A 19-year-old college student, Shahana Mumthaz, was found dead at her home in Kerala's Malappuram district on January 14. Her family alleges that harassment from her husband and in-laws over her complexion and limited English proficiency led her to take her own life.
Shahana, a first-year BSc Mathematics student, married Abdul Wahab, a worker based in Abu Dhabi, in May last year. The couple spent only 22 days together before Wahab returned to the UAE. According to her family, Wahab began ignoring Shahana's calls and harassed her via text messages, criticizing her appearance and language skills.
Her family claims that when Shahana sought support from her mother-in-law, she was dismissed, with her mother-in-law suggesting Wahab deserved a partner who was "more mature and fair." This raises a pressing question: Has English proficiency too now become a critical requirement in marriage, leading to unnecessary pressure on individuals, especially women?
Shahana's tragic death was discovered on January 14, and the police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), with an ongoing investigation into the circumstances. The family's allegations regarding the role of language and appearance in the marriage are being looked into.
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