The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments. - Friedrich Nietzsche
Domestic abuse happens. Just not to us or anyone we know. Because the abusers are usually crazy or raging alcoholics. And the victims are usually utterly helpless.
Despite our own personal awareness, this is the general opinion. As advocates of violent truths, those who have the power to bring about such awareness ought to dispel the public of such notions. It can happen to absolutely anyone. Do not underestimate anger. It can afflict anyone, in any socio-economic situation. It is the worst of the seven deadly sins. And is the primary cause of abuse. Not necessarily emotional trauma or substance abuse. Anger is enough to violate any human right.
Director Jagmohan Mundhra decided to tell a true story about a tragic tale of a wife abused for 10 years, who then kills her husband and is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without any consideration for her aggravating circumstances. The mistake he makes is that he decides to tell an 'engaging' tale instead of a true one. The victim, Kiranjeet Ahluwalia is reduced from a somewhat self-sufficient factory worker, to a completely helpless housewife. The abuser, Deepak Ahluwalia is depicted as a raging alcoholic which may not be true. The rest of the deviations, in my opinion, are not as harmful as these. I think it's a disservice in telling a stereotypical story instead of the real one. I'm not sure how it is supposed to be more engaging, but certainly perpetuates the "it's not going to happen to us" assurance. Despite the tragic tale, the subtle yet important false assurance that it carries, does little to spread the message it may have intended.
2 comments:
A movie is always a movie. I think the Director has the right to choose what he thinks is appealing to the audience. The promo says "based on a true story" and I think we are at fault to think that the movie actually is trying to give public a message. It is a mistake to have a promo saying "a true story" and then twist the tale to suit personal interests. The Director here does not do that and I think he is not at fault. Whether the story teller is intending to spread a message or not, the audience are responsible for understanding the true intentions of the story.
AFAIK, the movie sucks though it was well intentioned. I would still consider such movies important simply because they help focus attention on these issues - especially the mainstream which would not think of these things normally might get moved into action. However, if one really wants to understand the issues, a good start is usually a documentary or even a report by a human rights organization.
What can be done to solve these issues
1. An awareness generation is the biggest issue. Victims need to be made to realize that it is ok to leave and they don't need to deal with crap.
2. A support structure should be in place. I can think of organizations like Raksha in Atlanta and Saheli in Boston doing some good work in the same. Don't remember names of orgs in India per se but there are quite a few. This support structure would help such victims actually have the strength to come out of their present life ans start anew. Support usually includes not just financial but also emotional and psychological (which I think is more important) along with Skills training.
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