On March 10, 2012, Saheli Gupshup held its 3rd annual meeting entitled: “Coping with Domestic Violence” at the Burlington Public Library. Dr. Rajen Trivedi MD, and Dr. Nasir Khan MD, leading South Asian psychiatrists practicing in the Central Massachusetts area, were invited to speak to the group on this vitally important topic.

Dr. Trivedi is a member of the Saheli Advisory Board and has kindly loaned space at his Stoneham office for the organization to use. His discussion focused on the spiritual/moral issues that arise out of domestic violence. He quoted couplets from  Hindu scriptures highlighting the need for the community to educate itself about Domestic Violence and work to help the victims of these crimes individually as well as work together as a community to change cultural perceptions that tolerate or condone domestic violence.  Such as the belief held by a number of South Asian senior that heir daughters-in-law are their property and can be subjected to emotional or physical abuse at will.

Dr. Trivedi also recommended that members of the audience/community should familiarize themselves with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 209A, more commonly, known as the Abuse Prevention order.

Dr. Khan, currently practices in Newton Falls, MA and has an illustrious career spanning 50 years. His academic achievements include degrees from University College, University of London and a Fellowship from Harvard Medical School.

He began his talk by defining the meaning of Domestic violence according to the American Bar Association as “A pattern of behavior that one intimate partner exerts over another as a means of control. It may include physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation, and emotional, sexual, or economic abuse”.

He continued by talking about the fact that 100 years back “ wife beating” was a commonly accepted practice in all countries and all socio-economic levels around the world. How there are still some cultures that expect and accept male domination whereby the male is entitled to “control” his wife and children. Awareness of the societal “costs” of domestic violence did not become part of national and global consciousness till the 1970s and the beginning of the Women’s movement.

He quoted statistics about its prevalence as published by the US Department of Public Health and Human Rights Watch. Types of violence include domestic violence between couples, antisocial behavior leading to incidence of rape, resistance violence where the battered spouse resorts to one-time violent behavior that usually results in fatalities.

As he continued, he focused on domestic violence in the South Asian communities where a lot of behavior is caused by and/or encouraged by in-laws against their daughters-in-law. H also mentioned ‘honor killings’ resulting from rape or violence against females whose relatives then seek revenge against the perpetrators.

Dr. Khan concluded his speech by emphasizing the need for prevention and complete eradication of domestic violence. He said that this can be achieved simply talking through awareness, education, peer support, and finally constructive help from the community.

The speeches were followed by a lively discussion between audience and speakers in an effort to achieve further illumination on this subject .

Saheli Gupshup is an initiative of Saheli Boston, designed to focus on women’s issues in a safe, supportive environment. Saheli Boston was founded in 1996 as an affiliate of India Association Greater Boston as a community-based women’s organization to serve the needs of the growing South Asian community in Massachusetts. Please check out our website at www.saheliboston.org to learn about the work Saheli does. Become an effective member of the South Asian community and a good citizen through monetary donations to this and also by volunteering your time to help. We are in need of lawyers and therapists who are willing to donate their time to helping our clients.

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