AT R OC IT IES AGAI NST W OME N

&
UNDERS TANDING GENDER JUS TICE

Final Report of the Research Project submitted to

KRPLLD Programme Secretariat
Centre for Development Studies
Prasanth Nagar Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram

By
Sobha P V
C/o Prayoga Trust
Orma, Poovattuparambu, Kozhikode
 Acknowledgement

I am very much pleased to thank those who helped me to bring

the present work into being; first and foremost, to Dr. K.N.Nair,
Programme Co- ordinator, KRPLLD. Centre for Development
Studies, Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, for the
relentless support and guidance and the office staff at KRPLLD

I owe sincere thanks to Dr. Nizar Ahmed, Prof. & Head of the
Department, Department of Philosophy, Sree Sankara Sanskrit
University, Kalady, Kerala, whose lectures conducted by
Prayoga Trust oriented the direction of this study.

To Brahmaputhran, co- ordinator, Prayoga Trust, I owe sincere

concern for he inspired me to involve in this project and
continue it, even during unfavourable conditions.

To Radhakrishnan, Poovattuparamba, Kozhikode, I have

gratitude, as he reminded me always about the constraints and
limitations of this study, which helped me to critique my own
presuppositions.

My research assistants, Bindu, Prabhakaran, Renjini, Sajitha,

and Unni had been of great help to me without whom this
project couldn't have been materialised.

Words fail me when I'm about to thank Arun for the preparation
of database, charts & layout and Suresh who did the data entry
patiently.

To Pushpa I owe a special debt of gratitude for her attention at

home.

Sobha. P. V.
C/o Prayoga Trust
Kozhikode
 Contents Page No

Chapter I Introduction 1

Chapter II Review of Literature 16

Chapter III Methodology 28

Chapter IV Research Settings 41

Chapter V Secondary Data Details 44

Chapter VI Details of deep interview 55

Chapter VII Survey Report (Part I – III) 131

Chapter VIII Conclusion 162

Annexure I Secondary Data : Tables 168

Annexure II Secondary Data : Data Base 181

Annexure III Survey Report : Tables 192

Reference 214
 Chapter I
INTRODUCTION

One of the important concerns of the activists of the area of women's issues
and the academics world over has been to understand the cause of women's
subordination. Both activists and academics agree that women at present
have a lower status than men; that socially, economically and politically
women are discriminated against and this state of affairs is unfair-injustice-
and must be changed. An analysis of the origin of subordinate status of
women; why the lower status has still persisted; what strategies are to be
devised to end this subordination and such queries are most relevant today;
Both in the universal societal phenomena and the society of Kerala.

Inspite of hundred percent literacy (?) and increased rate of women

education, atrocities against women have become the most serious social
evil of the contemporary Kerala society. If though literate (the effect of
which is statistical data but not in practical day to day life) common women
of the very social reality of Kerala are unaware of the dynamic concept of
equality of sexes which the Indian constitution guarantees. Few women of
those who are aware use the law to fight back, they being traditionally
oppressed and serve in all social institutions (like family, caste, community,
religion, politics, etc.,) subjugated to man.

Despite the promises of legislative favours the identities like women, Dalit
and Tribal etc., experience discriminations involving cultural resources in
forms subtler than that the commonsense can grasp. The relevance of
knowing how the social structure reproduces such forms of discrimination is
only proportional to the urgency of resisting such discriminations.
Contextual Frame

Atrocities towards (and against) women are forms of oppression hindering

the development of women and thereby resulting in gender injustice, this
being ideologically supported by a value system, which is androcentric and
gender insensitive. Deepening inequalities and struggles by the oppressed
section to assert their rights (granted under democracy) have unleashed
retaliations by the more privileged and, women situated as they are in the
social matrix as non- free, dependent subjectivities, become specially
affected ones.

Irrespective of the caste, class or religion women are socio-cultural

dependants, in our society, having no roles of decision- making capacities
whether it is in family, community, politics, religion, or any walk of life. If
though law provides formal equality and property rights, cultural norms are
against the decisive role of women at the time of sharing of properties.
Interconnectedness of the property rights and the personal laws (whether it
be of Hindu, Muslim or Christian) plays an anti-women role. It is clear that
rules, positions, prestige and property are with men and norms, regulations
and proper behaviour, obedient character are for women in a social system
which is male-oriented and male- determined.

Democratic rights, granted in principle, are nullified by the social

institutions where women have subordinate status. The processes of
development have increasingly separated the public from the private and has
enlarged the public sphere with more formal institutions as against the
earlier less formal community, caste, neighbourhood institutions. Public
institutions often provide scope for women, for example law, to escape from
traditional constraints. However access to formal institutions is limited for
women and the ideologies of many public institutions themselves reinforce
traditional subordination. Hence women are restricted from utilizing the
facilities democracy offer and once again they become more cribbed and
confined to the dark interiors of the whole society.

"Both in its day-to- day conduct and in its enduring structures the social life
today shows a staggering indifference to matters related to the protection of
rights and securing of duties. Justice in social affairs is the harmonious
blending of rights and duties of the concerned human agents and also the
guarantee that no one is made underprivileged by this orchestration, i.e.,
no person or position enjoys advantage at the cost of the other. In this sense
justice permeates the body of most of the human social institutions. Yet
they hardly figure among the rights whose protection is guaranteed by the
constitution. These rights sometimes receive articulations through social
revolutions and political struggles. But most often they lie indistinct,
muffled by the voice of common sense that is eagerly nurtured by our media
establishment and cultural leadership….

…. The question of justice deserves special attention in today's socio-

economic circumstance. Planning and development activities push greater
and greater number of social groups to the margins. They are victims of
collective forgetfulness. At a time when these groups begin to break their
silence and assert themselves, it is only relevant and significant to inquire
into the nature of this forgetfulness and consider the question of justice it
raises, while pledging solidarity. Only a systematic research into the
working of the social institutions, i.e., their modality and structure, can
reveal in the figure of social life the rights and duties of its participants. The
real forms that sustain and is sustained by the commonsense could thus be
made to stand face to face with us. This enables the human agents to
intervene in the construction of /i.e. the commonsense” [Dr. Nizar Ahmed, Prayoga

Trust, 1996]
General Objectives:

This research project:

§ Presumes that women's position in our society is one of

subordination and the social structure is gender oppressive.
Subordination is an exercise of power and patriarchy prevailing in
the societal phenomena adds to intensity the gender oppression.

§ Attempts to question and critically analyse the values and ethics

of the subordinating social structure and socio-cultural
marginalisation of women thereby.

§ Intends to enquire what are the social relations (and how and why
they have been created) in the particular research situations,
problems at the particular time, space and society and the
interactions of 'self' and 'society'.

§ Tries to address women's life and experiences in their own terms

create notes grounded in the actual experience and language of
women (who experience the experiences)

§ To understand the reality of women by discovering and

uncovering the actual facts of women's lives and the atrocities
they face and experience in their lives, which have been hidden
inaccessible, suppressed, distorted, misunderstood and ignored .

§ To minimize the gap (if there is) between the researcher and the
researched (both as subjects) attempting to create a non-
hierarchical relationship making the research a joint collaborative
effort.
It presupposes:

§ To change the present attitudes and values in the social matrix

regarding women's roles, and rights, to one of equal participation
in all social, economic and political processes and all levels of
local developments.

§ To promote awareness among women and men, of the need to

develop and utilise women's full potential as resources for
development in its economic, political and socio-cultural aspects;
to question existing values; and to promote awareness of their
social responsibilities so as to participate equally.

§ To counter the reactionary forces emanating from certain sections

of the media, economic, social and political institutions that
encourages the demotion of women from productive to mere
reproductive roles.

§ To promote the values of social equality including gender equality

secularism and democracy.

§ To generate new and organic knowledge of intensive fieldwork.

This would help in the generation of data essential for evaluation
and correction of development policies and programmes and in
extending the areas for academic analysis, into hitherto neglected
sectors.
Conceptual frame:

Atrocity is an act, which accompanies force, committed to prove or feel a

sense of the force, which provokes or questions the values and feelings one
treasure for the whole life, it is the violation of the guarantee that no one is
underprivileged or disadvantaged by the orchestration of the harmonious
blending of rights and duties of the human agents involved. The aim of
atrocity is to induce the underprivileged sections to comply with the wishes
of the more privileged, thereby.

Any individual or group facing the threat of coercion or being disciplined to

act in a manner required by another individual or group is subject to
violence. This is not necessarily confined to physical violence by the
creation of an atmosphere of terror, a situation of threat and reprisal.

The concept of gender is constructed by and through humans that is socially

effective as the division between female and male, which is deeply woven
into the organization of institutions and everyday life. In the social arena the
effect of which is that, it is not just a division but an asymmetry with men
having more power and status. 'Gender' is not natural and it can be
understood as the set of meanings, expectations and roles that a particular
society ascribes to sex (sex is only the biological dichotomy between male
and female, chromosomally determined and for the most part unalterable,
nothing more than that). It is the socio-cultural make up and the human
beings who internalize the same through socialisation that recognize these
situations as masculine and feminine characteristics – which are ascribed
ones.

Gender is a construct that can be clearly seen in the day-to- day human life
realities. But as and when we try to disentangle the life situations it leaves
behind so many complexities that construct and reconstruct the very human
life. The concept that gender is constructed through self- reflexivity and it
becomes effective only through the social, tempts us to analytically examine
the arenas like gender- based roles, gender- relations, self, identity, the social,
gender perceptions etc.

Common sensically gender is understood as the division between man and

woman, based on the bearing of their body at the time of their Janmam/
Jananam, i.e. at the time of birth, human bodies having the male sex organs
are commonly considered as males and those having female sex organs are
considered females. But the process of gendering is something more than
that and once named male/female it works almost independently of the
bodies to which it belong. In all spaces such as that of socialisation of
children, social positioning, experiences, conceptual formations and cultural
mediations it is tactile and present. Through the cyclic processes it creates
the cobwebs of the organisations of the entire social institutions and the self-
formation & self-expression of each human being. Body of each human
being has a role in the process of defining it's self. But it doesn't mean that
the very same body is there in the definition of it's self. The same can be
applicable to gender also. I.e. the sexual appearance of a human body plays
its part in the process of defining the gender. But it need not have any role in
the definition of gender, the thereby social structuration, and legitimating of
patriarchy. This shows that once constructed gender works independently of
the sex. In effect, this constructs and reconstructs gender disparity creating
social spaces of domination and prestige for men and the subordinate roles
for women resulting in reinforcing & reifying the structural properties of the
social and the patriarchal system thereby. Though it is structured in a
peculiar way gender is determined not in an ultimately unchangeable&
unquestionable manner. Perhaps, men and women who go through
experience& thereby creates the upper and lower stratifications of being
masculine & feminine may have the belief that it is quite natural and normal.
The condition that they accept it without even an iota of doubt in turn
becomes the basement for strengthening the gender disparity.

The concepts of 'what a woman and what a man is' are historically
contingent. Man – Woman relationship is a tacit contract, which should be
equally advantageous to both. In whatever situation woman or man is
socially constructed, in this contract, this ethics (of course, evolved through
history) is of importance, in each and every actions and interaction. Man –
Woman relationship is not unjust in itself. The institution of it may be
unjust. To make the meaning of justice comprehensive equality is an
important notion. If two are considered equals unjust treatment of one to the
other creates crisis. Then it needs raising the question – what is justice.

The constitution promises formal equality to man and woman but the
structure and functions of the society through its institutions norms values
and etc., is in a peculiar way that man is getting the privileges and
advantages and woman is underprivileged and disadvantaged. There starts
the enquiry – what is gender justice.

This enquiry takes us to terms like patriarchy, discrimination, sexual

division of labour and so on. Any hierarchical system of dominance and
subordination victimises the weaker sections and the victimisations can vary
from subtle pressures and through the power of ideology and socialisation or
open brutal oppressions.
Conceptual Issues And Practical Problems

The common perception of the society is that women by nature and nurture
are supposed to be subservient to men. Generally they are treated as
powerless, property less and prestige less beings who are to live according to
the interests of the men folk. In such a social milieu, if though “acts of
aggression” happen against women (and go on happening) these acts may
not be recognized by most of the victims as aggressive, as these victims are
also part of such a society of male centeredness and may take it as “normal”

This research project shares the idea of understanding how an act of

aggression is happening why and how the same act, though conceptualized
to be “aggressive” (at least by some self-actualized beings), is being
repeated and perpetuated in the society, irrespective of whether it is
questioned or not or dissented or resisted by the victims. Can we have
measures to cease these atrocities? In this conjuncture the problem enhances
that the data regarding the atrocities, if at all collected, (from secondary or
primary sources) can have the chance of non-reliability since the chances of
counter checking these cases are less.

If we have to understand the injustice involved in an act we need to realise

what our present socio-cultural situations are and what it ought to be to
energise the subjected one. But the response from the milieu regarding the
atrocities against women is so muffled that each and every problem we face
in data collection reminds that the very definitions of the hitherto identified
areas are to be re- examined.
General understanding about the philosophy behind any research is the
ultimate attainment of the objectivity through the reliability, validity and
representativeness of a finding, by way of describing “what is happening”
One of the fundamental issues we personally face, in doing this particular
topic - Atrocities Against Women Understanding Gender Justice - is that the
“findings” we get from the “secondary data” mainly reported cases from the
area of study, Pattambi Police Station Area - are reported based on the
common sensical views and conventional legal definitions and institutional
provisions.

As these cases are not viewed in such a sensible way that is in accordance
with the conceptual conditions of our “problem formulation” the data
received from the Police Station records may not prove fully reliable. But as
a starting point, in understanding the “common sensical” expression of
women’s status, roles and experiences in the social milieu, these are valid,
even though the cherished values and concepts (of justice, equality and
freedom) based on a gender just perspective, do not effectively comply with
the situations mentioned in the reported cases, to which we were introduced
during data collection from the FIR Index of the Pattambi Police Station.

The main issue behind this, is that the social institutions addressed in this
study - e.g. family, marriage etc. - are maintained and reproduced in such a
way that the very structuration of these institutions are based on the
unbalanced power-relations of the interacting agents (man - woman) and the
male-oriented privileges of the whole institutional set up. This power
relation in and by itself creates a hierarchy -- in the areas of resource
allocation, distribution etc -- where in women are treated as being
subservient to men, common sensically. Our anxiety is that, from such a
social reality, how can we be so sure about the “reliability” of the details
received from the fieldwork, as those will be half revealed facts or orally
transmitted stories. To make the enquiry more valid, reliable and sensible
all the techniques of survey, ethnography and observation had been
conducted, selecting particular areas and typologies. (Still it might not be
the “reality” but only the “representation of the reality”)

On analysing the patterns of the reported events of atrocities, the impasse is

that there are no intelligible situations that directly and clearly depict why
these happen. This pre-supposition leads us to the notions of social structure
and social system; (in which all these atrocities happen) which is in itself in
an “upside down” state – The very idea of altering the same may lead to a
totally “unpredictable” situation.

