Frustrated and humiliated by the attempts of the management to break their union, a contract worker hanged himself, leaving behind a heart-rending suicide note.

Originally published by Workers Unity in Hindi on July 19, 2024.

July 16, 2024: Frustrated and humiliated by the attempts of the management to break the contract workers’ union that he belonged to, 34-year-old Soni Kumar, a worker employed at Navitasys India Private Limited Company (part of the Japan-based TDK Corporation) in Haryana’s Bawal industrial area, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room, leaving behind a heart-rending suicide note. Social boycott within the factory, verbal abuse, arbitrarily shifting workers to new departments/ lines are common tactics employed by the company management to demoralise workers and weaken their unions in the Bawal industrial zone.

A worker who had been labouring for ten years could not bear anymore the abuses hurled at him and his fellow workers. Frustrated by the management’s efforts to break their union, he hanged himself. Before committing suicide, he wrote a two-page long suicide note, in which, he accused the factory manager of harassment, mental abuse and torture, and bid farewell with “Inquilab Zindabad” to his fellow workers.

The suicide note will send chills down the spine of any sensitive reader. The deceased worker explained in detail how the management had been harassing them ever since the union was formed in the company in 2019. Whoever was a part of the union was ostracised, the rest of the workers and the members of the administration and management did not even shake hands with them, and how they were humiliated for every minute thing.

The whole matter

A 34-year-old worker named Soni Kumar has been working in Navitasys India Private Limited Company for 12 years. In his two-page suicide note, he has accused the company manager of harassment.

Photograph of the deceased worker, Soni Kumar

Union President Govind, a resident of Rajgarh Dhobi village in Narwana of Jind district, Haryana, told Workers Unity over the phone that an FIR has been lodged in Rewari’s Model Town police station. He said, “The incident took place on Wednesday, but the police have not made any arrest or action yet. So far, we have only received assurances.”

According to the FIR, Soni Kumar lived with his wife in a rented room in Shakti Nagar area of Rewari. He was working in the quality department of Navitasys India in Bawal Industrial Area since 2012. He was a member of the [contract] workers’ union in the company. His brother Diler said that when he spoke to his brother on the phone a few days back, he seemed very upset. When asked, he said that the factory manager Tribhuvan Agnihotri was harassing him. Soni had also come home on July 14 [2024] and as he left, his wife stayed on. Even then, to his family he spoke of the harassment inflicted by the factory manager. Soni Kumar told his brother that the manager was conspiring to break the union. For this, he called the union members separately and threatened them. He also changed the departments for many of these workers.

Soni returned to Rewari from Narwana on Tuesday, July 16, and committed suicide the same day. Rewari police informed the local media that a case has been registered and investigation has started.

The suicide note

“I’m Soni Kumar, son of Shri Kapoor Singh, village Rajgarh Dhobi (Jind, Tehsil Narwana). I am writing this suicide note in my full senses. I have been working in the Quality Department of TDK EPCOS India Pvt. Ltd. Company since December 2012. In 2019, a union was formed in our company, which had a total of 58 workers, out of which 49 were union members.

All the members of the union were being mentally tortured. My boss was happy with my work. There was never any complaint about my work or behaviour. But suddenly on June 1 [2024], the company HR, Satish Sir, called me and gave me a letter for department change. I asked him why, he replied that it was according to the order of the factory manager Mr. Tribhuvan Agnihotri, and that we had to receive the order letter. And thus, that letter was given to us. Likewise, all my comrades who were in other departments or lines were made to work in new lines as a means of inflicting mental torture on them. The company viewed us very differently from others. If any company member shook hands with us, Tribhuvan Sir noticed it and called him to his cabin and scolded him. I am feeling mentally disturbed by the department change letter and the company environment. This is why the main reason for my death is Tribhuvan Agnihotri. Action should be taken against him. After my death, my union colleagues should not be harassed, they should be sent back to the work they were doing earlier.

I am apologising with folded hands to my union head Govind Ji and all my brothers. I am leaving you all in a helpless condition. If possible, please forgive me. Inquilab Zindabad! Work diligently.

My dear parents please forgive me for the condition in which I am leaving you. And my elder brother, Dilbagh, you have been like a father to me; I am guilty to you as well and will be so forever. I request you with folded hands to take care of mother and father. Never let them feel my absence. And my wife Deepa Ji, my guilt is the heaviest when it comes to you. I could not be with you for this lifetime. All of you, please stay happy, forget me, and consider me worthless. My sweetheart Deepu, love you. From today onwards, I will not be able to cook karela aur bhindi ki sabji for you anymore. Take care of yourself. One last word, whatever [money] can be obtained from the company should go only to my parents, not to anyone else, so that they can live a somewhat good life.”

– Soni Kumar

Statement from the trade unions

Rewari trade union leader Anil Rao told Workers Unity over the phone, “This suicide note shows high human values, as the worker, Soni Kumar, asks for forgiveness from his parents, his brother who was like a father to him, and his wife” He said, “This suicide note is an example of what kind of situation has been created inside the factory for the workers who toil hard in India’s shining one trillion economy. And since the Modi government has come up with the four Labour Codes, the attitude of the company owners has become arbitrary. The fear of law and constitution has ended.”

Anil Rao, further said, “Around 50 workers in this company formed a union in 2019. Since then, they have come under the target of the management. They are being harassed in various ways. As soon as they enter the plant, their phones are confiscated. In such a sad time when the workers want to talk to each other, this act of the management shows their insensitivity.” He added, “Last June, their department was changed, and an attempt was made to disperse the union. This has made the workers very frustrated. Soni Kumar, who had been working in this company for 10 years, was very shocked by this. And he took such a step.”

( If you are having suicidal thoughts or someone you know is, you can seek support through the Aasra website in India or Befrienders Worldwide globally.)