Meena, Deepika2025-08-282025-08-282025-08-26https://countercurrents.org/2025/08/when-aspiration-becomes-threat-two-tragedies-that-expose-a-wider-pattern/https://ir.mica.ac.in//handle/123456789/10267Two recent deaths the killing of young tennis coach Radhika Yadav and the alleged dowry-related death of beautician Nikki have reopened a painful conversation about how aspirations, particularly those of women, can be read as a threat inside the family. Beyond the particulars of each case, both tragedies point to a recurring social logic: individual striving is rarely only personal; it is shaped, judged and sometimes violently policed by the family and community. Dr Deepika Meena is an assistant professor at MICA Ahmedabad. Her Research interested are Gender, Aspiration and Higher EducationenProf. Deepika Meena written this article.