Domestic violence

This is in response to Aamir Khan’s column on domestic violence (“In homes, a menace whose victims fear to speak its name,” June 18). The theories we believe, we call facts; and the facts we disbelieve, we call theories. Domestic violence is not just about a man assaulting a woman. Nor is it about the domination of one over the other. It is a problem for which the solution lies at home but few ever think of it. If a child sees his father beating up his mother or his uncle beating up his aunt almost every day, how can we expect him to be different when he grows up?

But we also need to see the other side of the coin. There is, for instance, the issue of matriarchal domination, which many deny in public. Many of us are like the writer who wrote a book titled How to control your wife but was unable to publish it because his wife didn’t give him permission.

Hari Kiran. Vaida, Vijayawada

It is unfortunate that the violence faced by men at home is not even recognised. The fact that the Domestic Violence Act has been misused to torture many men and their families seems to be something about which nobody cares.

Shaik Rizwan Ahmed, Hyderabad

I agree with most of the views expressed by Aamir Khan. I would like to add that domestic violence in most cases emanates from the womenfolk of the household. Women saying ‘no’ to violence and respecting other women will be the first big step in the fight against it.

P. Satya, Hyderabad