to horrific proportions. Rather than promoting critical thinking and intellectual independence, schools and universities have increasingly become centres of ideological indoctrination.

The emphasis on 'woke' narratives, subversive dialogues and radical ideologies has discouraged a generation of young people from questioning established norms, instead teaching them to conform to prevailing ideologies. This shift in education ensures that future generations remain subservient to existing power structures, limiting their ability to think independently or challenge societal norms. This indoctrination extends to questioning fundamental aspects of identity, furthering confusion and eroding the foundation of personal stability and self-assurance.

While being tom-tommed as aspirational and the new India, a society bereft of personal morality, pride, faith and honour is being created. Modernity has birthed a warped sense of freedom in which choices are limitless, regardless of their consequences for others.

Cultish individualism further disintegrates concepts of community. In this scenario Indians trek through life’s disquieting wastelands, camouflaging their newfound success in pointless modernity, plastic values, jazzy-yet-soul-sucking vocations and pathetic Jacuzzi lifestyles. And as they navigate the murderous meanderings of unhinged existence, these cultural shifts, information-fatigue coupled with cultish individualism, raise critical questions about the long-term consequences for Indian society.

Despite the current challenges, there is still hope for renewal. Reclaiming traditional values and fostering a sense of community can reverse this cultural erosion. Indian society must acknowledge the value of faith, family, and purpose-driven lives. Recognising the importance of traditional roles and moral foundations does not mean rejecting progress; rather, it entails building a future that honours both individual dignity and collective responsibility. By balancing personal freedoms with societal cohesion, India can cultivate a society where individuals feel connected to one another, anchored by shared values and purpose.

Moving forward, it is essential to challenge divisive narratives that pit individuals against one another and instead promote values that emphasise tolerance, faith, unity and compassion. To restore social harmony, we must address systemic issues without abandoning the traditional frameworks and institutions that have long provided stability.

By reclaiming the importance of family, community, right education and spiritual connection, India can hope to create a future grounded in purpose and authentic relationships. One that embraces both modern aspirations and the wisdom of the past.

And only when she passes the test, can India take her place as a "Vishwaguru.”. The unfortunate Atul Subhash has hopefully “immigrated to a better place” but our examination has begun.