YFN urges separate law to deal with ‘honour killings’

The following is the text of the key note address by Saswat Panigrahi, national co-convener of Youth for Nation at the talks on ‘Scourge called honour killing’, held in Delhi University on August 07, 2010.

Esteemed speakers, the august gathering and my friends in the media

Youth for Nation(YFN) is an All India organisation having seven chapters across the country. It is a voluntary organisation which creates leadership development programme in the youth. It aims at streamlining nationalism by linking Youth in nation building. YFN is a national movement to arise and awake the youth of our country. It is an initiative to unite the youth across the country on a single platform, where they can share their potentials, exhibit their latent talent and contribute towards nation building. Youth for Nation firmly belives that youth is the most potent catalyst for change. YFN calls upon the youth to take a firm stand on issues affecting our nation.

In pursuit of its commitment towards creating social awareness, Youth for Nation takes great pleasure in organising talks on the ‘Scourge called honour killing’.

‘Honour killings’ are on the rise in India. ‘Honour killings’ target young couples who dare to marry outside their caste or in the same gotra or in the same village or in the neighboring village or in the communities having brotherhood. ‘Honour killings’ are perpetrated under the garb of saving the ‘honour’ of the community, caste, gotra or family. In the name of ‘honour’ young people are brutally lynched to death. On many occasions parents kill and dump the bodies of their children, as they say “for bringing dishonor” to the families. Relatives also join in that shameless attempt to protect the family's so called ‘reputation.’ But whose honour they talk about? Such killings bring dishonor to the nation.

Data on honour killing is disturbing. More than 1,000 young people in India are done to death every year in the name of ‘honour’. Figures show Haryana, Punjab and UP account for about 900 ‘honour killings’ and another 100 to 300 occur in the rest of the country. In the recent past ‘honour killings’ also have been reported in the national Capital.

To tackle the spurt in 'honour killings’, the Supreme Court had sought response from the Union Government and eight States on steps taken to prevent such incidents. Following the directive of the apex court Government has decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to suggest changes in the law to deal with ‘honour killings.’ But it seems the UPA Government is going slow on bringing a law to rein in such social crimes.

Let’s discuss threadbare the factors responsible for ‘honour killings.’ ‘Honour killing’ is the result of a sick mindset driven by a fixed belief in the interpretations of caste or gotra. In the 21st century when India is positioning itself as an emerging global superpower, confusions over the interpretations of those post-Vedic values in Hindu society seem out of sync.

Youth for Nation believes in the unity of Hindu society and hence sees nothing wrong in inter-caste marriage per se. But all is not well relating to the use and interpretations of gotra in the Hindu society in case of marriage. It is high time to admit that there is a great deal of confusion as the practice varies from place to place. We have gathered here to set the record straight.

So what is gotra? Going by the definition, a gotra is the lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth. In most cases, the lineage is traced through the paternal line. Though people from the same gotra aren't always blood related, as per the traditional matrimonial system, sagotra marriages are not approved as people of the same lineage are considered as siblings.

Scientific evidence seems to suggest that people from the same gotra share historical roots and hence there could be genetic similarities. However, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 allows intra-gotra marriages.

Let’s take a look at the regional variations or shall we say distortions in the interpretations of gotra. In some paternal communities where gotra is passed down from father to children, marriage can be solemnised with maternal uncle’s son or daughter, while such marriages are forbidden in matrilineal communities like Malayalam and Tuluvas, where gotra is passed down from mother to children.

Another common practice in south Indian Hindu society is the wedlock between cross-cousins.

The north Indian Hindu society not only follows the gotra norms for marriages, but also has regulations which go beyond its basic definition. There are reportedly (hold your breath) as much as 3000 gotras in North India. In addition to that some communities in North India do not allow marital alliances in the same village, and neighboring villages. Some communities even consider the marriage with some other communities as a taboo on the lines that both the communities are having brotherhood. Some communities also do not allow inter-caste marriages. In north western States of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh where Khap panchayats thrive in the rural society, the writs are clearly defined. Those who dare to oppose the writ face the wrath, and sometimes a grisly death.

Sarvjatiya Sarvkhap Maha Panchayat -- the umbrella body of Khap panchayats -- demands an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act seeking a ban on marriages amongst the same gotra as well as people within the same village. Should the permissible limits be relaxed keeping in mind the modern compulsions and the need for social mobility? Does the Hindu Marriage Act need to be amended? Our esteemed speakers on the dias will shed light on that subject.

But I must conclude by saying ‘honour-killing’ is an extreme violation of human rights. Youth for Nation strongly condemns ‘Honour Killings’. As perpetrators get away scot-free on account of legal loopholes YFN urges a separate law to deal with such heinous crime. We are unequivocal in our demand that the existing investigations to all the ‘honour killings’ should be fast tracked and the perpetrators be dealt with in the harshest possible manner.

I therefore request our esteemed speakers to keep their views regarding such an evil social system. Healthy criticisms and comments are welcome.

Thank you.

A brief profile of the speakers

Dr Surendra Kumar Jain: Prof Dr Surendra Kumar Jain is an academic and Hindu right activist. A product of Delhi School of Economics Dr Jain presently works as an Associate Professor of Department of Commerce in Hindu College, Rohtak University.

Prof Jain is the All India Secretary and national spokesperson of Vishva Hindu Parishad. Earlier he worked as the national president of Bajrang Dal. Dr Jain also works as the General Secretary of Arundhati Vashisth Anusandhan Peeth, which carries out research work on nationalistic issues in as much as eighteen universities across the nation. Prof Jain is known for his strong view on hindutva and indianness.

Manoj Raghuvanshi: Manoj Raghuvanshi is a pioneer in the field of broadcast journalism. A practicing television journalist for three decades of experience, as much as 4500 telecasts go his credit. He has anchored and produced several well-known programmes like Newstrack, Aap Ki Adalat, India’s Most Wanted and Javabdehi. Raghuvanshi, a veteran in crime journalism is mostly found to be associated with current and burning issues of present day India.

Prof Avaneesh Awesthi: Prof Dr Avaneesh Awesthi is Associate Professor of English language and literature in Delhi University. A well known commentator in socio politico affairs Prof Awasthy contributes regular columns to major national dailies like Jansatta, Navbharat Times, Dainik Jagran and Rastriya Sahara.

Advocate Prithvi Singh Vatsa: Advocate Prithvi Singh Vatsa is a senior advocate of Supreme Court and Delhi High Court. He taught in Faculty of Law, Delhi University. Mr Vatsa is the national vice president of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.

Dr Krishna Priya Das: Dr Krishna Priya Das is the Vice President of ISCON, New Delhi and Medical Director of ISCON, India.

Ashima Khanna: Social activist

Chowdhry Ram Charan Solanki: Khap Pachayat sarpanch, Palam gaon, Delhi

Rajvir Ghelot: Khap leader

Moderator: Paritosh Vyas is the National Convener of Youth For Nation. He is an Engineer and management professional. Presently he works as a General Manager with an architectural engineering company in Kolkata. Mr Vyas is the founder of a widely read e-magazine called Rastriya Swabhiman and the owner of an innovative website for blood donation. He was a ‘Lead India’ finalist from Gujurat.