The confusion concerning the unpredictability of a situation may make the

“affected subjectivities” inactive to an atrocity. For example, in the case of
an issue of “wife- beating” for reasons known and unknown “the wife” may
go on suffering the same. Why “wife beating is repeatedly happening in a
unit? “Being a wife” and “Beating a wife” is considered as a normal
situation in our patriarchal social situations, as the privilege and advantage
the man attains by being “husband” is legitimised through the action of
“beating” and the “wife” (as her role defines) is supposed to contribute to
maintain & perpetuate the institution of marriage by being his “Sub-
ordinate”. It is noteworthy that the beatings and batterings a girl or a woman
gets from her home during the making of a girl or a woman is not even
identified as “atrocity and there is no special socio-legal provision to
question such acts. In such a situation, if one identify woman beating
(whether the affected subjectivities be a wife, sister or a girl child or mother)
as an atrocious act, there is a chance that the “affected subjectivity” is not
understanding or not reaching to that understanding, it goes unreported and
so unnoticed in the social phenomena.
The patriarchal social system, in turn needs these institutions (like family,
marriage etc.) to be reproduced and maintained in such a way that it is by no
means “altered” and it will try by all means to attain the same status always.
Hence what is made perceivable as the “reality” of atrocities depicted in the
reported cases is the common sensical perception only. The common
sensical perceptions of events go hand in hand with the hierarchical patterns
of the social system with all its male-orientedness and cultural bias.
Common sense always create a make-believable and muffled situation that
even increased number of reported cases of - unnatural deaths of women are
“normal” i.e., the domineering social system sees and the institutions
(Family, Police, Court or what ever it be) report these “unnatural deaths” as
if they are normal and natural; if though a researcher feel, sense or
understand something beyond what had been reported. Child abuse,
subordinate marital status of women, under-privileges just for being women,
violence through media, violence related to customs, beliefs and practices
within community and the social; malnutrition arising from inadequate food
supply to female child, male child preference etc. are not ‘directly’ reported
as atrocities. But reading between the lines of the reported cases suggests --
and even the un- reporting of events -- that these areas are to be probed
deeply. These might not have been told aloud during interviews or in the
response to questionnaires. If though the research team tried their maximum
to make the situation amiable, the women researched might have at times
found it as ‘irritating’, at the time of primary data collection i.e., direct
enquiries.
Identified atrocities against women

Atrocities against women, identified by the researcher through the review of

literature and the secondary data are mainly the following:

1. Rape – a violation of female's integrity and dignity as a person by forced

sexual intercourse, the social basement of which is Patriarchy,
perpetuating the concept that woman is a property of man
2. Dowry
3. Dowry tortures and dowry death
4. Seeing female body as a sex object
5. Sexual Harassment: Assault or unwelcome behaviour (whether direct or
by implication) as (a) physical contact of advances (b) a demand for
sexual favours (c) sexually coloured remarks (d) showing pornography
(e) tempting to engage in prostitution, (f) pornographic films, web sites,
advertisements, printed, audio, video, etc., and so on; the list never
ends…
6. Domestic violence
7. Female child labour (organised, unorganised sectors and domestic
labour)
8. Sexual division of labour
9. Subordinate marital status: wife beating, looking down upon females,
etc.,
10. Any unwanted sexual experience or mental trauma experienced by
women (at any age), that might have remained never disclosed.
11. Female infanticide
12. Suicides (reported to be) and murders of mothers and children (single
and gang)
13. Kidnapping and abduction
14. Denial of opportunities – just for being females
Significance of the study:

Our hypothesis, that atrocities against women-both in private and public life-an
instrument of coercion used to maintain the force of domination and committed
to prove or feel a sense of force, hinder gender justice since the social realities
are gender oppressive and women's status in the society is subordinate and
subjugate, had been best proved through all the cases we have studied. The FIR
Index of the Pattambi police station, during the period of1990-1998, the deep
interviews of the selected reported cases and the survey details strengthen our
conceptual frame that atrocity is an act which accompanies power, committed
to prove or feel a sense of power which provokes or questions the values and
feelings one treasure for the whole life, it is the violation of the guarantee that
no one is underprivileged or disadvantaged by the orchestration of the
harmonious blending of rights and duties of the human agents involved. The
aim of atrocity is to induce the underprivileged sections to comply with the
wishes of the more privileged, thereby. Any individual or group facing the
threat of coercion or being disciplined to act in a manner required by another
individual or group is subject to violence. This is not necessarily confined to
physical violence by the creation of an atmosphere of terror, a situation of
threat and reprisal.

The cases we had studied in detail solidifies our presumption in the introduction
that, if though the constitution promises formal equality to man and woman the
structural properties and functions of the society through its institutions, norms,
values and etc., is in a peculiar way that man is getting the privileges and
advantages and woman is underprivileged and disadvantaged. Any hierarchical
system of dominance and subordination victimises the weaker sections and the
victimisations can vary from subtle pressures and through the force of ideology
and socialisation or open brutal oppressions.
The expected contributions of the study:

Our anticipation is that, this study will throw light on the realities of the
lives of women that go often ignored. It had helped in contributing to the
interactions and experiences of the persons studied and the research team.
This study helps us to understand the issues of justice in the events of
intimate man-woman relationship. The hope is that it will sensitise the whole
social about the visibly invisible violence in human interactions through
awareness programmes for the prevention of occurrence of violence,
anticipating transformation in the very perception of the human agents
involved in particular day-to-day life situations. This study stands as a
frame to make a critique of knowledge available at various levels of multi
disciplinary research.
 Chapter II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The work proposed in the first phase of the project had been to take an
exhaustive treatment of the conceptual and methodological issues involved and
do a thorough review of the research done in the area to locate sources of
information etc. Based on the work we had done, let us place a brief account of
observations we had had in trying to understand the conceptual and
methodological issues.

Conceptual Issues

Atrocities against women spring from multifaceted factors of socio -cultural,

political economic (and in turn physical and psychological) perceptions of the
social system, regarding women’s place and role. The social system in turn is
conceived, perceived and perpetuated by the very human beings, who are
differentiated into categories of women and men, self reflexively. The
effectiveness of knitting these genders is purely social and it can be transformed
only through the reflexive intervention of the interacting agents. The
fundamental problem about any atrocity against women, is that it becomes a
“crime” in the conventional socio-legal definitions of it, only when it is
“reported”

According to the latest data released by National Crimes Records Bureau, India
(NCRB)

“A woman is raped = every 54 minutes

An act of eve- teasing = every 51 minutes
One act of criminal offense against women = every 7 minutes

But, at any time in the history of continued violence (for example communal
riots, war, etc.) the unreported cases are unimaginably high. The mere “un-
reporting” of the problem serves the interests of the male orientedness of the
social system, and the uninterrogated and hence the uninterrupted perpetuation
of androcentric structural properties.

The very thought of atrocity mirrors a multitude of images from everyday life
situations - a shivering 12 year old girl rounded by a group of eve-teasers, a girl
(of any age) manhandled by a brother or father within the dark interiors of her
own ‘home’. Pale face of an everyday - battered wife, sufferings of a teen age -
rape victim. Women passengers of public vehicles being harassed, moreover
the ‘bride’ standing head- downward in front of her “owner” - head to foot
decorated - in a marriage etc.

“An overview of violence against women” presented in the summer school of

women studies held at Hyderabad (1996) suggests that “Violence is an act of
aggression, usually in interpersonal interaction or relations”. It can be an
“aggression against self - such as suicide, self- mutilation, negligence of
ailments, Sex determinations tests leading to amniocentesis, food denial & so
on. It suggests that ‘violence brings into question the concept of boundary
maintenance’ and a sense of self as well as perception of another’s autonomy &
identity. It implies that when the body - and indeed the self - is vulnerable to
violation, individuals have a very different notion of “what is one’s body and
what is done to one’s body.

The 1985 UN International Conference held at Nairobi seriously discussed the

problem of the forms of “atrocities against- women”. The effect of which was
worthy research designs and awareness programmes and documentation of
various issues of violence.

Violence in general, can be defined as “the threatened or actual use of physical

force against another person, against oneself or against a group or community
that either results or is likely to result in injury death or deprivation. There are
visual, verbal or physical expressions of violence resulting in physical agony &
psychological trauma of an individual.

Over the last decade, there has been a growing awareness of the phenomenon of
violence against women & children. Violence encompasses not only physical
acts, but also innumerable acts and gestures, innuendoes, familial and social
responses and so on - The family is the arena for much of the aggression against
women. “Dowry death is an extreme case. Sexual harassment and rape are
other instances of the increasing trends of gender- related violence.

Indian scholars in women’s studies have emphasized the dynamics of power

and powerlessness involved in a ‘violent’ act. According to such academics it is
a coercive mechanism “to assert ones will over another, to prove or to feel a
sense of power”. It can be perpetuated by those in power against the powerless
or by the powerless in retaliation against coercion by others to deny their
powerlessness. Going further Goving Kelkar situates violence against women
“in the socio- economic and political context of power relation. The argument,
that “It is an act illegal criminal use of force” is inadequate and includes
“exploitation, discrimination, upholding of unequal and social structures, the
creation of an atmosphere of terror, threat or reprisal and forms of religio-
cultural and political violence (Kelkar-1991). This Wide definition of violence
finds resonance in a hierarchical society so far committed to exploitative gender
relations.
From mid seventies, theoretical perspectives on violence against women started
becoming available. In 1979, the convention on the elimination of all forms of
discrimination against women observed that violence was a rarely discussed
subject in public spheres. But in the present scenario we see news and reports
of dowry deaths, domestic violence, state violence, sexual harassment and rape
cases. In the Indian context members of the committee on the status of women
in India have recently reflected that though during their field trips in the early
seventies, they are aware of case of deaths over dowry demands, none of them
felt that the issue merited separate and detailed investigation. In August 1992,
the International Women’s Rights actions watch in its committee on the
Elimination of discrimination against women noted the absence of the record
documentation of the acts of atrocities.

Maithrayee Mukhopadhyay in her “Legally Dispossessed” (Gender, identity and

the process of law) observes that violence against women cut across class,
regional, caste, and community barriers.

In the “Well founded fear” the research team suggest that there are many ways
of interpreting why women suppress information concerning violence to them ...
women may not want to remember a painful situation, or may not want a story
spread further, or the event may be seen as non criminal …Victim blaming wide
spread in the media shows that our culture holds women being responsible for
the violent behaviour of men. This perspective gets momentum if the assaulter
is a close associate.

Many of the studies on violence, consider drunkenness as cause of men’s

violent behaviour. But a noteworthy opinion of the editors of ‘Private violence
and Public Policy’ is that drunkenness should be seen not as a cause of violence
but as a condition, which coexists with it. Thus men who wish to carry out a
violent act may become intoxicated in order to have the “courage” to perform
the act. We suspect that drunkenness may not be a cause or condition, if
though drinking will have correlation to some atrocious acts. Hence to
understand the violent behaviour it may need going deep into the training of
socilisations these accused “men” attain by and through social institutions at the
micro level.

Oxford textbook of public health (1996) defines violence as an intentional

injury. This study aims at a public health mandate for interpersonal violence
prevention and the self-directed injuries resulting from socio- cultural
constraints.
 INTENTIONAL INJURY

Self directed Inter personal

Suicide Suicide attempts

Assaults Homicide Elder abuse

Child abuse Spousal violence

Sexual Assaults Child sexual abuse

Intentional Injury-Violence:
Courtesy to Centre for disease control, Oxford text book of public health ’96
This chart proves a practical help to analyze the violence we may come across
in the intimate relationships. But as women activists and academics observe,
each act of atrocity encompasses social, cultural, political, and economic
undertones.

Mary Maynard in her essay “Violence Towards Women” describes “different

types of violence against women as wife-beating, child sexual abuse, sexual
harassment and pornography” as “part of a spectrum of violence with the aim
that understanding of each form of violence is enhanced by considering them
together. She argues that it is not that we can generalize from one kind of
violence to all others without qualification but it is to acknowledge the
interrelationship between different kinds of violence particularly in terms of
their impact on and consequences for women’s lives.

For the sake of understanding and analysis the identified areas of violence
against women as per the review of literature can be divided mainly into three
heads, though each of these have intertwining impact on the experiences of
women

1.Domestic violence

Ø Self immolation
Ø Male child preference
Ø Dowry death
Ø Female infanticide
Ø Malnutrition arising from inadequate food supply to female child
Ø Child abuse
Ø Wife battering
Ø Violence related to sexual perversion choices relating to conceiving,
continuing pregnancy, forced abortion and motherhood
2. Emotional violence
Ø Underprivileges, just for being women
Ø Subordinate marital status
Ø Violent psychiatric disorders

3. Social and Communal violence

Ø From work place

• Problems related to wage structure, working hours (especially in

unorganized sector)
• Scarcity of facilities (both in organized and unorganized sectors)
Ø Sexual harassment from the social milieu
Ø Violence through media
Ø Violence related to customs, beliefs, practices within community and
society
Ø Kidnapping and abduction
Ø State violence
• Targeting against women of rebel groups
• Custodial rapes
• Military or Police action followed by rapes and sexual assault in the
riot stricken areas
• Custodial molestation

The review of the past studies reveals that the legal definitions of the atrocities
tend to omit many acts that women would regard as atrocious e.g. marital rape.
Since the conventional meaning of marriage is that a wife is to ‘please’ the
husband, her consent for sexual intercourse is not at all a question of concern
for a man (husband) of such a tradition. Section 376 (IPC) asserts in its
exception that sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife not being under
15 years of age is not rape. This shows that a woman who feels marital rape as
am atrocity cannot expect “justice” through legal provisions. In “Towards
Gender Justice” S. P. Sathe observes that in the section on rape the whole
emphasis is on vaginal purity, which is an important aspect of patriarchal value
system. Flavia Agnes (1992) in “Protecting Women Against Violence” has
undertaken an incisive analysis of judicial attitude in respect of the
interpretation of the section on rape. Flavia asks for a total change in the
definition of rape.

Wife beating is almost an accepted behaviour in our society where women are
treated as “property of men”. Child sexual abuses never come to judicial
discourse for the same reason - those who “treat” children in such “odd ways”
may try to justify that their acts by telling that “it was to soothe the baby” or
“cajoling the child”. All these are complicated by the hierarchical elements of
social relationships and emotional blackmail. To problematize the above atrocities
it will need a transformation not only in the definitions but even the very
conceptualizations of the masculine/man, feminine/woman etc.

Despite the mechanical definitions of violence by legal and professional

experts, women activists generally opine that any act, which questions the
integrity of an individual, is atrocious - that betrays the trust and responsibility
in an interaction. e.g., touching “parts” of the child (woman) or asking the child
(woman) to “touch” the assaulter, taking pornographic photographs and there by
threatening them and by showing it, exposing the genitals, which is a
provocative act, sexually connoted words, etc.

The best way to understand the impact of violence against women is “to listen
to what women have to say about their experiences” suggests Shulamit
Reinharz in her essay on “Experiential Analysis”. But breaking the silence
needs new strategies since almost all such acts are not seen reported even to the
close associates. This make the research situations more complicate.
Commonsensical expressions, dominant beliefs, norms and customs of the male
oriented society treat these acts as “normal”. Those who respond or retaliate to
it will be regarded as “abnormal” beings - again it results in another atrocity -
compelling women to be silent about it. Women activists all over the world
emphasize on the inclusion of the threat or fear of force as well as its actual use
when violence is being defined.

