Vineet Whig , a top executive at Encyclopaedia Britannica, committed suicide by jumping off the 19th floor of a Gurugram building. His body was found the following morning by sweepers.
A Facebook search for Vineet Whig leads us to the unsettling virtual footprint he left behind. His posts and comments on the social networking site emphasise the jarring reality of the suicide of a COO who succumbed to professional pressure and depression.
Whig’s suicide letter reads:
I am taking my own life, no one is responsible. I am unable to cope. I am sorry. I am depressed. I see no way out except for suicide. Yes, I am a coward. I should have faced life.
Vineet’s LinkedIn profile reveals he started his career in 1992 as a general manager at NIIT Limited in 1992. Following this, he worked at Wipro, iDiscoveri, and Pearson VUE until finally joining Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2014.
An avid photographer who was fond of travelling, Whig’s Facebook page now has comments wishing him peace.
Vineet’s pictures reveal his interest in wildlife and nature.
“His Zest for Life Will Always be a Joy”
Nilabh Nagar and Vineet Whig had known each other for over three decades. Nagar described his friend as someone who had a zest for life. He adds it was Vineet who inspired him to take up photography.
“I Came, I Saw; I Wept a While, Then I Slept a While”
Another of Vineet’s friends, Biswanath Bhattacharya, quoted a disconcerting post from the former’s blog. The words are disturbingly fitting in context of his suicide.
Comment on Professional Stress
Reactions on Twitter speculated on what could have been the major reason behind the suicide – stress on the work-front. The netizens brought up the pertinent issue of work-related stress and pressure.
Brittanica Readers Grieve the Suicide
While friends and colleagues described Vineet Whig as inspiring and open-hearted, readers of Encyclopaedia Brittanica too mourned the unfortunate incident.
The Britannica India site posted a condolence message where it called Vineet “humble, creative and modest”.
Was Empathetic and Compassionate, Say Colleagues
Vineet Whig’s colleagues describe him as being “extremely professional yet empathetic”, “compassionate leader” and “extremely methodical”.
He worked at iDiscoveri Education Private Limited as vice-president in 2008. His colleagues from
He was someone who was calm and poised even in the most critical times. This loss is unbearable. We don’t know what could have led to do this?Colleague from iDiscoveri
Another colleague from iDiscoveri calls him “poised and calm”.
As Vice-President at iDiscoveri, Mr Whig was an extremely professional yet empathetic and compassionate leader. I was especially impressed with his ability to help each team member. Even under stressful situations, he was poised and calm.Colleague from iDiscoveri
According to a Hindustan Times report, Whig’s neighbours describe him as a quiet person who mostly kept to himself.
He usually came down for morning and evening walks alone, and never talked to anyone in the condominium. We came to know about the incident that morning.Vineet Whig’s neighbour
Another neighbour says:
I have known Whig as a passing acquaintance from his walks in the colony. I remember he walked very slowly. Whig was shy, did not interact much and mostly kept to himself.
Vineet Whig leaves behind three children and his wife. His 87-year-old father suffered a heart attack following the news of his son’s demise, which was referred to as an “irreplaceable loss” by a family member.
It is an irreplaceable loss for the family. He was sensitive, humble and down-to-earth, always willing to extend a helping hand. His death has left an eternal void.A family member
The suicide draws attention to the quiet suffering of many struggling with mental disorders. It also emphasises how material success is not an index to measure peace and happiness.
With the number of suicides increasing across all age groups, from students to professionals, what according to you could be a measure to ensure mental well-being? Let us know in the comments below.
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