By Sonu Tyagi, Founder, Go Spiritual & Approach Entertainment
The recent tragedy in Gurugram, where a father, Deepak Yadav, shot his 25-year-old daughter, Radhika Yadav, a national-level tennis player, in their Sushant Lok home, has sent shockwaves through the nation. The motive, as per police reports, was rooted in the father’s anger over his daughter running a tennis academy and the societal taunts he faced for allegedly living off her earnings. This horrific act, where a parent turned a gun on his own child, forces us to confront a chilling question: Why are we turning against our own families? What drives a father to kill his daughter, a husband to murder his wife, or a sibling to betray their own? The answers lie in a toxic brew of ego, greed, societal pressures, and a profound disconnect from the values that once held families together. As the founder of Go Spiritual Organization and Go Spiritual News Magazine & App, I believe spirituality offers a path to restore sanity, heal relationships, and rediscover the sacred bonds of family.
The Erosion of Family Bonds
Once, the family was the cornerstone of Indian society—a sanctuary of unconditional love, mutual respect, and shared dreams. Parents and children, siblings and spouses, were bound by a sense of duty and affection that transcended personal ambitions. Today, however, these bonds are fraying. The Gurugram case is not an isolated incident. We read of parents killing children over academic performance, spouses orchestrating murders for financial gain, and siblings clashing over inheritance. According to a 2023 report by the National Crime Records Bureau, over 28,000 cases of crimes within families, including domestic violence and honor killings, were reported in India. This number, though staggering, only scratches the surface of the emotional and psychological fractures within households.
What has changed? The rise of materialism, individualism, and societal pressures has shifted our priorities. Families, once united by shared values, are now battlegrounds for ego, greed, and lust. In the Gurugram tragedy, Deepak Yadav’s actions were reportedly triggered by taunts about his daughter’s financial independence. His ego, wounded by societal perceptions of masculinity and control, led to an unimaginable act. Similarly, cases like the Meghalaya honeymoon murder, where a wife and her lover allegedly orchestrated the killing of her husband for personal gain, reveal how greed and lust can erode the sanctity of familial trust. These acts are symptoms of a deeper malaise—a loss of the spiritual moorings that once anchored us.
The Mental Health Crisis
At the heart of this crisis lies a silent epidemic: mental health. The pressures of modern life—financial instability, social media scrutiny, and relentless competition—have left many feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Deepak Yadav’s reaction to societal taunts suggests a man grappling with shame and anger, emotions that, left unaddressed, can spiral into violence. Mental health issues, when ignored, amplify negative emotions like ego and resentment, turning loved ones into targets.
In India, mental health remains a taboo subject. Despite the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017, access to mental health services is limited, with only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. Stigma prevents many from seeking help, and families often dismiss warning signs as “weakness” or “overreaction.” The result is a society where unprocessed emotions fester, sometimes erupting in tragic ways, as seen in Gurugram. Had Deepak Yadav had access to mental health support or a spiritual framework to process his feelings, could this tragedy have been averted? We may never know, but it underscores the urgent need for mental health awareness and intervention.
The Role of Ego, Greed, and Lust
The motives behind family violence—ego, greed, and lust—are not new, but their prevalence in modern times is alarming. Ego, as seen in Deepak Yadav’s case, is often tied to patriarchal notions of control and honor. When a daughter’s success challenges a father’s sense of authority, it can ignite rage. Greed, as in the Meghalaya case, drives individuals to prioritize wealth over relationships, reducing loved ones to obstacles. Lust, too, has fueled betrayals, with extramarital affairs leading to violent outcomes.
These vices thrive in a culture that glorifies material success over emotional and spiritual well-being. Social media amplifies this, creating a world where appearances matter more than authenticity. We compare ourselves to others, fueling envy and insecurity. When these emotions infiltrate families, they erode trust and replace love with resentment. The question is: How do we break this cycle?
The Spiritual Antidote
Spirituality, at its core, is about reconnecting with our higher selves and recognizing the divine in others, including our families. It offers a path to heal the wounds of ego, greed, and lust by fostering compassion, gratitude, and self-awareness. At Go Spiritual, we believe that spiritual practices—whether meditation, prayer, or mindfulness—can restore sanity and strengthen relationships. Here’s how:
- Cultivating Self-Awareness: Spirituality encourages introspection, helping us understand our triggers and emotions. For someone like Deepak Yadav, meditation or journaling could have provided a safe space to process his anger and shame, preventing it from turning destructive. Practices like yoga and mindfulness, rooted in Indian traditions, teach us to pause and reflect rather than react impulsively.
- Fostering Compassion: Spiritual teachings, from the Bhagavad Gita to the Bible, emphasize love and forgiveness. By seeing our family members as extensions of ourselves, we can replace judgment with empathy. Imagine a world where Deepak Yadav viewed his daughter’s success as a shared triumph rather than a threat to his ego.
- Building Resilience: Spirituality provides tools to navigate life’s challenges without succumbing to societal pressures. Practices like gratitude journaling can shift our focus from what we lack to what we have, reducing greed and envy. For families torn apart by financial disputes, this mindset can be transformative.
- Restoring Family Bonds: Traditional Indian practices, such as joint family prayers or storytelling sessions, once strengthened familial ties. Reviving these rituals—whether through shared meditation or reading spiritual texts—can rebuild trust and create safe spaces for dialogue. At Go Spiritual, we advocate for families to engage in collective spiritual practices to foster unity.
- Addressing Mental Health: Spirituality and mental health are deeply intertwined. Practices like chanting or breathwork can reduce stress and anxiety, complementing professional therapy. By normalizing conversations about mental health within a spiritual framework, we can destigmatize seeking help and create a culture of healing.
A Call to Action
The Gurugram tragedy is a wake-up call. We cannot continue to ignore the forces tearing families apart. As a society, we must prioritize mental health education, making counseling accessible and stigma-free. Families must create spaces for open communication, where emotions are expressed without fear of judgment. Most importantly, we must return to the spiritual values that once defined us—love, respect, and unity.
At Go Spiritual News Magazine & App, we are committed to promoting these values through content that inspires and educates. We invite you to join us in this journey—practice mindfulness, seek therapy if needed, and engage in family rituals that nurture connection. Let us honor Radhika Yadav’s memory by building a world where no parent turns a gun on their child, where love triumphs over ego, and where families are sanctuaries once more.
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Sonu Tyagi Intro : Sonu Tyagi is a renowned writer, director, producer, and founder of Go Spiritual and Approach Entertainment. Through Go Spiritual, he promotes spiritual awareness, mental health, wellness, and social causes via media, events, and a dedicated news magazine and app. Approach Entertainment leads in celebrity management, film production, advertising, and events, while Approach Communications excels in PR and Approach Bollywood covers entertainment news. With expertise in psychology, journalism, and filmmaking, Tyagi blends creativity and leadership, collaborating with top Indian media and advertising agencies.
For more details, contact 9820965004 / 9716962242 or visit www.approachentertainment.com & www.gospiritualindia.org