Social System – Patriarchy :

Male violence is a reflection of unequal power relations in the social and serves
to reproduce and maintain the hierarchy of unequal power relation. Those who
conceptualize oppression women suffer in the social cannot help addressing the
term “patriarchy” - if though there are many definitions concerning varying
aspects and specifications of patriarchy a much useful definition which
acknowledges that both the nature and degree of patriarchal control vary with
and across societies, is provided by Adrienne Rich. According to her
“Patriarchy is a familial, social, ideological, political system in which men - by
force, direct pressure of through ritual, law, language, customs etiquette,
education and the division of labour - determine what part women shall or shall
not play and in which the female is everywhere subsumed under the male. It
does not necessarily imply that no women has power or that all women in a
given culture may not have certain power”. (Rich 1977) This system of
patriarchy enables man - both as an individual and group - to control women
and maintain that supremacy. Thus male violence is not only a result of
women’s subordination in society but also contributes to the construction of that
subordination.
GENDER :

Gender refers to socio-culturally learned behaviour and expectations that

distinguish between the ascribed roles of femininity and masculinity. It is
active through the human agents involved and effective only socially. The
social matrix is maintained through the division between female and male,
which is deeply woven into the organizations of institutions and everyday life.
In the social arena the effect of which is that it is not just a division but an
asymmetry with men having more prestige, position and status. The gender
biased social system is a project of this conditioning where women’s
involvement in various levels of human interactions and relationships being
totally ignored. In each and every walk of life some sort of gender dissonance
can be observed whether it be the very socialization process of human beings,
social and physical mobility, allocation and distribution of cultural resources,
religion, politics, education, law, caste, and etc. (The list never ends......)

The social realities of gender differences and women’s subordinate status have
been topics of contest among activists and academics for long before.
Oppression is a basic political concept involving complex, social, cultural,
psychological, and economic issues. Identifying the nature, causes, forms,
aftermath (both dissents and bearings by the oppressed) etc., should probably
pave way to analyze atrocities against women and there by come to an
understanding of what all factors hinder gender justice.

How we care about, perceive, understand, analyze and critique the world we
live in, is profoundly shaped by gender, which in turn shapes the gender of
human beings. Gender, we conceive, influences not only who we are, how we
live, and what we have, but also “how” we think, order reality, claim to know
what is true, and therefore how we understand and explain the social world.
In “The Gender of World Politics” V Spike Peterson and Anne Sisson Runyen
observe that “examining gender” permits us to see how man - women
relationship works in the world, how it is institutionalized, legitimated and
reproduced. They suggest that we also begin to see how gender hierarchy
interacts with the other structural inequalities i.e. gender issues are embodied in
interacting hierarchies of race class, caste, ethnicity, nationality, religious
identification. In short, gender hierarchy denotes a system of force and
domination that privileges man over women and that which is associated with
masculinity over femininity. This privileging includes men’s appropriation of
women’s productive and reproductive labour, men’s control over women’s
bodies and regulations of women’s activities and the promotion of masculinism
to naturalize (depoliticise) this hierarchy. “In sum, they conclude in “Global
Gender Issues” gender remains normatively invisible as long as we do not see
how extensively it operates and as long as we take the differences, we see for
granted as givens rather than as political problems”.

GENDER JUSTICE :

“In Towards Gender Justice ” S. P. Sathe argues that gender justice aims at
much more than mere absence of discrimination. The concept of gender justice
is incorporated in the concept of social justice. It means that the new social
order based on justice - social, economic and political - as visualized by Article
38 of the constitution men and women must equally participating in decision
making and must have equal access to the resources of the community. It
presupposes elimination of women subordination and establishment of gender
equality. Equality does not mean similarity. Women need different rights and
entitlements with regard to their reproductive function. The existence of
pluralistic and democratic social culture and liberal and secular polity must
precede gender justice. Gender justice does not thrive in a fundamentalist
regime.

Chapter III
METHODOLOGY

Scientific research aims at generating objective valid knowledge about the

research topic, the reliability of which depends on the scientific methods of
investigation. The following account deals with the methodology followed in
this study.

The proposal:
§ Presumes that women's position in our society is one of
subordination and the social structure is gender oppressive.
Subordination is an exercise of power and patriarchy prevailing in
the societal phenomena adds intensity to the gender oppression.

§ Attempts to question and critically analyse the values and ethics

of the subordinating social structure and socio-cultural
marginalisation of women thereby.

§ Intends to enquire what are the social relations (and how and why
they have been created) in the particular research situations,
problems at the particular time, place and society and the
interactions of 'self' and 'society'.

§ Tries to address women's life and experiences in their own terms

create notes grounded in the actual experience and language of
women (who experience the experiences)
 § To understand the reality of women by discovering and
uncovering the actual facts of women's lives and the atrocities
they face and experience in their lives. Which have been hidden
inaccessible, suppressed, distorted, misunderstood and ignored.
§ To minimize the gap (if there is) between the researcher and the
researched (both as subjects) attempting to create a non-
hierarchical relationship making the research a joint collaborative
effort.

The important objectives of this study are:

§ To change the present attitudes and values in the society regarding

women's roles, and rights, to one of equal participation in all
social, economic and political processes and all levels of local
developments.

§ To promote awareness among women and men, of the need to

develop and utilize women's full potential as resources for
development in its economic, political and socio-cultural aspects;
to question existing values; and to promote awareness of their
social responsibilities so as to participate equally.

§ To counter the reactionary forces emanating from certain sections

of the media, economic, social and political institutions that
encourages the demotion of women from productive to mere
reproductive roles.

§ To promote the values of social equality including gender equality

secularism and democracy.
 § To generate new and organic knowledge of intensive fieldwork.
This would help in the generation of data essential for evaluation
and correction of development polic ies and programmes and in
extending the areas for academic analysis, into hitherto neglected
sectors

Hypotheses:

This study intended to test the following:

1. Atrocities against women- both in private and public life- an

instrument of coercion used to maintain force and committed to
prove or feel a sense of force, hinder gender justice since the
social realities are gender oppressive and women's status in the
social is sub -ordinate and subjugate.
2. Absence of autonomy enhances discrimination against women.
3. Atrocities against women reinforce women's subordinate status,
socio-culturally.
4. Men and Women unquestioningly adapt to the ascribed roles, and
thereby they internalize ascriptions of masculinity and
femininity.
5. The change in traditional life perceptions of the man- woman
relationship and the roles helps to get away with the atrocities.

Definition of the concepts

Atrocities: Atrocity is an act which accompanies force, committed to prove

or feel a sense of force, which provokes or questions the values and feelings
one treasure for the whole life, it is the violation of the guarantee that no one
is underprivileged or disadvantaged by the orchestration of the harmonious
blending of rights and duties of the human agents involved. The aim of
atrocity is to induce the underprivileged sections to comply with the wishes
of the more privileged, thereby.

Gender Justice:

The qualitative definition of gender justice proposed in this study relies upon
the spacio-temporal conceptions of the atrocities against women and the
standards of value – freedom of expression and autonomy needed to prevent the
same. It is not in itself absolute a quality but it can be understood in terms of
where it happens, when, how and whether the situations satisfies the interests of
the interacting agents both males and females equally.

Variables and their measurement:

The independent and dependent variables considered in this study are explained
below. The method of measuring them is also described

Dependent variable:

Gender justice is the dependent variable in this study. To understand the same,
moments of injustice happening in terms of atrocities against women are
enquired and analyzed.

Measurement of the dependent variable is done taking the following major

indices.
a. Atrocious interventions in the lives of women by the male beings, which
affect women's social and special mobility.
b. Lack of freedom for women for economic activities
c. Absence of the access to property
 d. Compulsion through the traditional roles and social institutions like
marriage and family
e. Lack of gender sensitive facilitating centres
f. Lack of scientific sex education
g. Lack of the self-actualization of women.

Independent variables:

a) Gender: is the self-reflexively constructed and socially

maintained set of meanings expectations and roles that a

particular society and the human beings there in ascribes to sex

which once defined acts mostly independently of the sex of the

human being concerned. i.e., the ascribed state of being masculine

and feminine.

b) Age: The number of years completed by the respondent in

his/her life since birth is considered as the age of the respondent.

For doing the Survey, the second part of the research, four age

groups were coined as those from 18-30; 30 -40; 40-50; & 50 and

above.

c) Religious affiliation: It is used to denote the religious group

of the family into which the respondent was born to. The area of

this study include people of Hindu, Muslim and Christian

religions. Christians are comparatively less as per the records.

d) Educational status: The formal schooling, higher education

and the specific degrees of honour the respondents had had in

their life. In this study the respondents are categorized as those

having educational qualifications. viz., Illiterates, Upto upper

primary, Upto higher secondary, Degree and PG & Professional

Qualifications.

e) Marital status: The respondents considered for the survey

are categorized as married and unmarried.

The Area of Study:

This project analyses diagnostically the atrocities with special reference to

the reported and unreported (they being the more) cases of Pattambi police
station area, Palakkad District, Kerala state during the period of 1990-1998.
AREA OF STUDY
1. PATTAMBI
2. ONGALLUR -I
2. ONGALLUR -II
3. KOPPAM
4. VILAYUR
5. THIRUVEGAPPURA
6. PARUTHOOR
7. MUTHUTHALA
8. KULUKKALLOOR
9. VALLAPPUZHA

VALAANCHERI
PS LIMIT

POLICE
STATION

RAILWAY
STATION

AREA OF PATTAMBI POLICE STATION

Population of the Study:

Women complainants of the selected reported cases of the Pattambi police

station area for the deep interviews and the inhabitants, both men and
women of the ward III of the Ongallur Panchayath for the survey, had been
selected.

Sources of Data:

1. The reported cases received from the FIR index of Pattambi police
station
2. Deep interviews of 50 affected beings based on the reported cases
3. Survey of 50 male and 50 female respondents selected at random from
Ward III of Ongallur Panchayath, which is one of the most densely
populated area under Pattambi police station that includes the people of
different strata economically, educationally, socially and culturally.

Samples and its selection

The sample of this study has two segments (1) Case study analysis and
(2) Statistical analysis. For the case study analysis fifty women
complainants of the reported cases of the Pattambi Police Station area under
various sections as detailed are selected. The statistical component of the
study include fifty men and fifty women inhabitants of the Ward III of
Ongallur Panchayath, the sample has been considered with reference to the
electoral roll. There are 2480 persons, of which 53.86 % are females and
47.14 % are males. Selection of the respondents for the survey is done in
such a way that representative sample from whole area of Ward III is
included.
Research Setting:

The field of the empirical investigation is the Pattambi police station area.
A detailed depiction is given in the 4th chapter of this report.

Tools of Data collection:

The major tools of data collection used in this study are questionnaire for the
survey and interview guide of unstructured questions as the situation
demanded. Affected beings of the 50 cases were deep interviewed at their
residence after establishing rapport with them. The survey and deep
interviews helped us to have a systematic communication with the public,
making our interaction more close and cordial.

Non-Sexist Research Methods:

This study adheres to the non- sexist research method as conceived by Margrit
Eichler. In her “Non-sexist Research Methods - A Practical Guide” she
identifies seven types of sexism in conventional research methods, which
should be avoided in gender studies research. She divides Sexism in research to
the following:

Four primary problems and three derived problems:

Primary Problems:

1. Androcentricity - Seeing the social phenomena from a male perspective

where man is the actor women are passive objects

2. Over Generalization - occurs when a study uses all male subjects or all
female subjects but presents the finding in general terms. It may occur at
all levels in research in the identification of the research project, in the
language and the concepts, methods used in the interpretation used.
 3. Gender Insensitivity - The conventional research methods ignore
gender as an important variable. In women studies research
methodology she suggests that it is necessary to take into account the
gender of research subjects, respondents, informants, researched and
research team. If certain area which differentially sensitive for members
of two genders (such as battering abuses, man-woman relationships)
responses may vary according to the gender of the interviewer. If
participant observation methods are employed the gender of the
researcher will be significant.

4. Double Standards - Double standard is used when identical behaviours,

traits, or situations are evaluated or treated by different means

DERIVED PROBLEMS:

1. Sex Appropriateness - Attributing certain behaviour patterns and or

character formations as more appropriate to one gender than the other
this is a sub form of double standard.

2. Familism - Is an extreme form of gender insensitivity. It consists of

taking the family as the smallest unit of analysis in cases in which it
is in fact individual or a collection of individuals who are engaged in
particular action

3. Sexual Dichotomism - Is an extreme form of double standard. It

treats genders discrete groups with different human attitudes.

This study avoids the above-ment ioned problems.

Inter Subjectivity: This study considers intersubjectivity as the objectivity as
Marcia Westkott (1979) puts it. She states that women studying women reveals
the complex way in which the women as objects of knowledge reflect back
upon women as subjects of knowledge. Knowledge of the other and knowledge
of the self are mutually informing because “self and other share” a common
condition of being women.

Inclusion of emotion: Ann Oakley states that the social structures and
knowledge about social structures were built on masculine values that define
cognitive intellectual or rational dimensions of experience as superior to being
emotional or sentimental. Women studies view that the research should take
account of human nature in its totality.

Shulamit Reinharz in her essay on “Experiential Analysis” argue that the best
way to analyse a research problem is to listen to the experiences of the victims.
One of the demerits of experiential analysis suggested by the academics of
gender studies are that at times the depicted experiences may not be the actual
experience. It may be a story developed by the victim or somebody else.
Another problem is that research questions such as atrocities against women
may lie unreported since women themselves may not seriously consider those
issues to be reported and fought against. Despite all these, to understand the
events of atrocities in needs going deep into the reported /depicted experiences
of the affected beings.
Actions for change:

§ To communicate the findings to all the activists and academics of gender

studies

§ To conduct workshops, making use of theoretical orientations and

documentations of collected data

§ Attempt to interact with the planners and policy makers and

representatives of local self- government bodies, based on the findings.

§ To analyse and thereby planning future activities in the field of women's

issues with the aid of spectacles of common women since this project
foresees their awareness.

§ Awareness campaigns can be planned, co-operating with interested

socio-cultural and political organizations, the modes of which will be
decided in due course, considering suggestions from the findings of the
research.
 Chapter IV
RESEARCH SETTING

Pattambi is a narrow strip of land situated in between Bharathapuzha and

Thoothapuzha in the north west corner of the Palakkad district. It stretches
out between 10.30 0 and 110 North latitude and 760 and 770 east latitude. It
stands 180 metres high from the sea level.

As per the census of India, 1991 population of Pattambi Block constitute

2,32,425 persons of which 1,21,187 are females and 1,11,238 are males.
Sex ratio is 1039 females for 1000 males. Main source of employment is
Agriculture.

There are day care centres, primary schools and atleast one high school in
each Panchayath. Interest of the parents of the school going children play
strong part in the educational scenario. People are more interested in
teaching their children so that they could seek permanent job than adapting
to traditional sources of employment. There is Government college viz.
Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College which was founded in 1911
by Shri. Punnasseri Nambi Neelakanta Sharma on his own interest to
educate people.

The Pattambi Block Development Project report of 1997-2002 suggests that

the main hindrance to women's development in this area is mainly economic
backwardness. It needs bringing women into Agriculture industry and
entrepreneurial fields so that they can directly be active in production
relations and be autonomous thereby. This report suggests that the health
profile of women is not at all satisfactory because as they give more
importance to health and nourishment of their children and other members
of the family and give up their health. In addition they observe that there is
high rate of unmarried women for they lack enough money to give as dowry.
The report infers that it needs a legal cell and women police station at the
Block level so that people can act against the atrocities against women
legally. The literacy rate of the Block is 88% and that of women literacy is
85%. Out of 53,430 labourers 11,024 are women.

Pattambi Police Station area comprises 8 Panchayath and half portion of

one Panchayath. As per the statistics of 1998 it includes the following
Panchayaths: Pattambi, Ongallur, Vallappuzha, Koppam, Vilayur,
Thiruvegapura, Muthuthala, Paruthur, Kulukkallur (½ portion). Total
Population is 2,22,970.

