The State of Present Society

The State of Present Society

1989 5 May 12 The State of Present Society (276) The Indian Express of November 24, 1988, lies before me. The first page carries a news item that a 26-year old woman, called Parvesh, was murdered by her mother-in-Iaw, who poured kerosene over her and set her on fire because she had not met her in-laws’ demand for 10,000 rupees from her parents.

The following day, a similar news item appeared on the first page of the same newspaper: ‘Another Dowry Victim.’ It seems that 26-year oId Arween Rana was killed by her in-laws, again, only because she failed to meet their monetary demands. News of this nature – ‘dowry’ deaths, as these murders are routinely called by the police – can be found in the newspapers every day. The, issue of the increasing rate of dowry deaths having been raised in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. P. Chidambaram, gave the following figures:

In 1985 999 deaths

1986 1319 “

1987 1786 “

This is only one aspect of the level of barbarity that present-day Indian society has reached. Such events go to show that the society in which we are living is that of ferocious wolves rather than that of civilized human beings. This being so, protesting against rioters, or issuing statements to condemn the rioters can only be regarded as a foolish reaction. In such a state affairs the only way for a wise man to escape is to avoid these beasts in human form. Even when there is provocation from their side, one should not allow oneself to be provoked. No one fights a beast: beasts are to be avoided: one is not supposed to do battle with them.