INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightNihilanandA 27-year-old Indian man plans to sue his parents for giving birth to him without his consent.Mumbai businessman
Raphael Samuel told the TheIndianSubcontinent that it's wrong to bring children into the world because they then have to put up with
lifelong suffering.Mr Samuel, of course, understands that our consent can't be sought before we are born, but insists that "it was not our
decision to be born".So as we didn't ask to be born, we should be paid for the rest of our lives to live, he argues.A demand like this could
cause a rift within any family, but Mr Samuel says he gets along very well with his parents (both of whom are lawyers) and they appear to be
dealing with it with a lot of humour
In a statement, his mother Kavita Karnad Samuel explained her response to "the recent upheaval my son has created"."I must admire my son's
temerity to want to take his parents to court knowing both of us are lawyers
And if Raphael could come up with a rational explanation as to how we could have sought his consent to be born, I will accept my fault," she
Mr Samuel's belief is rooted in what's called anti-natalism - a philosophy that argues that life is so full of misery that people should
stop procreating immediately.Image copyrightNihilanandThis, he says, would gradually phase out humanity from the Earth and that would also
be so much better for the planet."There's no point to humanity
So many people are suffering
If humanity is extinct, Earth and animals would be happier
They'll certainly be better off
Also no human will then suffer
Human existence is totally pointless." A year ago, he created a Facebook page, Nihilanand, which features posters that show his images with
a huge fake beard, an eye-mask and anti-natalist messages like "Isn't forcing a child into this world and forcing it to have a career,
kidnapping, and slavery" Or, "Your parents had you instead of a toy or a dog, you owe them nothing, you are their entertainment."Mr Samuel
says he remembers first having anti-natalist thoughts when he was five."I was a normal kid
One day I was very frustrated and I didn't want to go to school but my parents kept asking me to go
So I asked them: 'Why did you have me' And my dad had no answer
I think if he'd been able to answer, maybe I wouldn't have thought this way."As the idea grew and took shape in his mind, he decided to tell
He says his mum reacted "very well" and dad too "is warming up" to the idea
Image copyrightNihilanand"Mum said she wished she had met me before I was born and that if she did, she definitely wouldn't have had me," he
says laughing and adds that she does see reason in his argument
"She told me that she was quite young when she had me and that she didn't know she had another option
But that's what I'm trying to say - everyone has the option."In her statement, his mother also said it was unfair to focus on a "sliver of
what he believes in"."His belief in anti-natalism, his concern for the burden on Earth's resources due to needless life, his sensitivity
toward the pain experienced unwittingly by children while growing up and so much more has been ruefully forgotten
"I'm very happy that my son has grown up into a fearless, independent-thinking young man
He is sure to find his path to happiness." Mr Samuel says his decision to take his parents to court is only based on his belief that the
world would be a much better place without human beings in it.So six months ago, one day at breakfast, he told his mother that he was
"She said that's fine, but don't expect me to go easy on you
I will destroy you in court." Mr Samuel is now looking for a lawyer to take up his case, but so far he's not had much success.Image
copyrightNihilanand"I know it's going to be thrown out because no judge would hear it
But I do want to file a case because I want to make a point."His Facebook posts have also attracted a lot of responses, "some positive, but
mostly negative" with some even advising him to "go kill yourself"
He has also had worried mums asking him what would happen if their children see his posts."Some argue logically, some are offended and some
To those abusing me, let them abuse me
But I also hear from many who say they support me but can't say this publicly for whatever reasons
I ask them to come out and speak up," he says
His critics also say that he's doing this to get some publicity."I'm not really doing this for publicity," he says, "but I do want the idea
This simple idea that it's okay to not have a child." I ask him if he is unhappy being born."I wish I was not born
But it's not that I'm unhappy in my life
My life is good, but I'd rather not be here
You know it's like there's a nice room, but I don't want to be in that room," he explains.