Panchayaths Total Population

Pattambi 24, 500

Ongallur 34, 900

Vallappuzha 29, 641
Koppam 22, 286
Vilayur 17, 942
Thiruvegapura 26, 562
Muthuthala 18, 768
Paruthur 21, 809
Kulukkallur (1/2 portion) 26, 562
Total 2, 22, 970

Ongallur Grama Panchayath is the most densely populated of the whole

Pattambi block – 34,900. Majority earn life through Agriculture, recently
trend show that some enter service sector and small-scale entrepreneurial
initiatives. People of different religions and various castes live commingled.
They belong to both middle class and working class. The population
constitute 55% Hindus 44.5% Muslims and 0.5% Christians.
If though class and caste based divisions are there structurally the social
situations are not so much tense. There is not much social backwardness
thanks to the roles that are played in the national agrarian and social reform
movements. If though there is high female ratio, women's presence in public
spaces is much low. Though there are a few women who have attained
higher education comparatively education of women gets no momentum
Women are trained to aim marriage as the primary goal
after high school level. “Women
in their life, which in turn becomes an impediment to them”,
them suggests the
development report of the Grama Panchayath.

Ward III of Ongallur Grama Panchayath is the highest densely populated

ward of the Ongallur Grama Panchayath. The physical and socio-cultural
factors of Ward III show that it is the best prototype of the whole
Panchayath for conducting this survey.
 Chapter V
SECONDARY DATA DETAILS

Source of the secondary data was the FIR Index of Pattambi Police Station
Area, in a period of ten years, starting from 1990 January to 1998 December.
The area consists of 8½ Panchayath [8 Panchayaths and half portion of one

Panchayath]

The secondary data shows that the reported cases having women victims are
only a few. During 1990-98 (9 years) only 394 cases are being registered; if
though the total reported cases constitute 3179. (Ref Tab I) Highest number
of cases registered is 531 and highest number of cases having women
complainants is 91, both in 1998.

600

500
400 Women Complainants
300 Men Complainants
Total Complainants
200

100
0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

The total cases reported having women litigants in this period can be divided
into 14 sections of which reporting of unnatural death stands high with 127
cases. The second highest reported section is interpersonal beatings and
violence (91 cases). There are 58 cases registered under section 498(A)
dowry demands and related violence. Unnatural death, interpersonal
beatings & violence and dowry demands & related violence had been
reported every year.

Decreasing order of the concerned sections and number of cases having

women litigants is as follows:

1. Unnatural death : 127

2. Interpersonal beatings and violence : 91
3. Dowry demands and related violence : 58
4. Assault and batterings : 48
5. Wrongful confinement : 23
6. Beatings and confrontations : 17
7. Rape : 8
8. Women missing : 8
9. Using obscene languages and actions : 4
10. Kidnapping : 3
11. Murder : 3
12. Atrocities against SC/ST : 2
13. Polluting water used by public with wastes : 1
14. Forceful abortion : 1

1. Unnatural Death: The Secondary data shows that out of all the
reported cases under different sections; Unnatural death counts 127
Nos while the total reported cases having women victim during the
period of 1990-1998 are 394 (Ref.Tab.XII). Maximum number of
reported unnatural death is 25 in 1990. In 1998 there had been 16
reported cases under this section of which Crime No. 94/98 had been
altered to 304, IPC. "Unnatural death" doesn't have a particular
section and the usual procedure in the police station in this regard is
to inquest the body send for post- mortem etc., and after getting all the
details of this "mechanical" enquiry prepare the final report and
 "close" the file. All the cases under "unnatural death” suggest some
physical or psychological stress and strain the victims suffer, at the
time of their death. The social institutions and the legal provisions
have no sensible sections enabling the probing in detail. This limits
the deep analysis of the stress these women suffered, which again
curtails the remedial measures to be taken to transform the mentality
of the people.

In the next stage of this research, during field work and primary data
collection the direction of enquiry was to understand why and how these
"policings" reached such a state that there is not even a particular section
to probe “unnatural death” and how these should-not- be-repeated-
suicides (!) go on happening, can we have measures to assist such
individuals and distract them from self-immolations, if so, how can we
have self help groups that safeguard the affected ones etc. Paradoxically,
the main problem is that the victims in these cases are “no more”. Why
“unnatural deaths” are the only ones reported more, directs us to the
point that if unreported it might create problems to the “connected
beings”. Just to make the lives of connected beings safe, the "ritual" of
reporting happens; but of course softening the otherwise seriousness of
the situation. This makes the further procedures "easier", as the
investigating police officers informally suggested. This gives ample
points to suspect whether these deaths are simply "unnatural" ones as the
police records suggest or grave and shocking aftermath of the
"unnatural" experiences they had had during their life? "Social activists
can do a lot in this regard," opined one police officer. One police officer
we met from Pattambi Police Station suggested that it is for the social
activists, to mobilise the social consciousness towards such cases and
raise mass protest, if these unnatural deaths are to be proved according to
"what is what". This directs us to the understanding that the Police officials
are not being trained in a gender-
gender- sensitive manner, to be themselves socially active,
so that they can act in a more responsible way beyond expecting or waiting always
for the intervention of “social activists” or public.

2. Interpersonal Beatings and Violence: Barring the above, it is seen

reported that women are commonly being "man handled" during
word battles with neighbours about the border of their lands and on
such property problems. There are only sections like 323 & 324 etc.
for filing and charging these cases concerning these physical attacks,
which are common to both men and women. These sections never
consider the "disadvantages", the common women may have in
resisting and retorting during such situations. At times it is seen they
would be held atrociously, catching their long hairs and attacking
their physique. But most of these cases will be again attacked by
"counter cases" and then the parties will be seen "compounding"
without considering the opinions of the disadvantaged who are
suffering not only of beating but for "just being women". Here
beatings and attacks are from man and the affected woman's side is
that of a subservient sufferer both physically and socially. The social
system will never provide situation for women to understand their
own “potential” as human being - Even the very reporting, procedures
therein, discussions and compromise talks will always be “handled”
by the “men- guardians” (fathers, brothers, sons etc) of the affected
women. In almost all cases the women complainants do not know
“the present condition of the case”. It will not be at the woman’s
interests all these proceedings will be happening, they are being
fooled by the thought that “the accused will be punished one day”.
Almost in all cases the reality is that these cases are being
compounded, without even intimating it to the “actual complainant”.
Total numbers of cases reported in the period of study under this
 section (physical battles) is 84. Police officials are of opinion that
there is possibility that most of the cases under these sections to be
"mistakes of facts". It is as easier and soft way of handling with more
criminal attitudes and events, both officially and socially, so that the
accused will be brought to the police station "for name sake" and
there will be compromise talks in the presence of SI of police and
after some sittings and discussions in police stations, the cases will be
"compounded". it seams police officers also deal with such cases
without much seriousness since they remark it as " all these are part
of life". Anyhow without much tension on the side of investigators
and accused the cases get compromised in which no gender sensitive
issues get considered and debated.

3. Dowry Demands and Related Violence: Third maximum reported

section is that of dowry demands (section 498 –A) at times even
leading to dowry death. There are total number of 58 cases reported
during 1990 -98. It is shocking to notice that in 1998 there had been
26 cases reported. During all the other yearly periods the cases
reported were less that 10 (i.e. between 1- 7 only). This leads us to
connect these issues to the increasing economic crunch in the society
along with several other socio-cultural factors.

The cases reported under 498(A) also remind us that the "dowry
problem" affects the daily life of women -- resulting in beatings,
batterings and all sorts of threats. Women hesitate to seek legal
assistance and other institutional provisions from Police & State mainly
because, they are dependant on their "owners" and have to return to the
very same persons, even after reporting the cases and face the aftermath
of "reporting" the atrocity, and they primarily internalise the normative
aspect of the role of a traditional wife. It is to be noted that The Dowry
Prohibition Act of 1962, is not enough to safeguard the lives of women;
Ironically “dowry demand” is increasing in our social situations, once
again asserting the argument that women are properties handled over
from fathers to husbands along with gold and money. Despite dowry
demand being a criminal offence, interacting agents do not see anything
unjust in dowry demands. This situation leads us to think aloud that
women have no access to property from her side or partner's side in her
whole life.

4. Rapes and punishment (section 371 to 376 IPC) reported during

this period (1990-98) are 8 only. 5 kidnapping cases and 49 physical
and sexual assaults had been reported (refer table 12 of secondary
data).

Physical assaults and Rape cases are the least reported. It doesn't mean
that such cases are not happening. Why these are not being reported and
what are the factors hindering the victims from seeking justice etc. are
discussed in detail, in the deep interview depictions.

5. Woman Missing: If though there are sections for 'Kidnapping' and

'Abductions', this sub- head has no particular section to quote. During
the reference period of study (1990 to 98) only 6 cases had been
reported.

Crime No. 135/91 had been reported on 5/6/91. The astonishing factor of
this case is that "event of missing" had taken place four years before the
reporting of the same. The case is "undetected" till this date.
Abdurahiman, the complainant, had reported that his daughter Jameela
(44 years) had been missing for the last 4 years; from his own house.
The mere 'reporting' makes the researchers confused that 'why it was
reported, so late'? and why it had been reported at that time ? Was
motive behind it to search and find out her? All these are probed in
detail, during deep interview.

As per Crime No. 190/93, Govindankutty reported on 26/7/93, that his

mother (70 yrs) was missing for the last 9 days.

As per Crime No 429/98, Sarfunnissa (17 yrs) who was studying in 10th
Standard, had been missing from her home from 21/10/98, as reported by
Muhammed, her father, on 23/10/98. She had been to School, but didn't
return in the evening. Later, as per FIR INDEX, this case had been
altered into section 363, 366(c) and 376 IPC under "grave crime"; the
accused in this case is one Shamsudeen (27) who kidnapped the girl and
raped. The accused had been arrested 3/11/98. The case is going on.

One of the most confusing observations based on secondary data is that

no "dowry deaths" and "female infanticide" are being reported in this
area. We cannot directly come to the conclusion that no "dowry"
problem exists in this area of study. Since cases of dowry demands and
related violence are reported. The increased number of "unnatural
death" directs us to something serious to be found out from the "field",
enquiring based on the reported cases of unnatural death. For example,
Crime No 94/98 had been reported as suspected suicide - under unnatural
death. But actually during investigation, it had been proved that the
victim - Suhara - was stubbed to death by her elder brother-in-law. She
was having 9 deep wounds on her neck, as per the post- mortem report,
told her relatives to us during deep interview. The case had been altered
to IPC 304 later.
6. Sexual Assault and batterings: During 1998, 48 case s reported
under the Sections 351 to 354 IPC. Almost all the cases are reported
to have taken place, in the domestic atmosphere, barring a few. The
accused forcefully enter the house of the accuser, kicking, catching
her breast and biting the body parts, tearing off the dress, forcefully
kissing etc. are some events of atrocities reported under these
sections.

7. Wrongful confinement: 23 cases of wrongful confinement under

339 to 348 had been reported during 1990-98. Hindering the path
way, attacking by forcefully entering the house, slapping with
chappals, cycle chain and sticks, cutting on the head with knife,
catching the neck and threatening to kill for personal grudge and for
not getting family property etc. are some events reported.

8. Beatings and confrontations: Attacking the accuser with pickaxe,

knife, torch, iron bar, stones, plastic bucket, household utensils and
making wounds for having personal grudge and during word battles
regarding family properties have been reported under 324 IPC,
constituting 17 cases.

9. Using obscene languages and actions: Threatening and eveteasing

using obscene languages and entering the house by breaking gate,
raising pickaxe against the accuser etc. are the coming under the brief
of the events of atrocities under this section, as per FIR Index.

10. Kidnapping: There are three cases reported under this section,
Crime Nos. 96/97 and 206/97 had been deep interviewed. As per the
280/90 on 31/12/90 Jameela W/o Vasu Pancharathupadi, Churakode
was kidnapped by Hamza Karuparambil (2) Kondottil Moideen and a
 gang of 10 people and were taken to Ponnani for marriage as per
muslim custom. A1 kidnapped the victim from there, leaving Vasu
alone at Ponnani. In this case Jameela and Vasu already living
together despite they were born to different religions. Vasu belongs to
SC (Vettuva) and Jameela is a Muslim by origin. The police record
shows that Vasu was taken to Ponnani for conversion so that he can
marry Jameela as per the religious regulations. But from Ponnani
Jameela was taken forcefully by the group deserting Vasu there. This
is a particular example of how the disadvantaged and underprivileged
ones like Vasu and Jameela are being 'utilised'. The case was
reported on 6/12/90 by Vasu, was charged on 27/12/91 and all the
accused were acquitted under section 248 (1) CRPC on 2/9/92.

11. Murder: Three murder cases had been reported during the period of
study. As per Cr. No. 28/90 Sheeba, a five year old child D/o
Perachan Mannumpalliyalil, Maruthur was reportedly attacked by
Vasu, her father's brother. The brief of the FIR Index is as follows:
the sleeping child was cut by a sword, hospitalised on 17/1/90
discharged on 21/1/90. Admitted again on 13/2/90 referred to medical
college on 14/2/90 but died before reaching there. The remarks
suggest that accused was arrested on 18/1/90, charged on 20/10/90.
Accused acquitted under section 248 (1) on 14/9/92 postmortem
report says that she died, as she was sick. Here it is to be noted that
all socio-legal institutional provisions failed to probe whether the
prior attack by the accused was causal or correlated to her becoming
sick and dying.

As per crime no.211/90 Thankamony alias Devaki (32) W/o Pazhani

Ongallur Pattambi had been reportedly seen dead. The death was
suspected as a murder by strangling as if to rob the gold ornaments,
worth Rs.3000/- during noon on 29/8/90.The case was reported by
Pazhani. There were a lot of hue and cry regarding the case the action
council demanded the arrest of the accused. The police officials failed to
detect the murderer and the file was transferred to CBI.

As per crime no.93/93, Parvathy (34) D/o Kuttappan Elankavu Muttathu,

Veerajpettah was reported to have seen dead (on 17/3/93) The case was
reported by The SI of Police on19/3/93.The FIR Index mentions the case
as follows" A dead body inside a sack was seen floating in
Bharathapuzha river, Hands and legs of the body had been chopped and
tied in a mat and put inside the sack". File had been transferred to CBI on
7/12/94 for special investigation but the CBI also could not find out the
murderer though they made clear that it was a murder.

12. Prevention of atrocities against SC/ST: There are two cases

reported under this section 509 IPC - 3(1) X(1). The victim of the
Crime Number 293/92 is Elizabath P Kora (8) D/o Sara, Lecturer
Govt. Sanskrit College, Pattambi. The accused of this case is P M
Chandramohan, Scientific Asst. Soil Research Lab. Agri University
Pattambi. The brief tells us that the accused did sexual assault on the
Girl from Pattambi Govt. U P School at 3.30 PM. The victim belongs
to Mala- Araya Caste (Converted Christian-ST). The accused arrested
on 12/11/92 and charged on 30/4/93. The case is before Supreme
Court.

As per the Cr. No. 76/93 Reena (15) Thrayaparambil Neriyamangalam

(SC-Kana kkan) was attacked by Prasad Exec. Officer, Muthuthala
Panchyath. FIR suggests assault on the person, blocking her path and
beating on the face of the victim. Accused was arrested on 4/3/93 and
charged on 27/5/93. Later he was acquitted on 15/2/94.
13. Polluting water used by public with wastes : Crime No. 219/91
reveals that Gopalan, Vikraman, Thadaparambath Krishnakumar,
Olencherry Gopalan and a gang of 10 members polluted drinking
water of the complainant's well using excreta on 4/10/91, it was
reported on 5/10/91. The complainant is Thara W/o Sivasankaran,
Siva Nivas, Amayur. The case was undetected and closed on
21/1/92.

