The UK’s Guardian yesterday reported on a triple murder of family members in India that is being said to highlight a distressing rise in honour killings in the country. A new husband and wife, along with the wife’s female cousin, were each shot in the head twice last Sunday evening. The victims had no reason to suspect their murderers –-the murderers were their relatives.
An honour killing is the murder of a (generally female) family member by fellow family members, where the murderers believe the victim to have brought dishonour upon the family, clan, or wider community. The perceived dishonour can be for a number of different reasons; for example a woman dressing in a way that is considered unacceptable, or rejecting an arranged marriage. We’ve covered this topic before on Zelda Lily – back in the November of last year, Dharma reported on the killing of a young woman in Arizona, by her father, for being ‘too Western.’
Honour killings result from the perception that defense of honour justifies killing a person whose behaviour dishonours a family. The Guardian reports that a recent study concluded that there are over 1000 honour killings a year in India, and that in recent weeks the Indian capital of Delhi has seen an unprecedented rise in such cases.
In the case of the triple murder the Guardian reports on, it is thought that the age of all involved is significant. Both the perpetrators of the crime and their victims were born in the 1990s, a time of major change in India, that liberalised the Indian economy and sparked rapid growth. These young adults grew up in post-reform India and were part of a new generation reaching the age of marriage with very different views to other members of their family.
Prem Chowdhury, a respected Indian historian and researcher, reportedly said that:
‘The situation is very volatile. The marriage market is very tight and that causes huge problems. Youngsters react very strongly. If a woman makes an independent choice she has to pay the penalty.’
I just think this is so sad. OK, so the three young murderers acted without direction from others, but I think it’s pretty clear, even from such a brief news story, that these young men grew up in a culture steeped with the rhetoric of honour, patriarchal authority and violet retribution for those who transgress from accepted behaviours. Just like the recent story here on Zelda Lily about the stigma that surrounds infertile women in India, from this story I’m left with the impression that there are certain social stigmas and traditions still very much in evidence in India that are having a massive impact on the lives of women in the country – in this case, resulting in murder.
In no way can I personally see how a life sentence for murder is more honourable than a daughter or sister whose ideology is a little different to that of some of her family members. But then again, I’m a long way (both geographically and culturally) from situations like this. What do you guys think of these stories?
I know a couple of people at work that are from India and studying in the U.S. They seem like remarkably sane and well-balanced people. Then I read stories like this and realize how volatile India is, and that the 2 people I know are so very different from the country as a whole.
On another note, apparently India just recently decriminalized homosexuality, and gays have been getting married.
“In no way can I personally see how a life sentence for murder is more honourable than a daughter or sister whose ideology is a little different to that of some of her family members. ”
Consider the fact that in a country where this is common, often the justice system would not be handing out a life sentence for murder. Often, the killers get off free, because the judges or juries or magistrates share the beliefs of those who did the killing.
Exactly. If they were actually handing out life sentences, there might be less killings.
The article said nothing at all about the punishment they would receive for the killings. I wonder where the idea that they’d get a life sentence came from?
i don’t understand why people continue to give credence to this travesty by calling it an honour killing. What honour is involved? Why should we use the terminology of a people who believe this is justified?
Why is it not called premeditated murder, which it is?
Unfortunately, in the society where these killings are occurring, the murder does actually restore honor to the family.
I don’t like the term either, but it is an accurate description of the motivation for, and result of, the murder.
That’s a problem that can’t be fixed by calling it something else.
No, Erin. India is a huge country with a very diverse population. This is not usual, it is simply sensationalized.
Let’s just call it a slow news day.
For the record, Dharma basically sucked as a writer, Her pieces lacked cohesion, documentation and common sense. She was generally derided here.
This is the 21 century, folks! So much have we evolved. havent we? Where are the feminists when u need them?
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