Bennet Paes wrote about the IPC 1890: "Hello Augusto: I said, Indian law might have been non-existent or not in force. Apparently, it was existent, but not in force." == ==
COMMENT: The phrase "in/into force" is set to mean 'effective' The Indian Penal Code 1890 came 'into force' on January 1, 1892. That the prosecution services of the various countries (UK, India) decide (on balance) NOT to prosecute cases of attempted-suicide is another matter. On a related point, I do not believe that those who attempt suicides are either brave or cowardly. They are, in all probability, troubled individuals. Such, one can postulate, is the situation with (say) the farmers of India who accumulated debts at a time when the crops were poor.....or a Young couple who want to be with each other but who are prevented from doing so by their parents (because of religion/caste etc). Those who decide to FAST unto DEATH - do not fit in the above-mentioned class of individuals. Once again, I do not know if I would classify them as being brave or cowardly. They IMHO are probably somewhere between 'frustrated' by an unjust system and just 'daft'. These individuals usually are trying to draw the public attention to an issue they feel passionate about. The best "fast unto death" I like - is the one wherein the participants do not lose any weight. (;-). I have seen a couple of those alleged-fasts at the Azad Maidan in Panjim. They made the supreme sacrifice by ONLY accepting Biriyani and Beer. Can we classify real "fasts unto death" as suicide attempts because the chances of fatality is high? Should we classify "going to war" as one too? jc