14. Forceful abortion: Only one case is reported under this section
during this period. Crime No. 102/90 shows that Kunchi W/o
Krishnankutty, Arandapilliyil, Karambathur, Pallipuram forced by
Chandru, Payilipara on 27/3/90 to have medicine for aborting the
pregnancy due to her illicit relationship with him. The case was
reported on 1/4/90. Later it was considered as mistake of fact and
closed on 15/5/90.
 Chapter VI
Details of Deep Interview

Based on the secondary data, collected from the FIR index of Pattambi
Police Station area, selected reported cases during 1990-98 had been
interviewed deeply as mentioned below:

Chart 1

1
7
Dowry Demands
Rape
2
Unnatural Death
Women missing
5 25
Kidnapping
Physical & Sexual Assaults

5 Prevention of atrocities against SC/ST

Distribution of 50 deep interviewed cases

During the selection of the cases for the deep interview we were careful to
consider cases belonging to all socio- economic strata including working
class, lower middle class and upper middle class people. It included women
who worked as ‘coolies’, clerks, those who earned their lives as teachers and
professors. It also included women who did not have any independent job
and earnings and lived dependently on the earnings of their ‘husbands and
parents’.
Dowry Demands (Section 498-A):

The secondary data shows that there is an unimaginable increase in the

reported cases of dowry demands which reminds us the urgency of seeking
measures to understand the complex socio- economic factors involved in the
issue and to analyse how the complexity of day to day life is entangled by
the traditional cultural tags and fundamental social institutions like marriage
and family.

The following table show the distributions of the crime numbers that had
been selected from the reported cases for deep interview against the total
number of reported cases from 1990 to 1998, per each year.

Total No. Total No.

Year Crime No. Interviewed under reported under
Section 498 -A Section 498 -A
1990 269 1 4
1991 33,144 2 6
1992 -- - 1
1993 19,180 2 3
1994 262 1 3
1995 96,137 2 7
1996 60 1 4
1997 17,69,338 3 4
1998 6,24,36,49,58,132,136,
13 26
214,279,342,441,490, 497
25 58

All the 25 respondents told us that they were having marriages arranged by
their families as per the religious regulations. This reminds how strongly
people cling to the institutional provisions and there by maintain and
perpetuate the traditional nature of the social institution “marriage”, by
actively and interestedly participating in all the formalities therein. Mate
selection of the respondents of Crime No. 144/91 was a self- choice, but they
were also married as per “regulations” and customs. This forced us to check
and code the religious affiliations of the respondents, if though we were
opinionated that "all religions uplift patriarchal ideology".

In 1992 only one case had been reported under 498(A). Crime No. 213/92,
as per FIR Index of Pattambi police station. "The accused Moidunni married
Fathima as per religious regulations. He sold her ornaments "he" received at
the time of marriage and sent her home to bring dowry. It is to be noted here
that it is “he” who is receiving the ornaments, but not “she”. He sent her
home on 24/7/92 and Fathima's family reported the case to the police on
1/8/92, the accused surrendered in the court on 20/11/92, the case was
charged on 26/11/92. Later the accused was acquitted on 8/7/93 under
section 248(I). This case was not interviewed deeply further.

BEENA

Only one respondent (262/94) had a bachelor's degree (in commerce) and
she works in railway. She is divorced now after a whole lot of disturbance
from her partner. The case started on 25/01/94 as per police records Filed On
26/10/94. They stopped action on 30/11/94. At the time of noting down the
secondary data from FIR index of the Pattambi Police Station, the police
constables present there assured us that the case is "mistake of fact". Police
records also show that the case is "mistake of fact". When we visited Beena,
complainant of this case, the description regarding her short span of married
life she depicted to us was horribly disturbing. She got job in the railway
after her father's sudden demise, he being a railway employee. The person
who married was one of her colleagues who pampered her a lot for marrying
him and at last she decided to marry. It was a purely arranged marriage as
far as she was concerned. From the very first day of marriage her partner and
in-laws started harassing her. Within a few days she came to understand that
it was not to the in- laws liking their marriage had been taken place, but for
the threats of her partner that he will marry her only. But actually he was
interested not in her "person" but her earnings and ornaments, she added.
They didn’t give him dowry at the time of marriage, but off and on he
started complaining about the scarcity of money. During the early- married
life he asked her to withdraw money from her bank account but later he
started compelling her to sign on all cheque leaves and step- by-step started
dealing with all her earnings. He always told lies which she could never
bear, he used to beat her regularly but her dissents were mere silence. On
becoming angry, by nature, she used to sit silently without even speaking to
him, as she depicted to us. But her dissents never affected him he didn’t
even get the meaning of her silence. He didn’t like her visiting her home. In
spite of all these humiliations, during his younger sister's marriage, she gave
her ornaments to her and during those times they behaved nicely to her, but
only for a short period. Being in the same office he used to spread false
stories to their colleagues regarding their "private life" even, which made her
very uneasy. He used to physically attack her, he doubted her and strictly
directed not to talk to male co- workers. After one habitual abortion she was
compelled to conceive immediately if though the doctor suggested that she
could conceive only after six months. She delivered an unhealthy child
having heart disease and on 79t h day the child died. He was with her when
the child was hospitalised but he didn’t give enough attention later. He
didn’t even come for the burial of the kid. Her in-laws didn’t visit her at
least once, even during those days of distress.

These events made her, family and friends to rethink about their relation.
Everybody suggested, "Why should she need such a fellow as her partner".
After long discussions they decided not to send her to him and one day her
brother, who is physically handicapped, went to take all her household
items. For these her partner and elder brother (who is also working in
railway, in the same office) filed a petition against them, mentioning that the
brother attacked them by forcefully entering the house. She was totally
distracted since within two or three days after her little one's death she had to
step to the police station, she told. All these necessitated a situation that
they filed a petition under section 498 (A) IPC, against him. The CI of police
also directed them to do it. At the time of beatings and scolding from his
side, when they were living together, she told us she beared with silence,
thinking that every thing would be good in future. But by the time of filing
the case, which should have been done earlier, the very much- anticipated
future was over and she had to accept the grave decision of divorce from her
partner’s side, on 29/5/95. Now also she cannot understand for what he pampered,
married her and she don’t know why he divor ced her, she told us. Even now, she
hadn’t recognised the productive and creative aspect, she herself had in
knitting her life. All these happened in her life without getting enough time
for her to think for a while and decide between "this or that" and "now or
later", as she described the state of affairs. These awful statements remind us
that her role in "her own life " was that much "passive" even at passionate
times. This incident shows that there had been a lot of atrocities showered on
her during their married life. If it had been exposed then and there it would
have helped to tide over the unbearable situations more tolerantly with the
help of her close family associates, as her brother lamented during the
interview. Anyhow her brother and mother gave strong support to her in
facing all the disturbing events. Their case needed deep consideration and
many facts were to be probed in detail, instead of closing the case as
"mistake of fact". The problem with the dealing of these cases is that the
officials, whether it be of Police or court have a lot of limitations and these
institutions always consider the case through the narrow paths of the
particular "sections" under which it is reported. These portfolios are not at
all gender sensitive in their make up or practices and never analyse or raise
the question " why is it that these subordinations are to be continued like
this?" Hence all these cases end in added atrocities against the women
concerned. These institutions and women and men involved in making the
institution in turn append to perpetuate such situations, thus doing the duties
fixed to them, by the very domineering social scenario.

Table based on the Commonalities observed

from the deep interviews of 498 A – Dowry demands

Sl. Crime Age at Religious Natureof Employ Dowry

Education
No No. marriage affiliation marriage -ment Given
Rs. 8000/- &
1 269/90 19 Hindu Arranged 10th Nil
8 Pavans gold
Rs. 5000/- &
2 33/91 14 Muslim " 8th Nil
5 Pavans gold
Self Yes
3 144/91 20 Hindu 6th No
choice Koolie
Rs. 10000/- &
4 19/93 13 Muslim Arranged 9th Nil
20 Pavans gold
Rs. 10000/- &
5 180/93 14 " " 9th "
10 Pavans gold
Rs. 7500/- &
6 96/95 18 " " 7th "
5 Pavans gold
Rs. 10000/- &
7 137/95 16 " " 8th "
5 Pavans gold
Rs. 10000/ - &
8 60/96 14 " " 9th "
15 Pavans gold
Hindu Rs. 3000/- &
9 17/97 20 " 10th Koolie
Sc 7 Pavans gold
338/97 Rs. 40000/- &
10 13 Muslim " 8th Nil
40 Pavans gold
Yes,
11 262/94 20 Hindu " B.Com. No
Railway
12 69/97 16 Hindu " 1st PDC Nil No
13 6/98 17 Muslim " 10th Nil Rs. 15000/- &
9 Pavans gold
14 24/98 18 Hindu " 10th Yes Do not reveal
Tailoring
15 36/98 15 Muslim " 9th Nil Rs. 35000/- &
20 pavans gold
16 49/98 18 Hindu " 9th Yes Rs. 25000/-
Sales
17 58/98 28 " " Nil Yes Rs.4500/- &
Gold 12 Pavans gold
work
18 132/98 14 Muslim " 9th Nil Rs.15000/ - &
20 Pavans gold
19 136/98 16 " " 6th Nil Rs. 8000/-,
8 Pavans gold
& 5 Cents
20 214/98 14 " " Nil Nil Rs.50000/ - &
50 Pavans gold
21 279/98 15 " " 10th Nil Rs.30000/ - &
30 Pavans gold
22 342/98 17 " " 7th Nil Rs. 8000/- &
8 Pavans gold
23 441/98 16 Hindu " N.A Nil Rs.10000/ - &
10 Pavans gold
24 490/98 24 " " N.A Koolie Rs. 27000/- &
16 Pavans gold
25 497/98 17 Hindu " 4th N.A Rs.15000/ - &
6 Pavans gold

VALLI

Out of the 25 respondents, 19 beared beatings from mothers/sisters- in –law,

along with the beatings from partners. Respondent of Crime no. 144/91, who
had been 20 years at the time of marriage, married a Tamilian who had no
family. It was a self-choice- marriage at least in the case of partner selection.
As she told us after some days he started showing his "real face", Bhaskaran
threatened Valli, she was forced, not to talk to other men, even to her
brother, with whom she used to go for ‘Koolie work”, before marriage. Her
brother, sister- in- law their son and Bhaskaran were working in the same
field, It belonged to one “Dubai Moideen”, Valli also used to go for work.
But one day he told Bhaskaran “Valli is beautiful, She suits him well and he
also is interested in “having” her. This made Valli furious she scolded
Moideen and she stopped going there. Bhaskaran slowly started
“manhandling” her, as she described, “I suffered my maximum” thinking
that, after all he is her “partner”. But one day after a fierce word-battle, he
caught her by her long hair and cut her ear to take her earrings, it was
bleeding and her brother came to safeguard her. He retorted and hit him
also. Seeing this Valli took all her strength, caught him by the collor, pulled
him towards the walls and gave heavy blows. Then her neighbours
intervened and threatened him that if he came there once again they would
cut his hands and feet. One month later, he came again, neighbours caught
hold of him. Valli, thinking that he should not be handled by ‘others’, (as he
is her partner) told her neighbours not to intervene. But she retorted to
Bhaskaran, at the same time, telling him not to come to her again. One day,
accidentally, she saw Bhaskaran lying with another woman. He challenged
her and told, “This is my woman, she is better than you”. This made her
angry. One day Bhaskaran took some of her "sarees and ornaments" and
went away. (She didn't give dowry at the time of marriage.) Later he didn't
return. Finally she decided to file a petition against him as he cheated her.
Her brother’s son, Haridasan helped her to go to the Police Station. The
case was charged; later she came to understand that he had been arrested,
had had trial in the court and he was put in the jail for 6 months. They got
divorced. This case also had been reported under 498(A). One of the police
officers told us that there is no special section to penalize those who "desert"
their family, and it is not treated as crime. Here the point to be noted is not
that whether the case is a crime or not, but structural properties of the
institutions like police and the state are in such a particular manner that they
are always interested in seeking the only way of "penalizing the accused".
They are least bothered about how the whole situation affects the very life of
the "human beings" involved. When we visited Valli the complainant of this
case we saw her living very happily with one of her cousins. She told us
"It needs no "Thaali& Maala" to make it a marriage." She opined very
enthusiastically, she understood from her own experience, that
only love and mutual understanding will serve man-
man-woman relationship. Valli’s
readiness to face even the most unfavourable situations, her energetic
expressions, strong opinions all these made us think that now she is happy
with ‘Mani’ her second partner and 2 sons, Arun & Varun.

On Dowry & Remarriage

Respondents of Crime no.262/94,69/97&24/98 didn't mention the amount

and the quantity of gold ornaments they had “given” as dowry at the time of
marriage. All the other respondents clearly depicted the "amount& pavans"
(It's worth quoting here that from 1962 onwards dowry had been prohibited
in our country. Both asking and giving dowry are criminal offences as per
legal provisions. )

Out of 25, only three respondents had got remarried and living with their
partners "happily". All these three women have no children in their first
marriage. Man & woman of Crime No. 33/91 got compromised later. Clients
of Cr.No.19/93 compromised after six years gap, she told us, she succumbed
because of having two children. Her partner has remarried and she also is
living with them. Possibilities of remarriages for women are correlated with
the presence or absence of children.

RAJI

The affected beings of 17/97& 69/97 are no more. The case of Raji, Crime
No. 17/97 is one of the most pathetic issues. She was the only female child
in the family. Her mother died during her childhood. Her father nurtured her
along with three brothers. Now also they are living together happily, with
their life partners "under one roof", as they told us during deep interview.
The victim's youngest sister- in- law narrated the case to us. "It was reported
as suicide due to poisoning. She was married with him, giving Rs.3000/- and
17 pavans of gold. She was twenty years old then. Her partner, the only son
of his mother was a drunkard& spendthrift. It was his hobby to go for
gambling. Mother- in- law, who earned their life, used to tell her if she
wanted to "fill her belly" she should go for work. She didn't even allow her
to have enough food. Her scolding compelled her to go for "koolie" work.
Without any disturbance to anybody she used to go for work and live there,
if though her “partner” always forcefully took away the money she earned
and continued gambling." As per this narration, “she was not a pessimist by
nature and she could not have committed suicide.” Her sister- in- law assured us
"she would not have done it, for she loved her aged father & her brothers
intensely, she had that much freedom to demand or seek all support from her
family. Moreover she loved life that much ." She could not help crying as she
told us "Our girl didn't even get timely medical attention. We received the
dead body only after three days. They didn't give us the post-mortem report
even."

The tragic turn of events in this case is that the govt. advocate took initiative
to compound the case through the advocate of the accused. Father with tears
falling through his cheeks murmured, as if to him "There was political
intervention and he got bail. We have no money to follow the case and it is
very much difficult to prove how she died for they had left no clue at all."
The helplessness in the eyes of that father and the sister-in-law haunts us
now also.
 KADEEJA & SABIRA

The case of crime no.342/98 had been reported under Section.498 (A) The
FIR index suggests, "On 24/7/98 & before the accused – “husband” harassed
the affected one physically & mentally, complained that the ornaments and
the dowry “he” received at the time of marriage was not enough." The case
was charged on 30/9/98 and the accused got bail from the session's court on
19/10/98. Bearing in mind all these points we visited the affected one,
Kadeeja, and came to understand that the atrocities she experienced during
her married life cannot be reduced to a mere Section 498(A), if though it is
considered as "grave crime" as per police proceedings. Our vocabulary fails
to depict all her experiences, with the same intensity. Anyhow what she and
her eldest daughter narrated to us are as follows. "K adeeja studied up to
seventh standard. Her family, included Umma, Uppa and six children, was
so poor that she had to stop studying to look after youngsters. When she was
17 years old she married with Shawkath who was working in Gulf then.

