What Failed Surjit? A Story of Caste Pride and Cowardice

 What shook Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India, was the honor killing of Kavin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old by the brother of his girlfriend.

Kavin, a brilliant mind, had earned a gold medal for his academic performance at the university and was employed at TCS, with a monthly salary of more than a lakh. He had known and been in love with Subhashini, a medical doctor and the daughter of two police officers, since they attended the same school in Tuticorin. Subhashini belonged to a community categorized as "Most Backward," while Kavin was a member of the Scheduled Caste. Because of their differing backgrounds, Subhashini's parents did not approve of the relationship, fearing social ostracization if their daughter married Kavin.

What happened next is truly chilling.

Kavin traveled to Tirunelveli to take his ailing grandfather to the clinic where Subhashini worked. Her 21-year-old brother, Surjit, learned of the situation and met with Kavin. After exchanging friendly banter, Surjit lured Kavin to an isolated place, threw chili powder into his face, and delivered murderous blows with a sickle. Kavin died instantly. The words Surjit reportedly uttered to Kavin's helpless mother were, "Gather your son's pieces."

The Foundation of Failure: Caste Pride

The core of this heinous act is the unyielding ideology of caste pride. Surjit's violent act was not a spontaneous outburst but a deliberate, premeditated crime rooted in the belief that his sister's relationship with a man from a Scheduled Caste was a threat to his family's social standing. His friends "gaslighting" him by framing the relationship as an "infringement of our fortress"—is a stark example of how this toxic ideology is nurtured and weaponized within social circles. It's a mentality that values a perceived group identity over human life, dignity, and individual achievement. The fact that he was previously suspended for casteist remarks shows this was a deeply ingrained worldview, not a momentary lapse in judgment.

Familial and Personal Shortcomings

While Surjit is the perpetrator, the responsibility for his actions extends beyond him. The failure of his parents to address his harmful beliefs and his association with a company of "fit for nothing lads" is a critical point. While a police officer's son, Surjit lacked the discipline and moral compass that might have been expected. His personal failures—as a student and in his ambitions—seem to have been compensated for by a dangerous over-reliance on his caste identity. This is a common pattern among those who feel a sense of inadequacy; they cling to a group identity to feel superior and powerful.

A Systemic Breakdown

The most chilling aspect of this case is the societal approval it has, in some quarters, received.  YouTube comments "praising the young man for his act of bravery" reveals a dangerous subculture where honor killings are not only justified but glorified. This is a profound systemic failure. It shows that despite progress and legal protections, a significant portion of society still holds onto regressive and violent beliefs. The murder of Kavin was an attack on a brilliant, accomplished individual by someone who, by his own admission, lacked personal achievements, yet felt entitled to take a life based on a social construct.

Ultimately, Surjit was failed by his own weakness, his family's inaction, his peer group's toxic influence, and a wider society that, in some pockets, still sanctions violence in the name of "honor."

#honorkillings #tcs #kavin #tirunelveli #tamilnadu

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