'Raju spent excessively to buy temporary happiness'

5 Feb 2009,

NEW DELHI: One thousand designer suits. 321 shoes. 310 belts. Properties spread over 63 countries. Bracelets, chains, rings and watches worth crores of rupees Ramalinga Raju had all this and much more. Now psychiatrists feel that the former Satyam computer boss' hoarding mania probably reflects a state of mind where he spent excessively to get temporary happiness.

In such a situation, the buying of a particular product becomes important, using it immaterial. For instance, Raju has many properties in different countries but lived in only one. "This kind of behaviour gives the buyer a false sense of control over life situations," says Sandeep Vohra, consultant psychiatrist, Delhi's Apollo hospital. Consultant psychiatrist Jitendra Nagpal too explains such behaviour as a strong need to be in control of life, irrespective of consequences.

Raju's extravagance has surprised many, as the disgraced IT czar is not typical Page 3. Vohra says that a degree of greed or ambition exists in varying degrees in different people of any profession. But such feelings are stronger among first-time achievers. "Raju perhaps falls in the category of those who associate happiness and success with material things and for this are willing to buy goods at any cost," he says.

According to Vohra, if one has an excess of anything that one cannot use then the act is abnormal. "It's a sort of disorder that shopaholics are prone to," he says.

Nagpal feels, at times, a persistent sense of insecurity stemming from a psychological or emotional loss during one's formative years manifests in certain behaviours in present life. Raju's tendency to hoard good things could be one of them.

Vohra, who attends to many cases of people who became depressed after failing to amass material wealth, maintains that Raju is a classic example for the present generation on what 'not' to follow as a yardstick for success because his aim was "materialistic success by hook or by crook".

No surprise, there is an sms joke doing the rounds: Raju Raju, yes papa. Cheating others? No papa. Telling lies? No papa. Open your balance sheet. Ha ha ha.