After 5 years of their marriage, he returned from Gulf and started doing
some business. Now for the last four years they have no connection. Kadeeja
is having two girls & one boy in this relation. Eldest daughter Sabira had to
stop going to school, from tenth standard. After the separation, her Uppa
(-Shoukath) forcefully took her to his house for two times. This incident
compelled her not to get out of her home alone. She is scared of her father
for he behaves to her “not like a father”. Shawkath come to the ‘madrasa’
(religious study centre) always and disturbs the youngsters also. Kadeeja
says ‘our situation is so fierce that even my children's education is about to stop. He is
harassing us throughout our life , if though we luckily escaped from him’. At
first we didn't get what she meant. But later we were to read between the
lines. It seemed to us that Sabira who knows all the issues very well, is a
strong support to her Umma. He used to beat all of them. If though they filed
a petition to get maintenance for the children they didn't get "justice" from
the police or anywhere else.

Though we visited them to interview Kadeeja what we heard from Sabira

made our thoughts topside down. Kadeeja told us that when she conceived
her fourth one, she was forcefully aborted, as he doubted her. He even
"misbehaved" to Sabira. One day as Kadeeja was taking rest after the forced
abortion, she suggested her daughter, who always slept with her during
nights, to go to the other room where her father and youngsters lied, so that
she needed some solitude after the whole process of abortion and mental
tensions. That night Sabira’s Uppa asked her to do "uncanny things", Sabira
told us. Sabira was frightened and she returned to her mother, crying that
she'll never go to her Uppa to lie with. Kadeeja went to him and shouted to
him, "What did you do to my child?" He retorted to her "You are responsible
for it. If it was my child I would not have felt like that towards her."

She felt as if her nerves were breaking into pieces. They told the issue to
Shawkath's mother and brother. Their response was quite unnatural. They
told "Both Kadeeja and Sabira were mad". This made her most disturbed and
she decided to go to her "poor" family to secure her daughter from her own
father. We intervened, "What did your father do to you, Sabira?" She told us
in a very cold tone "What Uppa needed was to make me behave as his wife.
He asked me to lie under him and…………….."(Sabira was studying in
eighth standard then.) We noticed, even though Sabira had to redefine her
relationship with her "Uppa" later, she calls him "Uppa", now also.

Kadeeja told us "he is living happily with his second wife in the house,
which had been bought with the help of her father." (Kadeeja's father gave
him 50% of the cost of the house. But they could not ask it back since there
is no written document to prove the same.)

How this situation is to be disentangled they do not know. They are on the
verge of perish. Their economic position also is not good. But she hopefully
waits for a better future, through her children, though Shawkath's shadow is
haunting them.

MINI

Out of 25 respondents, barring one who is working in Railway, a B.Com.

Degree holder, the only one to step to college education, after her marriage
was the victim of 69/97. She was married after passing tenth Std. She
became pregnant when she was studying for pre degree first year and
stopped going to the college. In 1997 she died from her partner's house due
to burning (pouring kerosene on the body). The same had been reported
under section 498(A) later altered to 497&306 IPC. We visited the victim's
house and her mother bursting into tears described all the stories. As she told
us, her daughter was happily living in her partner's house with her in-laws.
Her partner was employed in Gulf. Their son was four and a half years old,
at the time of her death. As Mini's mother told us, "Her mother in- law used
to complain their close relatives that Mini was having "sexual relationship"
with her younger brother in- law." She used to scold and harass her, always
shouting at her "You destroyed my son". Mini's mother told us "Mini was a
happy child but after her marriage she was at times gloomy for her partner
was away from her. She liked to have a partner who lived with her always . But
they thought since he was in Gulf their economic situation will be safe. But
all these didn't save her life. After a long gap of three years when her partner
returned from Gulf, Mini became pregnant for the second time, Her partner
suspected that it was not his, for he heard from his mother that she had
relation with his brother. He forced her to abort. She unwillingly underwent
abortion, after returning from the hospital she was reported to have
committed suicide due to burning, herself pouring kerosene on her body.
Mini's mother could not stop crying, "I lost everything. I lost my only child. Her
son is with his father. He is remarried now. His brother also got married and
living happily. Now also Mini's family members are suspicious about the
incident. They cannot even imagine that she died on her own. They don't
know what was the reason behind it. Mini's mother asks to herself" Why her
daughter had to put such an end to her life? Was it because of her husband's
scolding & harassment for she being in love with his brother? Or were all
these mere stories? Was her mother-in-law spreading rumours regarding
"such a love affair"? Are they culprits in this case?'' All these turned
unanswered questions.

SULFATH

Sulfath the affected person of Crime no.19/93, Is the only daughter of

Mimuna. Five years after Mimuna's marriage Sulfath was born. Till then
they lived very happily. Her in- laws and partner were very much attached to
her. Mimuna "was brought" to her home for delivery. At that time her
partner fell in love with one of his employees. (He was a road contractor)
and brought her home. His father strongly agitated against it and told him
that his daughter in- law is Mimuna and he could not consider the new one as
his daughter in- law. Mohammed, her partner got out of the house with that
woman. Mimuna didn't know all these issues and some days after her
delivery she returned to her partner's house with the new born. At that time
Mohammed came home and pleaded her to excuse him, telling her "what
happened cannot be undone. It was a sudden shock to her that "what
happened cannot be undone" She could not bear it and returned to her home
telling him she "won't excuse him for this betrayal on his part. She nurtured
Sulfath with the help of her relatives. She earned her living by teaching
tailoring. Sulfath has studied upto ninth Std. At that time she was "married
to" Abdul Azees, one businessman giving a dowry of Rs.10000 and 20
pavans. Azees had two sisters, two brothers, mother and father at home. At
first mother in law behaved lovingly to Sulfath. Later she started "dealing
with her". Sulfath had to do all the household works. By that time she
delivered a girl, Shinu. She was not allowed to take enough food. She was
given "a little rice only" without curry and side dishes. She didn't tell these
things even to her mother Mimuna. But on her visit to Sulfath's she
accidentally saw it. She enquired why it was so. Answer came from Mother
in law that she used to "vomit", for she was pregnant. Her in laws always
compelled her to sign on a paper in which it was written that she didn't like
her partner. Mimuna told us. Their aim was to dissolve the marriage and
make arrangements for Azees' second marriage. Later Mimuna came to
understand from the neighbours that Azeez's mother used to demoralize
Sulfath through character assassination. One night they beat her severely and
Azees, with one of his friends brought her home and returned at once.
Sulfath's relatives hospitalised her. On seeing the physical situation of the
patient the doctor compelled Sulfaths relatives to file a petition with the
police. Only at the time of filing the petition Sulfath told her worst
experiences she had had from her partner's house. During second delivery
“partner” or his family didn't help her in any way. On their return from the
hospital mother in law came to see the newborn. Sulfath's mother told her
that they should not have behaved so cruelly to her.

Mother in law retorted that her son would get enough and more girls if he
needed. Azeez came to see Sulfath only on the 90th day of her delivary.
Mimuna told us that he was received very happily .It is quite astonishing that
despite all these traumas their life went on normally, as if nothing had
happened. But Mimuna told him that she would take care of Sulfath and
children if they once again challenge her. Azeez sent his brother in law as a
mediator. Mimuna told him all the stories and said that she would not sent
her daughter back to such a serious situation. Within no time Azeez married
another woman. Hearing all these narrations Sulfath sat thoughtfully. We
asked her why you are silent and keep aloof from "your own experiences".
She just laughed. Mimuna continued. One day Sulfath was hospitalised for
appendicitis operation. At that time Azees' father had had some cardiac
problems and was hospitalised there. This created an atmosphere for their
reunion. Azees' father died from the hospital and Mimuna& her son went for
the funeral, as it was informed to them. Later after Sulfath's return from the
hospital Azees started telephoning Sulfath and expressed his wish to see his
children. Their family meeting took place and they decided to permit him to
come (but not to stay there) if Sulfath is interested. Azees suggested that he
is ready to give up his second wife. But Mimuna disagreed to it telling
"Don't spoil the life of another girl and make her a destitute as you have
done to my daughter." (Sulfath laughs….)

Mimuna repeatedly told us that Sulfath is so "poor" a girl that despite all these
atrocious situations,
situations, she didn't reciprocate but simply laugh . She told us that she is
not astonished to see her adjusting to her “husband” even after all these
violations. Finally, on January 1st 1999, Azees confessed for each and every
atrocity he had done to Sulfath and family. Later from 14th February
onwards he started once again coming to them attending her “basic needs”
and case was withdrawn after a long gap of almost 6 years. When we were
about to return we asked her "How is your life now"? The answer was a
continuous laugh.
 RANI

Rani the complainant of the Crime No. 49/98 belongs to a well off family
residing at Koppam, Pattambi. In her childhood she lost her father who was
working in the customs department. Rani's mother, a teacher, looked after
her and her sister without any serious problem. Rani discontinued her studies
from 9t h standard onwards. Her mother told us that she was not good at her
studies. On getting 18 years old she was married to Krishnankutty, S/o.
Kuttimalu, Muthuthala, He was a "psychic case" as Rani told us. He doubted
her for having illicit relationships with other men. She was not "allowed even to
talk to others. Actually Rani was disinterested in this marriage. Basically she
didn't like him. But because of the compulsion of the "family" she
succumbed to marriage. They lived together only for 15 days. During this
time he demanded Rani to bring him 5000 and more from her family. But
she was reluctant to it. During the next fortnight the police caught him for
carrying "gancha" with him. Rani came home and her mother decided, "not
to send her" again to the partner's. They had given Rs.25000 and some
furniture as dowry. But they didn't get those back. Rani's mother told us "on
what basement and surety would we send her to his house?" They got
divorced after two years, after getting the property back. One year later one
Ramdas s/o Late Narayanan, Santhapurath veedu, Kuruvattoor, an
autorikshaw driver proposed her. Rani's mother told us that he behaved as if
he was a well-wisher to them and hearing all her past problems he
sympathized and assured that "he will give her a life"(?). In 1997 March, he
married her took her to his house. After their marriage he didn't take her out
with him, atleast once. He was reluctant to take her to public places telling,
"She is not suitable for him". His complaint was that "she was bulky (But
actually as we saw her she had a normal physique. He took her only in his
auto. He never walked with her for which she was very sorry. Rani told us
she went to Ramdas' house his mother insisted her to bring "oil and soap"
needed for her daily use. Through pricking comments she told her "Oh!
Your mother is a teacher your family is well off and you should bring the
whole lot for your life, from your house". Actually she didn't like her, Rani's
mother told to us. Ramdas took the bangles and necklace from her for
treating Ramdas' father who was aged and sick. Ramdas' father died from
the hospital and Ramdas demanded "10 pavans" so as to meet the expenses
of discharging the dead body from the hospital, funeral, and connected
rituals. After 15 days she was sent to her house. Later he didn't call her back.
Meanwhile Ramdas sold his ‘auto-rikshaw’ came to Rani's and lived there
for 20 days without going for any work. Rani's mother managed to tell him
not to be so importunate and irresponsible and he should seek a job so that
they can live together. But he was reluctant to follow her advice. He went
home and returned with his mother, demanding more gold and money. But
they didn't lend ears to it. Later he managed to buy another ‘auto- rikshaw’
taking loan from Kunnamkulam Financiers He gave “the wife house
address” at the financiers. After one week he sold it. Knowing this a group
of people from Kunnamkulam financiers came to Rani's mother and
enquired Ramdas so as to get back the money he had adjusted as loan from
there. But Rani's mother didn't give it and she told people all the problems.
The financiers' people sought the help of police and he was arrested. Later
Rani's Mother petitioned to the Women’s Commission. After many trials
they won the case by which they were to get 25000/- Rupees and 10 Pavans
within the stipulated date of 15/8/99. But Ramdas didn't report at the
collectorate. Once again they are to submit before the Women's commission.
Rani's mother is afraid to leave her alone even in their house, for, nowadays,
she is having a tendency to suicide. Now Rani is working as a marketing
assistant to a TV Company.
Despite being educated and employed the parents (here mother) are not that
much bothered about the consent of the daughter for marriage. Rani's
natives consider her as a "talkative one" or as a psychic case, but to her first
in laws she is a "daring one". If though the mother is trying very hard to
keep the marital tie of her daughter intact what they get is mere agony and
disturbances. The very institution of marriage becomes atrocious here. In
spite of all these they did not get justice.

NABEESA

Nabeesa the affected one of Crime No. 214/98 the only daughter of Hamza,
who is working in Gulf, has two younger brothers and mother (Kadeeja) in
her family. They were living happily. After her marriage lived with her
husband for seven months. During the marriage they gave Rs. 50000/- and
50 Pavans as dowry. Sulaiman, her partner had six brothers, all employed
and 2 sisters who live with their partners. He is a tailor by profession; he
used to nag her always telling that he didn't like her. He married not on his
interest but by the compulsion of his father. Actually Sulaiman had an affair
with another woman and he always told Nabeesa about it. One day she went
to her family getting the consent of mother in law and returned in the
evening. On hearing it from Nabeesa, in the night, Sulaiman became angry
and threatened that he would pour kerosene on her and burn her to death.
Scared because of this shocking experience she returned home. One day
Sulaiman's brothers came to Nabeesas' and at the time of 'power cut' they
called her 12 year old brother to come out. After some time Nabeesa's father
went out seeking his son and saw that Nabeesa's brothers in law were
beating his son and he was wounded. They threatened Nabeesa's father
telling that they would 'deal' with him. During word battle they cut the
brother's neck with knife. He was wounded deeply and hospitalised for 10
days. Till then Nabeesa's father was not ready to report the case to the
police as he was worried about the future of the daughter. Since the
situations had changed to a criminal one they filed the case as per 498(A)
IPC [Dowry demands and related violence] and attempted murder.

Mediators intervened and they tried to make it a compromise telling that it is

better to compound the case, 'for the sake of Nabeesa's future' (?).
Meanwhile the accused brother in law (Bava) who stabbed Nabeesa's brother
went to Gulf easily. Nabeesa's opined that the police didn't act with the
seriousness it demanded which helped the accused to seek fortune in Gulf.
“Marxist Party members of the locality helped them to continue the case.
With their pressure only the police official came and enquired” as they told
us. Nabeesa’s, with legal guidance won to freeze and seal the gold loan put
by Sulaiman in the Bank. This made Sulaiman furious and he challenged
them. The religious persons (Palli Committee) in their compromise attempt
repeatedly reminded Nabeesa's father that it is better to stop the struggle as
Nabeesa's future is in trouble. After many dialogues father decided (in
which Nabeesa had no role) to compromise. The trail on the murder attempt
case was not satisfactory. Sulaiman insisted that he would compromise only
if the criminal case against them is withdrawn. The Palli Committee stood
with Sulaiman and Nabeesa's father felt that it is unpardonable. Even the
Advocate of Nabeesa voted for the suggestion of compromising the case.
Here it is to be noticed that the common sensical perception of the middle
persons favours the accused in turn. Nabeesa's father, fed up with the trails
and dialogues, was compelled to compromise fearing that in his absence (as
he has to return to Gulf) she may face more problems. All these
circumstances compelled them to succumb to the compromise. The formula
was that Sulaiman should give Rs. 34000/- and 18 Pavans to Nabeesa. It
took 8 months struggle and trial for Sulaiman gave 34000/- through his
advocate. The stay on the gold loan was over by that time. He was reluctant
to take the gold from the bank as it needed Rs. 48000/- including interest.
After so many heated dialogues Sulaiman was ready to give Rs. 42000/-
only, the interest was to be given by Nabeesa's father. After 4 months they
took the gold back from the bank.

