India, June 16 -- The Raja Raghuvanshi case has once again brought the patriarchal mindset and the rigid Indian understanding of marriage to the fore.

Of course, one must sympathise with Raja, who was murdered unjustly and his family, but ultimately, it was our patriarchal mindset that killed him. Justice must be served, and the perpetrators brought to light. There must also be a rethinking of the institution of marriage in India, which, although evolving, remains misaligned with modern realities.

Marriage in the Indian context has historically been less about personal happiness or compatibility and more about family honour, societal expectations, and caste dynamics. Women, in particular, have borne the brunt of this cultural rigidity....