Every day, we hear scary news of violence. A husband brutally killed his own wife on a busy street – and people around him just filmed it on their phones. In another case, a woman from Delhi was tricked and beheaded by her lover in a village. These horror stories shock our hearts. We ask: What is happening to our society? Where are our morals?

Even official data shows India has a big violence problem. In 2022, there were about 28,500 murders, nearly 78 people killed every day. Out of those victims, over 8,100 were women. Most killings happen over small fights or grudges. Police reports say “disputes” and “revenge” were the main reasons. Every murder is a life lost, a family destroyed. This is not just “bad luck” – it is happening again and again.

Why are people being so cruel? There are many reasons. People can get very angry or jealous. Some have money or alcohol problems. Stress and poverty make tempers short. Experts warn that today’s kids see too much violence on TV and the internet. They grow up watching crime videos, playing violent games, and reading angry posts on social media. One psychiatrist said children now often look up to the wrong role models: they watch others “brandish weapons, commit crimes and seemingly get away with it” online. This scares them and even makes crime seem normal or exciting.

We also have a lonely society. Families are busy, parents are stressed or working far away. Teens feel lost and have little guidance. Many children lack good friends or caring adults. When trouble comes, they don’t know where to turn. In this void, bad influences creep in. It becomes easy to cross the line. A small argument can turn deadly because no one has learned patience or respect.

It even feels like we are in Kalyug – the age of moral collapse. Some writers warn that our times are like the dark era described in Indian scriptures. In Kalyug, people give in to greed, anger and ego. They lose respect for life and truth. One commentator pointed out: “What happened to our collective conscience? Have we grown so accustomed to crime on screens that we no longer see its horror in real life?” In other words, after seeing violence on phones and TV all the time, we stop treating it as shocking. We just watch and scroll by, instead of stopping to help.

Out here, you see it happen quietly. Not running toward trouble, folks stand back filming - cameras rolling like they’re on set. That act alone? A quiet betrayal. Caring less about others slips in when nobody’s watching. Curiosity now rides up front, while empathy and courage sit quiet in the back. This shift should not settle in like an old habit.

Hope remains, even now. Violence does not have to keep winning. Those who study it closely believe change happens when people receive proper care and guidance - many harmful acts could fade away. Schools plus clinics? They’re places where empathy grows, warnings show up sooner, and support arrives earlier. Healing this harm takes effort, much like fighting disease; resignation has no place here.

We all need to wake up and act fast. This is our wake-up call. We must teach ourselves and our children empathy, respect and patience. Kindness can beat anger. Listening can heal hurt. Love can conquer hate.

Urgent Steps We Can Take

• As Citizens and Families: When harm happens, stepping forward matters more than staying quiet. Instead of looking away, offer support - or get someone who can. Right from their early years, kids learn fairness through what we show them each day. Schools play a part, too - values grow where respect is lived. Shouting down shame, rejecting cruelty - that sets the tone at home. Connection builds when conversations happen, not just during meals but after dark, before bed. Teens carry silent weights; listening cuts through that weight one word at a time. Helping isn’t always loud - it shows up in presence, questions, and open doors. Moments matter most when no one feels left to face storms alone. When anger feels too heavy, talking to someone might help. A quiet moment of care can change everything because each person counts.
• As a Community and Society: More help hubs plus trained listeners are needed right where families live, and kids learn. Churches, mosques, and clubs could host workshops on staying calm and treating people well. What shows up on screens - streamed clips, online posts - ought to highlight healers, not harm-doers. When someone nearby acts off, withdraws, or is fierce, speaking up might prevent worse outcomes. Young minds grow stronger when they hear that bravery means protecting, not punishing.
• For Government and Leaders: When rules are applied without favour, those who break them understand there is no way out. Trust grows where officers learn how locals live, making neighbours more likely to speak up about wrongdoing. Support systems work best when therapy reaches worn-out households before tension builds too high. Simple messages - spoken plainly, not shouted from stages - can shape kindness, self-control, and shared understanding over time. Besides teaching math and reading, schools might weave in lessons about handling everyday challenges, plus how to treat others well. When home turns dangerous, some find relief through phone support or temporary housing made available just for that reason.

Most of all, we must not give up. History shows societies can change for the better when people demand it. In India’s past, we overcame big problems by working together. Today’s problem is different – violence and loss of morals – but the solution is the same: unity, caring, and action. Each one of us can make a difference, even a small one.

Let this be a turning point. We can rebuild trust in humanity. We can teach the next generation that life is precious. We can prove that Kalyug can end when we revive our conscience. It starts with you, me, and all of us caring a little more.

References

1. Karnataka: Husband slits wife's throat, drives off; onlookers record video. The Times of India, published on May 31, 2024. Author: Staff Reporter. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
2. Delhi Woman Beheaded: Alcohol, betrayal and more: How 'lover' plotted murder in UP, beheads Delhi woman. The Times of India, published on May 30, 2024. Author: Staff Reporter. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
3. Ncrb: 28,522 murder cases registered in India in 2022, 78 every day: NCRB | India News - Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
4. Under 18, but brazen: Why murders by minors are emerging as a major concern | Delhi News - The Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
5. Kalyug Reflected in a Crime: The Chilling Case of Ram Kesh Meena and the Erosion of Human Values https://reflections.live
6. Psychologist explains domestic violence, caregiver stress impact women’s mental health: Here’s how to help them heal | Health https://www.hindustantimes.com

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