India, Aug. 26 -- The murder of Nikki for dowry is not an aberration but a symptom of the deeper rot of patriarchy, greed, and gender inequality that we have yet to confront
It may not be a national issue but it should be. We may be reaching for the stars in science and technology, but when it comes to our respect for women and sensibilities towards them, we remain stuck in the patriarchal mindset and conservative thinking. The gruesome murder of 26-year-old Nikki in Greater Noida is a case in point. Burnt alive by her husband and in-laws for dowry sum of Rs 36 Lakhs and for daring to assert her independence, Nikki's death is not just another "crime" but a mirror held up to our society. It reflects an ugly truth - that even in 2025, in an ...