The brutal murder of 25-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav by her own father, Deepak Yadav, in Gurugram’s posh Sushant Lok society on July 11th, 2025, is not merely another domestic tragedy—it is a shocking, heartbreaking expose of the deep-rooted feudal mindset that persists in Haryana. A state that boasts gleaming malls and gated societies also harbors archaic, patriarchal values that render its women and girls the perennial targets of violence in the name of "honor."
Radhika’s killing rips apart the thin urban veneer covering Haryana’s villages transplanted into its cities. It is a reminder that while the state has changed economically, it has not evolved socially—especially in its treatment of women.
This essay seeks to grapple with the horrific symbolism of Radhika’s death: a promising tennis player with her own academy, murdered by the man who should have protected her, all for daring to be independent and "defying" patriarchal expectations.
But the tragedy is larger than one family. It reveals the persistent hold of Haryana’s feudal past over its present, the collective complicity in normalizing violence against women, and the chilling silence of society—including social, political, and women's organizations—when such atrocities occur.
No “Honor” in Murder: The Misnomer of “Honor Killing”
First, let us be clear: there is no honor in killing. The phrase "honor killing" is itself a grim lie—there is no honor in murder, only control, misogyny, and the assertion of male power over female lives.
Haryana has long been infamous for such crimes. From rural backwaters to glitzy urban colonies, families have murdered daughters, sisters, wives to protect a fragile, male-defined "honor"—whether it is threatened by a woman’s choice of husband, assertion of independence, or even mere rumor.
What makes Radhika’s case especially jarring is the setting: Sushant Lok, one of Gurugram’s poshest addresses. Yet in that plush apartment, the ancient demons of patriarchal pride were alive and well.
Reports suggest her father’s rage was provoked by taunts from villagers that he was "living off his daughter’s income." That toxic masculinity could not bear the idea of a daughter being successful, financially independent, and running her own academy. This, in his view, was a stain on his "honor"—a stain he chose to erase with her blood.
Haryana’s Historical Context: The Roots of Patriarchal Control
This is not a new problem. Haryana's social structure has been historically patriarchal and feudal, with strong patrilineal traditions that enforced strict control over women’s lives.
Ancient Period:
In the early Vedic age (1500–500 BCE), there is some evidence that women could access education and were even sages—like Gargi and Maitreyi. But this did not last. As settled agriculture developed, patriarchal family structures consolidated, with women’s roles confined to the home.
Texts like the Manusmriti (c. 200 BCE–200 CE) explicitly subordinated women: “A woman must never be independent.” Women were declared to be always under the control of father, husband, or son. The concept of pativrata, or absolute devotion to husband, became central to a woman's virtue.
Medieval Period:
Feudal kingdoms and Mughal rule reinforced patriarchal norms. Purdah (the veil system)—akin to the ghunghat still seen in rural Haryana—became widespread, cutting women off from education, public life, and economic independence. Child marriage, sati (widow immolation), and strict caste codes entrenched female subjugation.
Colonial and Post-Independence Period:
British rule banned certain practices (like sati) but often codified conservative religious laws. Even post-independence India, while legally granting equality, saw minimal change on the ground in places like Haryana. Dowry, female foeticide, domestic violence, and social policing of women’s choices remained rampant.
Haryana’s Infamous Skewed Sex Ratio: The Hunt is Girl
Haryana has the dubious distinction of being among India’s worst states for its sex ratio. Female foeticide, infanticide, and discrimination against girl children have been endemic. Decades of government campaigns have only slowly improved the numbers—but the cultural mindset remains.
Why? Because daughters are still often seen as burdens. Their education, health, and freedom are seen as less important than those of sons. The “hunt is girl” mentality persists—from the womb to the grave.
The Dark History of Honor Killings in Haryana
Honor killings in Haryana have made national headlines for decades. Girls have been murdered for:
Loving or marrying someone from another caste or gotra.
Choosing their own partner.
Refusing arranged marriages.
