Lunatic on the streets, spouts words of wisdom. Diagnosis anyone?

Nagpur: “I can’t get the government’s Aadhar card so this is my aadhar (support) instead,” says Jayant Kukde, showing a stick he carries around. Normally found at a bus stop close to the Old Secretariat building with a dishevelled look, Kukde, as he calls himself, could be discounted any one of the ‘lunatics’ seen on city streets.

On World Schizophrenia Day on Tuesday, TOI made an attempt to look into the state of numerous such homeless persons, who may be suffering from the disease, by interacting with Kukde and peeping into his mind.

A known character on this street to the vendors there, Kukde is known for his sharp knowledge of local politics, frustration against the system, and state of insanity. Once, with a roti in his hand, he shouted at a passerby, “Look, this is what I need, it’s not any religious book, but a piece of bread. Every man needs this more than any religion.”

In no time, he is hurling the choicest of abuses at a certain political party and two of its leaders, both prominent politicians. “I have mentioned everything about their deeds in my petition. I am also fighting a case to get back possession of the building and two dogs I lost. The rent alone comes to Rs10 lakh a month,” he says, pointing towards the secretariat building.

He soon brings out a handwritten letter, abusing some politicians and other known persons. He calls it case number 5805. His words reflect a sense of frustration with the system. “They have taken all my property and I have been left writing to the courts. I am all alone living on the streets,” he says, drifting back into his own world.

Kukde may end up spending his remaining life on the streets, only to be remembered as the intriguing tramp along the road. Social worker Jamshed Kapoor, who feeds him, says the bitterness in his words reflect that he has been betrayed somewhere by the system. “If not for the insanity, Kukde can be a very good orator,” says Kapoor.

“It needs a proper diagnosis, but most such wanderers are patients of schizophrenia and can be treated. The police are supposed to take them to the mental hospital but it does not happen that way always. There are NGOs in other cities but none in Nagpur,” says Dr Sudhir Bhave, a senior psychiatrist.

“Unlike two decades ago, these days there are strong chances of total recovery of schizophrenics. Some are very talented and can be very successful, if treated,” said Dr Prashant Chakkarwar, a psychiatrist from Yavatmal.


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