mid-day editorial: No honour in killing

There is something extremely wrong with the term ‘honour killing’. There is absolutely nothing honourable in killing a human being

There is something extremely wrong with the term ‘honour killing’. There is absolutely nothing honourable in killing a human being. The loss of a precious life can only be termed heinous. Yet, over the decades we have witnessed gruesome murders across the country, some in the name of caste, some in the name of religion, and some just to appease the absurd patriarchal ego.

The murder of a 15-year-old boy in Navi Mumbai by the family of an upper-caste girl has sent shockwaves across the country. An innocent life has been snatched away over the misplaced caste horsemanship. Not only has it left the communities of the deceased and the girl’s family divided, but has also given a fresh lease of life to the undercurrents of hatred that breed in social circles.

Vultures in power will exploit the situation by spreading hatred until the cows come home, and the administration will continue to be a mute spectator to the brutality on the streets.

Just a few days ago, the brother of Qandeel Baloch drugged and murdered the Pakistani model for bringing ‘disgrace to the family’. Qandeel was an outspoken woman and did not back down from speaking her mind. It was this attitude that ultimately infuriated the ‘honourable’ men in her life, leading to her gruesome murder. What is more tragic is that there are plenty of people who sympathise with the murderer and find appeasement to their displaced ‘honour’.

During the Dark Ages, millions of outspoken women were branded witches and burnt alive across Europe. It was a systematic movement that ran over 300 years to eliminate dissent and free speech. Europe has left those dark days behind it, but India hasn’t, it would seem.

It is time that the new generation steps up and puts an end to this. Inter-caste and inter-religion marriages will only help diminish the suspicion and hatred that has been passed down from generations. The foundation of a civil society should be laid on love, not a warped understanding of ‘honour’.

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