In 1998 Nabeesa's second marriage took place to Yusuf that also giving
dowry of Rs. 50000/- and 50 Pavans now they have a child of 7 months,
Yusuf and his family loves her very much. When we went to inquire the case
firstly Nabeesa was reluctant to come even to the living room. Her brother
Abdul Rahiman who is studying for Final year BA Economics, compelled
her to come out and talk to us about her experiences. Once came out,
Nabeesa started talking continuously she told that she don't like to
remember her chilling experience. We came to understand from her
dialogues that she didn't know the details of her own case but she talked
about her experiences very frankly. The details of the case was described by
her brother. She told us she is very happy now.

Nature of Marriage

Parents arranged marriages of all interviewed beings. Even those parents

who are educated as in the case of Cr.No.49/98 are least bothered about the
consent of their daughters during marriage. They are being handed over
from parents to husbands along with "dowry and ornaments". All the parents
seem to be eager to "arrange" marriage for their daughters at the earliest.
They are not in the least particular about utilizing even the minimum
possibilities of educating them and try to get a job and become economically
independent. Economically independent, earning ones, e.g. Cr.No.262/94,
are not taught and trained to be self assertive and self-reliant. On the other
hand they are being trained to adjust the utmost to the unbecoming of their
partners .In almost all the cases interviewed both the partners don't know
before time, how to act reflectively in a particular situation so as to minimize
atrocities "How to be just and fair to fellow beings" is to be seriously
discussed socially and should be part of education, so that enmity in
interpersonal interactions can be minimized and institutional fairness is
sought after. Since institutions are not mere social structure “out there”,
away from the interacting human beings but along with the structural
properties of the institutions, what is instituted and who are instituting etc.
also create the life situations. Hence it contains the potential to transform
the very institution by and through the actions and interactions of the human
beings.

Age at Marriage

Out of 25, 7 respondents were below the age of 15, 8 were below 18, 3 were
18 years old, the rest 7 were above 18, at the time of marriage. 14
respondents belong to Muslim community and 11 respondents belong to
Hindu community. Almost all "girls" are forced to engage in "married life"
without getting enough time to think or plan about how they have to make
up their mind to cope up with totally new situations. The whole lot of
institutional anticipations, e.g. like the role of wife, daughter in law etc, are
being showered on their shoulders, before they start thinking seriously about
their life with a partner and having children to their like-all these "happen"
to them all on a sudden and shatter them before they get time and
opportunity to understand how these are "happening" and what "is" her
"active" role in it !. Then what happens actually is that the normative part of
a role is maintained and it helps in perpetuating the hierarchy but the
cognitive part is not seriously reflected upon by the intervening agents.

Chart II
 9
8
7
6
5 Hindu
4 Muslim
3
2
1
0
below 15 Yrs 15 - 18 Yrs 18 and above

Diagram showing religious/Age distribution of affected subjectivities under 498 A

Later, the girls' parents after bending their utmost and touching everybody's
toes to beg for their daughter's life, retrieve themselves to "fate" without
trying to understand whether there are other ways of attaining or reaching
human relations and there by living happily!? They lament as in the case of
Cr.No. 36/98, "Always they (partner and in laws) create quarrels. The
ornaments and dowry we gave at the time of marriage are not enough for
them. We beared all these fearing that our girl may loose her "life". We have
three more girls to be "sent" like this. How can we send Subi to Moosa as if
"we tie leaves in front of the goat?" (Leaves tied in front of the goat are for
the goat to eat). Even though situations are like this all of them are ready to
receive Moosa once again and like to compromise the case. Subi told us
crying, "If he will not scold and beat me and if he will behave lovingly to
me". I’ll readily go and live with him. Subi's father asked us whether we
could do something to help them. How can we assure them that Moosa will
come one day "to take her home"? If so will he not beat and scold her? Or
will he behave lovingly to her? On probing the case in detail we got the
information that Moosa is actually living at Kasargod and have a "wife"
there. He didn't even return the ornaments Subi's family gave at the time of
marriage. Beyond all these they are waiting for Moosa's coming if though he
hadn't come not even once at least to see the little one. Now the child is four
years old.

Education of womenfolk :

Out of the 25 respondents barring one who is working in Railway, a B.Com

Degree holder, the only one to step to college education after her marriage
was the victim of 69/97. She was married after passing 10 th standard.
14 have studied at high school level; four respondents have been to upper
primary level one to lower primary level and four respondents have not been
to school at all. This distribution shows that if though more than half of the
respondents are getting educated formally it is not that much helping them to
tide over the unfavourable situations in their life. This makes us fear that the
very education system is not at all contributing critiques of the whole
tradition of social institutions like family, marriage etc., and the roles
therein.
Chart III

8%
16%

4% College
High School
Upper Primary
16% Lower Primary
Illiterate

56%

Diagram showing the education level of the respondents

Employment of the womenfolk:

Out of the 25 respondents only one respondent is having a government job

she is working in Railways, now she is divorced and living happily on her
own, as she mentioned to us. The affected of Cr.No.17/97 used to go for
"koolie" work (She is no more now). Respondent of 58/98 who had
separated from her partner for severe mental and physical harassment is
actively working as a Goldsmith along with her brother, who encourages her
in doing it. She is earning her life and looking after her child. She told us
that her mother in law was very good to her and she had helped her a lot to
evade the beatings of her partner. He doubted that she was having sexual
relationship with others. Paradoxically, he is having a "woman with him at
his house, which is a case of bigamy (as they have not legally separated.)
Seeing this affair his mother went to her daughters' and now she is residing
with her daughter. Unlike many other women we met, she boldly struggles
to knit her life with that much optimism that she believes she is responsible
for her life activities and not others.

Negligence from the partner’s family:

The respondents of the Cr.No.17/97, 338/97, 24/98, 136/98, 490/98, told us

specifically that their in laws were very well behaved to them. But what
makes us confused is that after all these, respondents returned home (one
respondent died even) none of them came to them even for a casual visit, not
to see their grandchildren even or to soothe them. In the case of 144/97, her
partner hadn't had family. The affected of 69/97 had died and it is suspected
as suicide. In laws in all the other cases seems to have behaved to the
"affected subjectivities" as if they are slaves. The deep interviews suggest
that the in laws hadn't addressed the "persons" of these women. They appear
to have considered their daughter/sister in laws simply in terms of "roles".
They not even have reflected at least once that all these relationships are
"human made" and can at any time be intervened. Repeatedly common
events are that all these in laws used to beat, scold, use obscene languages,
threaten, neglect even without allowing to have food, sometimes not
minding and at times shouting, complaining that it was because of the
daughter/sister in law that their son/brother is misbehaving & living a loose
life by drinking alcohol etc…etc…Information we received from the
locality, in the case of 17/97 is that she had been murdered by her mother in
law and her husband by forcefully making her to drink poison. When we
visited her house her father murmured to us "she was my only child. I would
have managed to make her live without starving. They used to starve her.
She died only because of them. Now I have lost her…I have lost
everything…I have no money to go with the case …I have no influence…. I
am all alone… You see… they live very happily as if nothing had
happened…"He burst into tears. We couldn't control ourselves. We were
spellbound.

Partner’s behaviour:

Commonly repeated complaints the respondents had to receive from

Partners are as follows; ''you are not beautiful; your family didn't give
enough gold ornaments and money. I would have got more money, gold and
more beautiful a wife''. The men in these cases strongly believe that if they
should "live with their wives" they should be given "money and gold
irrespective of whether the women are able to make their living or not. Their
perception is that (and also the social perception) women are to be "looked
after by men" whether it is fathers, brothers or partners. All these fellows
believe that wives are to be ''handled'' and beaten. They are to be ''made
good'' by beating them, They use, the force, they get by sticking to the
institutional properties and provisions, on the bodies (and persons) of their
wives so that these wives seem not at all interested in continuing the
relation. It doesn't mean that these women are thinking in terms of getting
out of the institutional properties and hierarchical positions of "marriage''
rather. Some of them even think that their partners have the right to behave
"in such a manner" as they are "husbands". But beyond all what they need
minimum is "love and care" from them. They wait for a day of repentance
from the partner's side and they are much perplexed to seek the pathway to
divorce for more than one reason. Mainly they consider "it may affect their
morale"

These situations remind us that the very definitions and conceptualisation of

husband, wife, man, woman, etc needs to be problematized in such a way
that it will help us to be reflexive about the perpetuation and reproduction of
the androcentric social schemata.

Present conditions of affected and accused:

The following table shows the present living conditions of both the affected
and the accused of the 25 crimes under section 498 (A). Only one husband
and wife have compromised between both and living toge ther along with
their children (as per Cr.No.33/91). One woman (of Cr.No. 19/93) had
compromised to her partner, and returned to the partners' with her two
children (girls). But he had already married another woman and she is also
living with them. While 68% of men had re- married only 20% of women
got remarried after their divorce. Only five women out of the 25 had
remarried, out of which four have no children in their first marriage (women
of 269/90,144/91,96/95,214/98&279/98) One remarried women nurture her
two children without the help of their first partner (woman of 96/95) Two
victims are no more now, both reported as unnatural death (those of
17/97&69/97) One man had died, which was a natural death, as per the
information (the accused of 497/98). 15 women are living with their parents
despite the huge amount of money and unbearable quantity of gold given to
the husbands for taking their girls and "giving them lives" (as per their
religious beliefs). Actually what happened was that these husbands didn't
even "give" their wives "life", as it is expected conventionally by the people
involved in traditional marriage, but they took the whole life earnings of
their parents along with the very lives of the girls so that both the parents
and the girls are once again caught in dilemma. Present conditions of three
men are "not known". One is “absconding” to evade from the case. These
information show that the responsibility of looking after the children is
loaded on the shoulders of the female counterparts, especially if the children
are "girls" which in turn come to their aged parents. Almost all the male
counterparts easily get remarried that also receiving "money and gold as
dowry" They do not even lend their attention even to their children of their
first marriage, once the women are sent to their homes, along with the
children. Only three persons nurture their children with them. One very
important point we came to notice is that the children nurtured by the fathers
are "sons". They show particular care not ot take the "girls" with them
reminding us to reflect on the unconscious social perceptions and the
internal dispositions of the majority, that "girls" mean perpetual nuisance
and "expense"?! All the girl children are with mothers. Most pathetic
problem of all these is that mothers are not even allowed to "see" those
children (sons) who live with their fathers. Out of the 25, eleven couples
have no children.
 Table showing the present conditions of males and females of
the deep-interviewed cases under Section.498 (A)

Crime Status of female Status of male Details of children

number
269/90 Remarried Not known No children
33/91 Compromised Compromised With both
144/91 Remarried Not known No children
19/93 Compromised Remarried 2–living with both
180/93 With parents Remarried 3-living with mother
262/94 With parents Remarried No children
96/95 Remarried Remarried 2-living with mother
137/95 Compromised Remarried 2-living with mother
60/96 With parents Remarried 1-living with mother
17/97 Died (unnatural) Remarried No children
69/97 Died (unnatural) Remarried 1- living with father
338/97 With parents Remarried 2-living with mother
6/98 With parents Remarried No children
24/98 With parents Absconding No Children
36/98 With parents Remarried 2-(Sons ) Living With
Father &1-Living With
Mother
49/98 With parents Not Known No Children
58/98 With parents Remarried 1-Living With Mother
132/98 With parents Remarried No Children
136/98 With parents Remarried 3-Living With Mother
214/98 Remarried Remarried No Children
279/98 Remarried Remarried No Children
342/98 With parents Remarried 3-Living With Mother
441/98 With parents Alone First Child (Son) With
Father & Second Child
With Mother
490/98 The case is going on The case is going on No Children
497/98 With Parents Died (Natural) 1-Living With Mother
II. Rape (Section. 371 to 376 IPC)

During the period of study, (1990-98), only eight cases have been reported
under section 376 of IPC, punishment for the crime of rape. Out of the total
reported cases of 1997- 98 periods, ie.6, five cases have been interviewed
deeply. The distribution of the reported cases shows that cases under section
376 IPC are comparatively less reported.

Year wise distribution of the reported cases

under section. 376 (IPC) deep interviewed

Year Crime number Total no. of cases Total no. of cases

interviewed reported
1997 41 and 187 2 3
1998 42, 103 and 517 3 3

SOUDA

Souda is the affected of Cr.No. 41/97, She lived with her mother, father
(who was a heart patient), elder sister and younger sister. She was studying
in 9t h standard at Naduvattom High School. North Koppam, Pattambi.One
day, when she was returning from school, at noon, one of her cousins,
Kammukkutty who is a jeep driver (owns a jeep) was waiting for her on the
road side. On seeing her he told that her father is serious and is admitted in
Moulana Hospital, Perinthalmanna, and they have to rush to the hospital.
Hearing this Souda suddenly entered the jeep. As her father was a heart
patient she was very much worried and didn't have any doubt in going with
her " brother". From the Koppam junction the jeep didn't turn towards
Perinthalmanna, but he rode towards the opposite direction, i.e. Pattambi.
She asked Kammukkutty why it 's so. He calmly answered, without any
change in expression, that one of his friends is to be got in from
Pattambi.From Pattambi one stranger got in the jeep She heard
Kammukkutty saying "Abbas, get in" The jeep turned to Shornur direction
Smelling something uncanny in his deeds she cried loudly and asked "Ikka,
why you turn the jeep in this direction?" Expressions of both changed and
they threatened her "Keep mum…. Otherwise we'll kill you." Kammukkutty,
seeing her bewildered, as if trying to soften her told "we take you to
somewhere special so that we have 'something special' to tell you." Hearing
this she hesitated some "bad thing" is going to happen. She cried
continuously. They didn't mind it. On reaching Vadanamkurissi railway line
they stopped the jeep in front of a deserted house. There were no other
houses or buildings or people seen near that house. She was "in no way" able
to escape from their net. Reaching this house Kammukkutty pulled her into
the house along with Abbas and locked the door from outside and waited in
the portico. After some time as his "interest was over", he knocked from
inside. (She felt as if it was a long time couldn't clearly recollect what had
happened to her and what all he did to her. She was able to do nothing
except crying.) The door was opened. He once again pulled her into the jeep
as if nothing had happened and brought to Pattambi and she was forced to
get down there. They threatened her "if you talk about this to any body we
will kill you." She was shocked and scared .she got in a bus and reached
home by 4.30 pm. She didn't tell about the incident to anybody because she
was frightened. Nobody suspected anything uncanny since she reached
home in time. After some days one of her cousins told her uncle that he saw
Souda with Kammukkutty from PattambiWhe n the issue was scattered
Kammukkutty absconded and Abbas finishing his holidays returned to gulf,
as Souda told us. The FIR suggests that the grave crime happened on
13/2/97 and it was reported on 19/2/97, and the accused was arrested on
12/3/97.Souda didn't actually know the proceedings of the police and the
seriousness of the case. Reading between FIR and Souda's words it is clear
that Abbas had managed to return to Gulf "within no time" if though the
charge against him is "grave". After one year, Abbas returned home, as
Souda's mother added, while Souda was talking to us, he came to Souda's'
and requested them to withdraw the case. They were reluctant. He came
again and told them that he has repentance for his atrocious act, and as a
remedy to it he is ready to "marry" her without "dowry and gold". They
discussed about it within the family circle and came to the conclusion that
"what happened already cannot be undone ". She would be "looked down
upon" socially what they could do now is to succumb to the proposal. Souda
was not asked about whether she was interested in "living with" such a
person who had tried to shatter her person by raping her. Souda told us that
she submitted to the decision of the family because "she wanted to save the prestige
of her family".
family".

