Today’s young husbands fear blue plastic drums and cement sacks as if they’ve become ominous symbols of death. Meanwhile, elderly mothers-in-law in joint families are buying begging bowls instead of wedding utensils, fearing that the daughter-in-law is no longer confined to the kitchen but has intentions elsewhere.

The wave of women's empowerment in Indian society has undoubtedly given women education, employment, and the freedom to make decisions, but it has also cast a dark shadow—broken relationships, illicit affairs, and murders committed in the name of love.

Read in Hindi: आधुनिकता की अंधी आंधी में रिश्तों का निकल रहा है जनाज़ा!

Have a look at some recent incidents that send shivers down the spine. In Agra, A 40-year-old woman, along with her lover, murdered her husband after he caught them in a compromising position. In Lucknow, A 25-year-old woman complained that her husband never took her out or understood her desires. She killed him with her lover. In Ballia, the dismembered body of a former soldier was found in six pieces—his wife and her lover were the culprits. In Kanpur, A woman murdered her husband with her nephew and tried to frame the neighbours. In Auraiya, just 15 days after marriage, a woman paid ₹2 lakh to a contract killer to murder her husband because she wanted to start a ‘new life’ with her lover.

In some cases, children became obstacles. In Telangana, A mother of three killed her children at her lover’s behest to become ‘single’ and marry him. In West Bengal, A woman murdered her 10-year-old son, fearing he would expose her lesbian relationship. In Gurugram, an 8-year-old son was killed for the same reason—her lover and a ‘new beginning’. In Uttar Pradesh, A 3-year-old daughter was stuffed into a suitcase and killed because the lover didn’t like children.

These cases share a common thread—relationships are no longer built on compromise and tradition but on desires and instant gratification. The Question Is… Are we building graves for relationships in the name of women's empowerment?

Today’s women are educated and self-reliant. By 2023, 49 per cent of women were employed in some form. Their financial independence has given them confidence, but this change has become a challenge for the fabric of family life. Platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook are no longer just for passing time; they’ve become the ground for new relationships.

According to a 2024 study, 70 per cent of people are active on social media daily. Many of them seek emotional support in these digital relationships. Many women adopt this path to escape unhappy marriages.

But when these ‘digital loves’ face real-life obstacles—husbands, children, or families—the situation escalates to murder, conspiracy, and drama. Some view this change as the ‘decline of old values’. “Earlier, daughters-in-law considered marriage a sacred duty; now they see themselves as CEOs,”—such remarks have become common.

A survey revealed that in 2023, 30 per cent of women reported domestic violence—clearly, not all relationships are perfect. But the question remains… Is ending relationships instead of fixing them the only option? Is murder in the name of love becoming a new social acceptance?

Elderly in-laws, once considered the pillars of families, are now often seen as ‘obstacles’ by daughters-in-law. Adjusting to these changes has become difficult for the elderly.

These incidents are not just ‘crime stories’. They are social warnings. The law will do its job, but society must now think about how to preserve morality and family values amidst financial independence and modernity.

Women's empowerment is essential—there’s no doubt about that. But empowerment comes with responsibility. If today’s women are capable of making their own decisions, they must also understand the dignity of relationships.

Otherwise, don’t be surprised if the next husband’s body is found in a plastic drum—this is the new price of ‘free love’ in today’s world.