When we talk about development of the country, GDPs and NDPs - which sound Greek and Latin to aad aadmi—always gain the momentum. And no economist probably cares to look development as an overall development of the state including low crime rate and no social evils. While policing is there to put a check to crime in the streets, who will take care of the crime in disguise-honour killing-that takes place at home? A rhetoric question! As long as social evils are linked to traditions and cultures, barbarious incidents of parents killing daughters keep hitting headlines!

Yet another case of honour killing came to light in Delhi. A 24-year-old married woman was allegedly murdered by her own mother and brother after the victim showed reluctance to stay with her husband. She reportedly pressed her mother that she be allowed to return to her boyfriend. The irked mother, with the help of her son, gave an end card to her love story by killing the victim and dumping the body in far off place in New Delhi.

The incident came to light after victim, Deepti Chikara's, boyfriend emailed the Delhi police on the suspected murder of his girlfriend. The police interrogated the duo (mother and son) and they admitted to the crime. The police said that Deepti went missing from home in April, according to the locals. Deepti was forcefully married to someone else since the person whom she loved hailed from a different caste.

There have been n number of social evils in India including the modern day's so called traditions—dowry and caste. Thanks to people such as Rajarammohan Roy and Kandukuri Veeresalingam who successfully abolished sati and bride price. But, who is going to uproot dowry and casteism? If you have a pinch of angry against these two social evils—raise your voice even if people around you laughs at you...a sea of them would follow you, soon!

Kill casteism and honour killing automatically vanishes!

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(AW Phani)