The Flames burnt it All !

On August 21, flames engulfed 26 year old Nikki Bhati’ s body in a Greater Noida home. We are confronted again with the harsh truth that women are not safe. Marriage, often celebrated as a sacred bond remains the most dangerous institutions for women.

Talking of Gen Nxt & advances we have made none in the psyche of the people around. They still are judgmental as they were before. The women remain in a bond as they did earlier.

Nikki was another victim to dowry & also because she tried to assert her autonomy. She wanted to open her modest beauty parlor, post reels on Instagram & carve a life not wholly decided by her husband & in -laws.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 6,450 women were killed in dowry related violence in 2002 alone– 18 women died daily because of dowry. Dowry is demand of money & a system of violence that makes women’s lives negotiable!

As Anjali Chauhan observes, it begins with marriage negotiations which creeps in daily life as a reminder of her worth is transactional, that she is not a person but a property.

Divorce in the society is treated as a mark of failure, not of marriage but of the woman. Branded as a ‘burden’ , while men who abandon or abuse their wives face little social sanction.

A society where we would rather see a woman die than live as a divorcee. We need to say it aloud : every time the parents prioritize the societal reputation over their daughter ‘s safety, they become complicit in the system that kills her.

Marriage in our society is constructed as a woman ‘s ultimate destiny but her autonomy is relentlessly policed. Nikki wanted to rebuild her parlor , which became flashpoints because they symbolized freedom – economic, social & personal.

How long are we going to ignore the situation? Justice for Nikki is not only jailing her husband & in -laws, but creating conditions where no woman has to live in fear of being killed for resisting. Economic independence for women, swift legal redressal for the survivors, community networks that intervene & a cultural revolution in how we view honor & women ‘s lives.

Every daughter deserves a good life & the society should realize it. If marriage is perceived, as a form of partnership & women gain equal status can the flames within be ignited.

Burning someone alive is a shame. Such hatred! Dousing those flames & igniting the minds is the key.