‘Born in Poverty, Died in It Too’: Punjab Couple Die by Suicide While Their Two Children Lived Abroad

Punjab | May 2026

A deeply disturbing incident from Punjab’s Ludhiana district has elderly couple, identified as 70-year-old Jaswant Singh and his 68-year-old wife Gurdev Kaur, allegedly died by suicide inside their home, leaving behind a heartbreaking note stating they were “born in poverty” and were “dying in it too.” The tragedy has sparked conversations around ageing, loneliness, migration, and emotional neglect in modern Indian families.

According to reports, the couple had spent most of their lives battling financial hardship while working to provide better opportunities for their children, both of whom later settled abroad. Despite this, Jaswant Singh and Gurdev Kaur reportedly continued living in economic distress and emotional isolation in Ludhiana. Their deaths have raised painful questions about support systems, social disconnection, and the long-term psychological burden of poverty.

Neighbours described the couple as quiet individuals who mostly kept to themselves. Police recovered a suicide note from the residence, and early investigations suggest they had been under continuous financial and emotional stress for years. The emotional tone of the note reflected hopelessness, exhaustion, and disappointment after a lifetime of struggle.

Similar Case: Chhattisgarh Couple’s Suicide Highlights Elderly Mental Health Crisis 

The Emotional Weight Behind the Suicide Note

• "Born in poverty, died in it too" – a line that captured a lifetime of financial struggle and the feeling that nothing truly changed despite years of effort.

• The note reflected exhaustion, helplessness, and emotional fatigue built over decades.

• Poverty was not a short-term hardship but a lifelong condition that affected dignity, stability, and peace of mind.

• Along with financial strain, there was an undertone of emotional isolation – struggles endured quietly, support felt limited.

• The phrase resonates because it goes beyond money. It reflects psychological exhaustion after years of survival under constant pressure.

• For elderly individuals, such burdens feel heavier with age – health issues, dependence, and uncertainty add to emotional stress.

• Often, emotional suffering among older adults remains unspoken. They do not openly express distress due to social conditioning, fear of becoming a burden, or simply normalising struggle – allowing pain to accumulate silently.

When Children Move Abroad: The Emotional Gap Left Behind

1. The public observation

The couple's two children were reportedly living abroad, and this detail has drawn widespread public attention because it reflects a growing reality in Indian families.

2. The common Indian sacrifice

Migration for education, jobs, and better opportunities has become routine. Parents often sacrifice their savings, comfort, and stability to help their children build successful lives overseas.

3. The hidden emotional risk

However, in some situations, geographical distance can slowly create emotional distance as well. Not every family living abroad neglects their parents, and many children actively support and care for their ageing parents despite living in another country. But this tragic case has highlighted an uncomfortable reality: some elderly parents experience deep loneliness when daily emotional connection disappears from their lives.

4. What elderly parents truly need

For older adults, emotional presence matters as much as financial support. Regular communication, emotional reassurance, social involvement, and a sense of belonging can significantly affect mental wellbeing. When elderly individuals feel abandoned, emotionally disconnected, or isolated, emotional distress may gradually intensify.

5. The psychological toll

Psychologists often explain that loneliness in old age can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Human beings are emotionally social by nature, and emotional isolation over long periods can severely affect psychological health.

Poverty and Mental Distress Often Go Together

Financial hardship and mental stress are deeply connected. People living under long-term economic pressure frequently experience fear, helplessness, shame, and emotional exhaustion. For elderly individuals with limited income sources, these pressures may feel even heavier.

In India, many senior citizens still lack stable retirement planning, adequate healthcare access, or social security support. Rising medical expenses, inflation, and dependency concerns can create chronic stress within families. When financial difficulties continue for years, some individuals begin to lose hope that life circumstances will improve.

Mental health experts repeatedly warn that prolonged stress can affect decision-making, emotional control, and overall psychological resilience. Feelings like “nothing will change” or “there is no way out” are common signs of severe emotional distress.

Unfortunately, mental health struggles among older adults often go unnoticed because society tends to focus more on physical illnesses than emotional suffering. Elderly depression remains underdiagnosed in many parts of India.

The Silent Battle Fought by Elderly Indians

This tragic case also points toward a growing but less discussed issue — the mental health crisis among elderly citizens.

India’s ageing population is increasing rapidly, but emotional care systems for senior citizens remain limited. Many older adults live alone while their children work in different cities or countries. Some face chronic illness, reduced mobility, social disconnection, or emotional neglect. The psychological impact of loneliness can be severe. Elderly individuals may begin feeling:

• Unwanted or emotionally abandoned

• Financially dependent and burdensome

• Socially disconnected

• Hopeless about the future

• Emotionally invisible within their families

Over time, these feelings can increase emotional vulnerability and mental distress. In Indian society, mental health conversations among senior citizens are still uncommon. Many elderly people grew up in environments where emotional struggles were not openly discussed. As a result, they may suppress sadness, depression, or suicidal thoughts instead of seeking help.

Why Emotional Support Takes The Wider Place

Incidents like this remind society that emotional wellbeing is not secondary to financial wellbeing - both are deeply connected.

Older adults need:

• Emotional connection with family

• Regular communication and involvement

• Social interaction and community support

• Access to healthcare and counselling

• Financial stability and dignity

• A sense of purpose and belonging

Even small gestures like frequent phone calls, emotional reassurance, visits, and active involvement in parents’ lives can make a major difference.

Mental health professionals also encourage families to pay attention to warning signs such as:

• Social withdrawal

• Hopeless statements

• Persistent sadness

• Sleep problems

• Loss of interest in life

• Talking about being a burden

• Sudden emotional silence

These signs should never be ignored, especially among elderly individuals living alone.

A Tragedy That Raises Difficult Questions

The Ludhiana couple’s death is not just an isolated incident — it reflects broader social concerns around ageing, migration, emotional disconnect, and mental health awareness in India.

The tragedy raises difficult but necessary questions:

• Are elderly parents receiving enough emotional care?

• Is society doing enough to address loneliness among senior citizens?

• Are financial struggles and mental health being taken seriously enough?

• Do families recognise emotional neglect as a serious issue?

While investigations into the case continue, the emotional impact of the suicide note has already touched many people across the country.

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