Pursuing education or careers against family wishes.
Even for rumors of “immoral” behavior.
Khap panchayats—traditional caste councils—have notoriously issued dictates supporting such violence. While they lack legal authority, their social clout can be devastating. Families often kill their own daughters under community pressure, fearing social boycott and shame.
These murders are rarely the act of one deranged individual. They are collective crimes—planned, justified, and even celebrated as "restoring honor."
The Paradox of Sporting Glory: Tools of Patriarchal Prestige
Yet Haryana also produces India’s most celebrated sportswomen. The Phogat sisters in wrestling, Sakshi Malik, Saina Nehwal, Manika Batra, Manu Bhakar. They have smashed stereotypes and made India proud.
But why do so many of these stories come from Haryana? Because families push their daughters into sport as a way to gain prestige they couldn't achieve themselves.
Girls are often trained under punishing regimes, not necessarily for their own dreams but as tools to bring fame and status to the family and village. They are permitted to shine, but only within carefully controlled boundaries.
When these same girls try to assert true independence—by choosing their career, spending their income, selecting a partner—they can face harsh backlash. Radhika Yadav ran her own tennis academy, presumably making independent decisions about her life and earnings. That was the ultimate threat to patriarchal control.
Neo-Rich Feudalism: Rural Mindset in Urban Glass Towers
Gurugram is emblematic of Haryana’s economic transformation. Rural families, enriched by land sales and development, have migrated to swanky apartments in gated communities.
But prosperity has not equaled progress. The "neo-rich" often carry their village mindset into these new spaces. The flashy cars and marble floors coexist with rigid patriarchal values. Control over daughters remains paramount.
That’s the horror of Radhika’s murder in Sushant Lok. The symbols of wealth and urban sophistication could not contain the fury of a father who felt shamed by his daughter’s independence.
The Deafening Silence: Where is the Outrage?
Equally chilling is what followed Radhika’s death. Or rather, what didn’t.
Where were the loud condemnations from social organizations? Women’s rights groups? Political parties?
The silence is damning.
It signals complicity, fear, and a fatal resignation that such things are "normal" or "family matters." Politicians don’t want to alienate conservative voters. Society doesn’t want to confront its own demons. Even women’s organizations, which should have been leading protests, were largely absent.
This silence emboldens killers. It tells every violent patriarch that society will look the other way.
The Way Forward: Breaking the Chains
This cannot continue. Honor killings are not an "issue" to be discussed—they are crimes to be eradicated.
1. Stronger Legal Action:
Fast-track courts for honor killings. Harsh, certain punishment. Protection for girls who fear their families. Witness protection for allies who speak up.
2. Education That Challenges Patriarchy:
Curriculum must teach gender equality and respect for women’s choices. Boys need to unlearn toxic masculinity.
3. Economic Empowerment:
Government and NGOs should support women’s entrepreneurship, employment, and land ownership. Financial independence gives women options.
4. Social Support Systems:
Safe houses. Helplines. Counseling. Legal aid. Women need somewhere to turn when family becomes the threat.
5. Collective Opposition and Public Campaigns:
We need mass awareness campaigns. Community leaders, celebrities, politicians must condemn these crimes. Women’s groups must be louder and more militant in their advocacy.
6. Media Responsibility:
The media must move beyond sensational headlines to sustained coverage of systemic issues. It must also celebrate stories of women who resist and win.
Conclusion: Blood on the Tennis Court
Radhika Yadav’s murder is a grim monument to Haryana’s failure to protect its daughters. A talented young athlete. A woman with a thriving academy. A daughter who should have been her family’s pride. Instead, she was murdered for defying her father’s sense of control. If this does not shock Haryana’s conscience, what will? It is time for every citizen, every leader, every organization to say enough. To organize. To legislate. To educate. To fight. So that no girl in Haryana—or anywhere—ever has to pay with her life for wanting to live it on her own terms.
Because there is no honor in murder. Only shame in our silence.
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