Satyamev Jayate 17th June 2012 Written Update

For countless women, entering married life often means the beginning of a stressful, violent existence. Beating one’s wife seems to be ingrained in many men’s mindsets as the appropriate behaviour for a strong male, but the consequences are misery for the wife and children, and often a broken, unhappy home. The concept of domestic violence is based on the notion of patriarchy, which needs to be converted into equality.

More than 50 per cent of casualty cases at just one hospital in the metropolis of Mumbai are due to domestic violence. For Snehalata and Rashmi, it was a part of daily life until they gathered up the courage to walk out. For countless other women like them, violence at the hands of their husbands is an unavoidable reality.

A cross-section of men are asked whether they beat their wives, and why. Why do men believe that it is their birthright to assault women? Some light on the question is shed by Kamla Bhasin, an advisor at Sangat, the South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers, and has been working on women’s issues for the last 42 years.

Shanno Begum put up with violence from her husband for several years until a surprising incident stopped him. Later, she learnt driving through the Delhi-based Azad Foundation which helps women in need by training them to get gainful and dignified employment.

The men in the audience interact with Aamir, sharing their experiences and suggesting ways to bring about change.

Marriage is supposed to be a sacred bond — then when violence enters into the equation, where does this sanctity go? The marital knot is the basis for a secure, happy family. And it is the collective strength of these families which makes India what it is.