The hidden evil of domestic violence

Domestic violence is a universal evil. It dwells deep in many households across the world. Millions of women live under the dark shadows of domestic everyday. It is high time we wake up and raise our voice against this crime.

CJ: Aarti Natarajan

Sun, Apr 22, 2007 00:00:00 IST

Views:
3115
Comments:
2

Rate:

2.31 / 8 votes

THE OTHER DAY I went to watch ‘Provoked’. The theatre in which it was running was one of the smaller ones, which made it easy for me to see that 95 per cent of the audience were women. The movie in itself packed a powerful punch and as I exited the theatre, I found myself looking around me and wondering how many of those present would ever admit to having gone through a similar experience.

I for one would hesitate to. I grew up with an abusive father, one whose favourite pastime was thrashing my mother. My childhood happens to be an integral part of my life, yet it is something I prefer to keep concealed.

After watching ‘Provoked’ I asked myself why? And the answer came to me instantly: I was scared. Scared of the day when I would hear the question, “But your mother must have done something to provoke him?"

Is that really true? Does domestic violence have to have a reason? And necessarily one that finds fault with the victim?

This is what I would call a tragic flaw in our society that compels the victims to protect the abusers. Not out of any sense of fondness but out of a sense of fear. For unfortunately the first person our society condemns is not the abuser but the victim.

I agree with what Kiranjit Ahluwalia did. No woman should have to put up with an encroachment of self respect. We are brought up to believe that our husbands are our gods. The time has arrived for us to wake up and realize that this is not true. They too are human beings, as flawed as any of us.

Why this need to cower and meekly accept whatever is dished out? Isn’t it high time we raised our voice against an evil that is eating away at the roots of our existence? What good is a bill passed against domestic violence when there is no one to implement it?

It took ten years for my mother to shake herself free from the shackles of daily violence. I implore you all; don’t let it take you that long. There is no crime worse than an infliction of violence on the woman you once promised to love, protect and cherish. This atrocity needs to be stopped. Stop it now, before you become the next victim.

Print | Post comment

Post your comment

Posted comments (2)

	From time immoemorial ladies are subject to violance.Previously law was stiff and they stayed at homeshredding tears and while away the life. There were husband with many illegal wives? Are there any such ladies in history? As imagined by Mr. Bala how many ladies have killed their husband and how many husband has killed their wives? Will you compare and tell.You are telling husbands have committed more sucide than wives? Where from did you get this statistics to enhance your demand. No survey has ever said such.Killing od wives agin are on the rise. Where are you males coming up now top stop this?How many of you males are fighting to restrict husbands to have only one wife. Tu are telling that :If a relationship is not going well its better to call it quit."So easy for a male to comment. Who will bear the burden of children? Husband will go for another marriage sooner or later. What will the wives do along with the children? There is an alumuni system but if the husband does not go everyime the wives need to go to court.This is also a domestic violance. Is it not. How do you stop them? Kindly sit in a family court for a month and see what is going on. Then you will also support this article.
	\| 01 June 2007 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	Domestic violence of any form should be abolished. If a relationship is not going well its better to call it quit. But just killing the sleeping husband is not the right thing to do. Its not an act of heroism. And that act is to be punished by law. After all when a wife dies an un-natural death its by default a "dowry" death in India. The converse is not true. Statistics in India shows more percentage of married man commit suicide that womman. Are all this due to domestic violence? Don't forget that its man who fought against the social evils of 'sati' and started 'widow-remarriage'. So the key to all this is to get respect one has to respect the other individual too. Just having some gender biased Domestic Violence laws will not do. One should fight for laws to protect everyone equally. Any dis-balance will cause dis-satisfaction and will be a cause of cold-war.
	\| 24 April 2007 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse