How to prevent honour killings and eradicate castism?

Media has reported certain instances of honour killings in certain parts of the country and including our capital Delhi. Technically, there may be difference between killing a person in the name of caste and ‘honour killing’. But, these honour killings, in my opinion, are linked to caste in one way or other. Caste menace continues in this country and government alone can not solve this problem though it has a big role to play to eradicate castism.  We are coming to know only few instances of honour killings, but, there can be many instances in the country escaping media focus. Its true that the precious human rights of the people and especially the right to dignity is being violated in our society day-in and day-out.  Honor killing is most barbaric act and discrimination in the name of caste or community is at rampant even in the developed states or developed parts of the country like Andhra Pradesh. It is a fact that it is very difficult to ensure that there is no discrimination in the name of caste or community unless we completely eradicate castism from this society. It is a bigger exercise and a continuous process. Politicians are being criticized for the honour killings on the ground that they support killers considering their vote banks. It is very important for the country to concentrate on caste menace and eradicate castism completely from this society. Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan of Loksatta Party is exceptional in being blunt on the problems being faced by the society and even on castism. Despite facing critics from some people that he hails from a dominating community in the state, Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan is exceptional while attacking discrimination in the name of caste or community. In fact, Loksatta Party has made it clear in its political agenda that they will eradicate castism systematically as the castism can not be eradicated overnight. Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan's Loksatta Party could not have been elected to power, but, he has proved that nothing is impossible and one can be honest even in politics. He is successful by being courageous and as a responsible citizen of this country and he has penetrated a strong acceptable ideology in many young minds. It may be difficult for all other political parties to come-out openly against caste discrimination in this society, but, it is important.

But, it is very important for India to concentrate on caste menace and we can not anymore show underdevelopment as a root cause for caste menace. Even well educated and developed people practice caste menace and we need to fix this soon. If India is able to eradicate castism from this country, then, I am sure that India will be considered as a powerful nation in the world. It is very important to promote togetherness in this country and concentrate on reducing the regional differences and the differences among the people on illogical notions. These differences existed even in the developed countries like USA and President Obama has focused on this in his campaign and was successful in making a strong statement that "there are no blue states, red states and there is only United States of America". His message of unity has reached the people of USA to a great extent and we need to see such a massive drive in India and I personally believe that Shri Rahul Gandhi is promoting unity and will definitely take this forward with the support of people of this country and especially younger generation.

When I was doing law, I have concentrated so much on caste menace and how to eradicate castism from this society. After a deep thinking, I thought it is very difficult to eradicate castism completely in this country and it will take so many years and continuous effort to be made to eradicate castism. I was thinking about the presence of word "caste" in the Constitution of India though it was referred by the Constitutional framers with a very good intention and to bring equality among the people in the course by providing needed support to the backward communities in the country.  What can happen is that even the backward communities, when they are well developed with the support from the state and their own efforts, tend to discriminate others. It is a very complicated situation to address. I don't know as to whether we have reached a position where we can remove "caste" from the Constitution and if we can do that, then, the government may be able to pass a stringent regulation on reference to caste and communities in the society. For the government to do this exercise it requires the support from the majority of the people and these issues are to be tackled by clean and eminent personalities in the country.

As Shri Rahul Gandhi has rightly referred that there are few states in the south and states in the north like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan to some extent, many other states are still under developed. I think that the Government can take stringent steps on castism when most backward states in the Country witness some development. It may take some time, but, it is very important for the Government to avoid either direct or indirect steps resulting in penetration of castism further in this country.

Despite the economic growth, we should concentrate on inclusive growth as it is very important and it is the burden of every citizen to think of his brothers and sisters in the country. After all, nobody is permanent on this earth and the efforts of Bill Gates and Warrent Buffet made this issue very clear. The nation is facing many internal threats with extremism, regional disparities and differences and lacking of broadmindedness. It is very important for the privileged section of the society and the committed politicians to penetrate broadmindedness in the minds of the people. There are many castes, communities, languages, religions in the Country, but, we are all Indians and we need to take this message forward and should penetrate this message in the minds of the people of the country. A person from the State of Taminal Nadu is as a patriot as the person from Maharasthra or Gujarat. We are all Indians and our strength is "Unity in Diversity". It is important to take this message forward at any cost.

It is very easy to attack government and naturally Smt.Sheela Dikshit's response to the media’s query on honour killings like "Its horrible thing. What can I do" is aired by the media and saying that government and the politicians are irresponsible. We can not misread the response of Smt.Sheela Dikshit though everybody appreciates the media focus on "honour killings" and "caste discrimination".

It is been reported that the Government is planning to bring a law to curb "honour killings". I don't know as to how this "honour killings" can be dealtwith by a special legislation as the killers in the name of honour are booked under section 302 of the I.P.C already. I believe that we have a special legislation called "SC and ST Atrocities Act" and in my opinion, there can be "Caste Atrocities Act" which is applicable to all and nobody is allowed to discriminate other in the name of caste or community.

I know the extreme level of castim in the State of Andra Pradesh despite the students of Andhra bagging substantial number of seats in the recent "All India Examinations". Contrary to that, the relevance to caste is very less in the State of Tamil Nadu. There may be discriminations in the name of caste indirectly in the State of Tamil Nadu too, but, when we see the broader picture, the State of Tamilnadu and the receptive nature of Tamils, is exceptional. Tamils are cricitized for their Anti-Hindi Movement, but, they are undoubtedly patriots and have an excellent track record in collectively fighting against castim. I have heard the statement of Jayanthi Natarajan once when she is attacked about the Anti-Hindi Movement in the State of Tamilnadu. She has taken pride in inviting the critics to come to Chennai and see the situation. I know why she is so confident in making such a statement.  Discrimination on illogical grounds and on the grounds like caste and community is very less in the State compared to other parts of the State and compared to the States like State of Andhra Pradesh.

Media can play a bigger role in fighting against castism and all my respect to TV9 Telugu News Channels in their campaign for better society and campaign against castism.  I have been seeing "Save our Tiger campaign of NDTV" and it is good and it would very good if they do campaign against castism too in this country. Infact, the Government should seriously consider of passing a G.O or law making it compulsory for the media and especially electronic media to contribute something for the eradication of castism in this country. It is also important to nurture the importance of togetherness in the minds of young children in their schools.

I personally believe that Shri Rahul Gandhi will focus on the issue of penetrating togetherness in minds of the people as he invites young people to join in politics.

The issue of eradicating castism and preventing honour killings is complicated, but, there is no way before Indians except to make a point that "we, Indians, can do anything and will change the barbaric practices in the society in order to make our presence and strength clear to the entire world".

Note: the views expressed are my personal.