Amongst other crimes against women, there is an abominable crime termed as ’honour killing’, which has brought the entire feminine section of the world in turbulence. These killings are in the form of vengeance carried out — usually by family members on women, who are alleged to have committed acts deemed as inimical to the family name. Such abysmal incidents are rife not only in India, but across the world. The problem is that mostly men are the perpetrators and are generally supported by other female family members. The victims include those suspected of adultery, the ones who marry without the family’s consent, or those who dare to demand a divorce (which in the opinion of the husband is an act of infidelity). Such honour killings are often camouflaged or are not investigated. They are rampant in backward rural areas beset by poverty and illiteracy.

The pathetic fact is that even if a wife accuses her husband of adultery, she is brutally beaten or murdered on the pretext of saving the ‘honour’ of the husband. When on adultery charges a wife is treated as a social stigma then why at all is a husband exonerated of adultery even if he is a womaniser?

Keeping in view the theory of gender egalitarianism the only one solution to this problem is to dissolve the orthodox meaning of the prevailing word ’honour’ and redefine it.

Parents should ensure that the emancipatory changes being brought by them in the life of their progenies are under their control. Too much freedom or humiliation can outbreak the revolts; creating a bridge gap differences in the generations. The Scarlett Keeling murder in Goa is a reflection of how excessive freedom proves to be a curse for the children. In the same way, children should respect the feelings of their parents and should understand their parental responsibility. This way a likely problem can be prevented and honour of the family safeguarded.