Pooja Garg

In the end,

If they knew where it was

All of them would go home –

And yet, home is where the danger lies for a lot of us. Domestic violence continues to be the elephant in the room and the dialog on the subject remains sparse.

Not the least because survivors do not step up and talk about their experiences. There is always the shadow of the attached guilt and shame. Guilt that one let it happen to oneself either for one’s acts of omission or commission. In other words, failed to be dutiful as defined and desired by the partner or the society. The other factor which leads to guilt especially in educated, independent people who continue to be victims is that one was not strong enough to resist or to put a stop to it. It is in fact a big misconception that it is only illiterate or financially lacking who are victims of domestic violence. Shame comes from talking about one’s body as not being inviolate or honored any more. In that sense, shame is almost, if not equal to rape.

For most, it is anathema to even think of a way out. Even as they live in constant fear, any talk of leaving their situation is met with bewilderment and confusion. Sapped of independent thought, their entrapment is complete.

It does not help that a lot of families choose not to interfere blaming the victim for creating cause that led to violence. Families who do start by supporting the victim also give up at some point when they themselves choose not to walk away. This is the most misunderstood part of domestic violence. Why does a victim being offered protection not take it? Are they really being abused if they don’t walk away? Agencies working in this area talk of the ‘cycle of abuse’ where every incident of abuse is followed by ‘honeymoon phase’ and which gives hope to the abused that all will be better in future.

Here is a piece of advice for anyone who is in an abusive relationship, or to pass it on anyone in such a situation : do this one little thing for yourself today. Pack your emergency bag.

What are the things you will need to take if you had to suddenly leave in an event of fire? Think of a similar emergency and pack accordingly.

Things that such a bag may contain:

Passports, ration cards and other identifying documents

Your bank documents and credit card

Cash for at least meal and cab fare to the airport or bus/train station – cards can be a fickle thing

Emergency contact list

Phone and phone charger

(If you have) laptop/ipad and its charger

One set of clothes

Something which inspires you – a book/a quote/a poem

Some of these things may take days to organize, such as your documents. Or your emergency contact list. Or money. Or phone. So make a start. Today.

Don’t worry about other keepsakes, clothes etc. It is hard, but don’t. Don’t worry about using this emergency bag either. The idea may seem overwhelming. So relax. Just pack and put it away somewhere safe. You will know when it is the right time to use it. Even if it takes years for you to decide. It is possible you may never have to use it. But it helps. A lot.

Because the day you pack that bag, you have taken the first step towards your freedom. You have let your subconscious get used to the idea of a life outside what defines you currently. The more you live with it, the more you will find the idea empowering. Hopefully it would make you think more about a life without abuse. The possibility of such a life. The possibility of being your own person again.

Your silence today is not a measure of your strength. Always remember that. In the quiet of the night, hug yourself.

And then there is this poem by Osip Mandelstram which will make for a great addition to your emergency bag:

You took away all the oceans and all the room.

You gave me my shoe-size in earth with bars around it.

Where did it get you? Nowhere.

You left me my lips, and they shape words, even in silence.

 

[Pooja Garg is Founder Editor of The Woman Inc and is working on a project to chronicle domestic violence survival stories.]