Honour Killing : Crime or Accolade ?

Honour killings have captured national headlines in recent days. Eloped couples were stoned to death in Andhra recently. Nirupama Pathak, journalist from Jharkhand was strangulated to death after she was found pregnant with someone from low caste. 100s of Unknown killings are happening regularly. The reason behind all these killings are same: to save the pride and honor of the families and villages. Laurels of their creed and caste are indispensable than the lives of their son/daughter.

Do the families really hate their children to the extent to kill them or is it the leaders of Khap Panchayats who write the rules that are so insane and act like diktats. Is falling in love with someone from other caste a fault? Is Death in the name of honour the punishment they deserve ? Females are always the pawns in such incidents. Always women are seen as persons who carry the family honour. Even today in rural India, women are seen only as home makers. They dont have the responsibility to choose their own partner. Their conditions are so pathetic that they are always at the receiving end.

The below news caused goose bumps to me.
Seventeen-year-old Pushpa was allegedly murdered by her own brother in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district for refusing to marry a man chosen by her family because she was in love with someone else.

But perhaps what is more chilling is the reaction of the mother who cried, not for her dead daughter but for the son who she says defended the family's honour.

"I am not upset about my daughter but I am upset about the loss of my son, who only did this to save my family' honour. If he had not killed her I would have," said her mother Prana. She was killed with a sickle and buried. When Pushpa was killed, prana was out distributing her wedding card.

The murder has found support in the family and village. Pushpa's brothers are glad she is dead; they believe in punishment to those who dishonor their family, even if it's their sister. "We are glad she is dead," said her brother Sachinidra.

In the name of cultural heritage ,traditions and family honor, the physical and emotional feelings of women are neglected. The Khap panchayats doesnt want anyone to break age-old barriers. God has not created humans with differences, But these stupid year old practices which created divisions in society based on Birth, caste has lead to the sufferings of many. Even Gods, Krishna, Rama had love affairs. Hindu religion has never taught anyone to distinguish people on basis of caste and color. It has not said killing people brings honor to it.

Not only Khap Panchayats justify the killings, but also seek changes in Hindu Marriage Act. They want the act to be mended, banning the marriage among same Gotras. Human rights activists are pressing hard for strict laws against Honor Killings. But the politicians are mute spectators to these issues, since they depend on these Khap Panchayats, as they are their main vote banks.

Can Strict laws stop these Honor Killings ? I guess not. Basic change involving the way people look at caste, creed has to happen. Deep rooted faith in caste and traditions and their dogmatic faith in social status has to change.India can never become progressive nation until such simpleton beliefs like killing people for defying traditions that is total non-sense change. The present generation people can't be changed as caste and creed are present deep in their blood. Coming generations has to be the change themselves, what they want to see.