She thought, if otherwise her sisters also may not get married. Out of mere
circumstantial pressure she succumbed, she reflected - "Actually I hate him".
Thus "they" decided to "give" Souda, a 15- year-old girl, the affected of
41/97, to 36- year-old Abbas, the accused, with the mediations of religious
authorities and of course her family members. At the time of marriage eight
"men" from the Palli committee came, there were no women present, for the
marriage, from his side. Souda's family and relatives were present. After
marriage, in the night, at ten o'clock Abbas took Souda to Ottappalam,
where he had arranged a rented house, the very route through which he took
her before one year, with the help of Kammukkutty, atrociously. Souda
cannot explain her agony she experienced at that night and words failed her
while she spoke to us. Actually, Abbas had had a wife and three children,
who are also dwelling in their village though Souda didn't know him
personally, beforetime. His first wife is his mother's younger sister's
daughter. If though the first wife and their family knew the case and had
very furious dialogues and scenes Abbas "took" Souda with him, not to his
house but to an isolated rented one. Souda was very much reluctant to go,
alone, with Abbas during the first night of their marriage. Even her relatives
compelled her telling "he has married you now and it is the duty of a wife to
obey the husband". (Anyhow it was not that much easy for her to gulp the
situation all on a sudden as her relatives did it.) After heartbreaking scenes,
with tears in her eyes and a heart full of fears she reluctantly went with
Abbas alone, nobody accompanying her from her family side. She told us; at
that moment she was thinking that Abbas might have married her to "kill"
her and to put an end to their "case". Finally, as she had to go with him she
found relief in thinking that "Everybody will die one day. If it is today let it
happen and the family be saved by that". This thought made her ready to bear
anything that may happen to her, she sighed. (She remembers that it took at
least one month for her to get out of the fear.) Souda's family was also very
much scared after her going with Abbas in the night. They also smelt
"death" The highly pathetic of all happened was that, the very next day of
her marriage Souda returned home to see that her father died in the night,
after she reluctantly went with Abbas, due to cardiac arrest. (We sat silently
near Souda and her mother hearing the tragedy without having courage or
strength to intervene the talk.) After the funeral Souda and Abbas returned to
Ottappalam, and they lived there for four months till Abbas returned to Gulf.
She remembers that during those days he didn't go to his first wife and
children. He came again from Gulf after one year but didn't come to her,
went to the first wife, two or three times he visited her. At times he
telephones her and give her money. Now she believes that he "loves" her.
She added that "But always he insists me to withdraw the case". This makes
Souda to suspect once again that he may desert her at the very moment she
withdrew the case. Hence she hadn't done it yet. Despite all these
experiences, she told us "they are living happily now". She narrated all these
with a gloomy expression in her eyes, She never laughed as if she had
forgotten it due to repeated heartbreaking events, in such a short span of
time. At times she sat silently looking downwards. Souda's mother seemed
to be happy in the turn of events in Souda's case i.e. at least that they are
getting money to pull through the day to day affairs and they got out of the
social stigma "by making the daughter married". But she lamented to us that
she has no possibility to arrange "marriage" for her rest two daughters since
everybody asks for "dowry and gold" (It was thinking about their future
Souda submitted to the proposal of Abbas, in spite of he being the accused.)
Anyhow she repeatedly reminded us that Souda's husband is giving them
"money" and so they are living happily now. Hearing this statement Souda
sat without responding to it………

NABEESA

Nabeesa, the complainant of the Cr.No.187/97,belongs to a very poor

family, living in a small hut, made by her, earns her life by selling milk. Her
husband is having another wife and children. He never cared her and gave
her nothing, which forced her to decide that she doesn't want such a
husband. If though, at times, he used to come to see her she didn't mind it.
Then he stopped coming. When she decided to avoid him she had her one
and only three- year-old daughter. She worked hard to nurture the child. As
she told us, "she was having no money and gold to give towards dowry for
the marriage of her daughter. Hence had to give her child to a man, who
was already having wife and children. At the time of her daughter's
marriage, as per religious norms, she had to enquire and call her husband, as
he is the person who is having the right to "give" the girl to the "husband",
during "nikah". But she came to understand that "he died". Till then, they
were not having any communication .At least at the time of his death none
of his relatives informed them. As per the religious regulations, if the father
is alive, only he is the apt person to conduct the "nikah" even though he is
not looking after the girl. Here the girl is not even understanding that she is
to live with a man, having another wife. She is totally disadvantaged a
person economically, socially & culturally that she has no access to the
freedom of "choosing her partner" or taking decisions in life. The mother,
the only caretaker of the girl, is so underprivileged that she is not having any
role in the "religious practices" concerning her child, like "nikah" and other
serious life activities. Despite all these, she told us, "If though I don't have
enough money even for "food and shelter" I managed to buy a set of
"earrings and a gold chain" at the time of her marriage, by going for all sorts
of manual works I could take". Now she is very week, cannot go for works
and living with her daughter and her two children. The daughter in turn
earns their life by going for works i.e. It is not her husband who is looking
after "the family", Both mother and daughter were having similar
experiences.

Nabeesa, who has no close relatives, has only bitter experiences in life, as
she explained to us. Her father is residing with his second wife and their
eight children, at Valanchery. During her childhood he visited her and
mother only at times. He was a drunkard and used to quarrel with the mother
as and when he visited them, she remembers. Nabeesa was crying when she
told her life experiences. She told, it was for the first time in her life,
somebody enquired her about her life and heard her patiently. Nabeesa
continued, mother died suffering a lot from her father. She was a silent and
scared observer of all these atrocities mother had to face.

Nabeesa and Amina are neighbours. Amina's partner is working in gulf.

Amina had a child, her father in law and one of her relatives, Rasheed at
home. Earlier Nabeesa's mother used to go there and supply milk to them.
Once Nabeesa's mother was hospitalised, and she took charge of supplying
milk. As she was unable to make both ends meet Nabeesa started assisting
Amina in her household activities. She paid her well in turn. One day as she
went to Amina's she was not there. Rasheed came out and asked her to put
the milk in the kitchen. She went inside. As she was cleaning the milk pot
Rasheed came to the kitchen, closed the door, seeing this she didn't think
anything bad, she said, he was like a "son" to her, he was so younger to her
and had been very familiar. But all on a sudden his expression changed and
she asked, "What is this? What are you trying to do?" His answer was a strong kick,
he then slapped on her face and she fell
fell down. He threatened to kill her. He caught
hold of her dress and "did what all he needed on her body," she continued.
She ran out of the house crying loudly. As she entered the portico Amina
was coming from outside, with her child. She told everything to her. Amina
scolded Rasheed and he went out speaking nothing. Hearing the noise and
cries people outside came to know the case and it reached Nabeesa's father.
He came to Nabeesa and hospitalised her for she was seriously injured. They
reported the case to the police, on 28/7/97(The crime happened on 27/7/97).
She complained to us that after getting slap on the face her eyesight had
reduced.

The next day the police officials came, enquired, the accused was
absconding and he was caught only on 10/9/97.Nabeesa was in the hospital
for eight days. One of the nurses compelled her not to make it a "public
issue" as it would affect her life. Hearing it she was very much agitated. She
told us that she strongly desired that "he" should be punished. Nabeesa told
us, she openly described the event, in detail, to the police. As she answered
to us, at times she was hesitant to explain deeply as she thought, "You are
younger ones. How can I tell you all that happened?" The accused was in
remand till 21/10/97 and got bail from the court with the help of his father,
Aboobacker. Nabeesa doesn't know, actually, the position of the case. The
only thing she knows is that the accused is absconding. Being very poor and
having not enough money even to buy "daily rice and fish" to her
grandchildren, she couldn't pursue the case. She is not going to see the
doctor for she has no money to buy "drugs". When we enquired the position
of the case, we realized that Nabeesa's father took initiative to compound the
case and mediated with the advocate. Now also Nabeesa doesn't know that
her case had been compounded. She strongly believes that he should be
punished for this so that he should not behave to anybody like this.

On returning we felt " total blankness". In an unintelligible moment, we

thought, we should have given her some money so that they can dine well at
least that day. Once again we returned to her and saw her "preparing fish for
her grandchildren" On seeing us once again, she told "I got fish at a cheep
rate, I was to cook this for these little ones. Putting some money in her hand
we told her reflectively "We know, this will not at all help you to reduce the
agonies you face daily in your life…" As a response to it she smiled to us
through tears…We returned with tears in our eyes…spellbound…not getting
words to speak…even between us…. totally unable to analyse these stark
realities of life. Nabeesa's is the worst circumstance we had seen during our
visits for deep interviews. Now also it remains a "shock".

PUSHPA

The Cr.No.42/98 is a much- complicated one. The affected of this case had
had sexual intercourse with the accused more than once, that also as per her
consent, as she told us during the interview. When we went to see her,
Pushpa, the complainant in this case was involved in household activities.
Her son was calmly sleeping in the cradle without knowing the intricacies
behind his birth and the problems faced by his mother. Pushpa, willingly and
frankly depicted all the details. She repeatedly told us that now also she loves
loves
him though the mental and physical harassments she received, socially and from her
"family "was quite unbearable . While she was talking to us the child got up,
taking him, embracing him, patting him on his forehead, with tears in her
eyes, with mixed and intertwined emotions and feelings of love, sorrow,
anger (but not hatred as she reiterated it to us) she continued… Her child
started laughing to us as if involving in our discussions. Her real problem is
that the accused cheated her for he told her that 'he will marry her'. She
became pregnant but he didn't turn to her after knowing it. Unanticipated
negligence from his side made her life topside down. Fearing the aftermath
of the affair, especially scared of getting beatings from her parents, she told
us, she eloped alone, without planning where to go, and what to do. She had
understood beforehand, from the dialogue with one of her neighbours
"Radhedathi" that there is a divine centre at Chalakkudi. Hesitantly enough
she went there, thinking that she will get "peace" The atmosphere there was
not that much cordial and consoling to her. Hearing her stories, the
authorities asked her to return home. They immediately contacted the
parents and her father & co-brother came to take her. Later they filed a case
against her "beloved", under 376IPC. Pushpa, "the victim" and Sasi, 'the
accused" (and beloved) are neighbours and had been childhood friends. She
told us, if though many people tried to persuade her to stop going after the
case, she is not ready to compromise for monetary benefit & compensations.
In her own words what she needs is a father for her child" Now also she is
not hiding her love to him, but she is very sorry and angry with him for he
didn't keep his promise to her. Sasi, the accused of this case had been
absconding She continued "after returning home, he used to see their child
from distance but never did he come close or talk to her or even touch their
1.5 year old child. She feels extremely sorry for this since she believes that
their interaction was so intense that Sasi shouldn't have forgotten it.

Pushpa's experience reminds us that situations like this cannot be understood

or dealt with merely filing a case under Section.376 IPC. This situation
reveals lot of socio-cultural factors that int ervene in the interactions of men
and women, which in turn reproduce and solidify the very same
conventional interventions through commonsensical and androcentric
perceptions. On the other hand this was not a case of rape, actually, says the
affected of this case. But the betrayal from the man's side is unbearable to
her. These were friends from childhood days. The intervention of "the
family" and the social taboo in being an unwed mother disturbs and disarms
the interacting woman totally and make the situation more atrocious and
unpredictable. In this case Pushpa attains energy to deliver the child despite
the common norms and now she is living with her child "happily" if though
her partner is not ready to receive them.

SAMEERA & NABEESA

The Cr.No.103/98 is also not "specifically coming under 376 IPC, as per the
deep interview we had had with Sameera, the complainant. To understand
the case of Sameera we ought to mention the experiences of her mother
Nabeesa with whom she is living now. Nabeesa, with her two daughters
Sameera and Hajeera, is dwelling with her Umma (mother) and Uppa
(father). Nabeesa's father has two wives. Nabeesa told us that Sameera's
father is her third husband. When she was 19 years old, 22 years back she
got married with the first husband, who was her co- worker. He was given
Rs.101/and 21/2 pavans during marriage. They lived together only for eight
months. Later, on the second day of her second marriage, her husband told
her that he is going to Gulf as he had received a telegram asking him to
reach there immediately. He took the amount she had had with her and 4
pavans of gold. Later he didn't even communicate or come to see her. After
three years, since he didn't even enquire her, she utilized the rule of "Fuskh"
(the wife divorcing the husband as per the regulations of Qu-r-an.) and got
divorce from him, though she lost all her life earnings. 40 days after the
"Fuskh" Nabeesa got married for the third time, i.e. Muhammedkutty.
Nabeesa was Muhammedkutty’s second wife and Muhammedkutty was her
third husband. All these marriages took place with the mediations of the
Mosque. With a brave expression in her eyes Nabeesa told us seriously, the
problems she faced during life, adding that she is strong enough to retaliate
 to the horrible situations. She continued, "At that time and now also I'm living
on my own, going for "koolie work" and nurturing "my" children without anybody's
help. Her third husband has turned a rare visitor to them, nowadays. She told
us he doesn't give money they needed for minimum living. Traditionally, the
man who ought to look after his wife and children is not at all showing any
responsibility.

1st wife – 4 children Uppa (Mohammed)

Umma - 2nd wife

2 Children

1st Husband

Brother of
Nabeesa 2nd Husband
Nabeesa

3 rd Husband Mohammed Kutty

nd
2 wife
2 Children
1st wife

Saidalavi (Son) Sameera & Hajeera 4 Children

e
l
o
p
e
d

Nabeesa's first daughter Sameera failed in 9t h Std. and she stopped studying.
Hajeera, her second daughter is studying in 10t h Std. now. Sameera earns her
life through tailoring work. Nabeesa's brother 's son Saidali used to visit
Nabeesas' and they used to visit the brothers' (it being her "tharavad"). This
facilitated the situation for Sameera and Saidali to think in terms of living
together. Sameera told us "Saidali made me believe that he will look after
me" He tempted her to "elope" with him. She was ready to go with him. On
6/3/98 they went to Ooty first. Then they went to Sultan Battery where they
lived for 46 days, making the neighbours believe that they are brother and
sister, as Sameera added.

Meanwhile, on 9/3/98 Sameera's relatives filed a petition mentioning that

Sameera is missing. On the 44t h day of their eloping, when they were living
at Sultan Battery, they accidentally overheard a dialogue between his
neighbour, the SI of Police at Sultan Battery and his wife. "These guys don't
look like brother and sister. We will enquire them directly. They suspected
Sameera and Saidali because they got intimation from the police, she told us.
The next day they quit that place, smelling the police action, telling the
neighbours that they are going home for ten days. Sameera was brought to
her home and Saidali deserted her forever. She told us that she had never
seen him after that day. At the time of eloping Sameera took four and a half
pavans of gold and Rs.7000/ with her as instructed by Saidali. He took cash
the very same day of their going. Later he took the gold from her telling that
"he is going to pledge the gold in the bank as he is in need of money." Till
then, she didn't get it back. Bending her head downwards Sameera talked in
a base tone, "he behaved lovingly to me. We lived as husband and wife those
days I don't know any specific reason for why I went with him and why I
loved him.' On the 46t h day, when she came home she was brought to the
police station. They didn't get Saidali, for arresting him. After eight months
he was arrested on 12/11/98.Now the case in under the court's reference.
Without closing this case Sameera won't be able to remarry. Now she doesn't
like him. She knows that he cheated her. Even though he may come and
suggests for compromise and ask her to go with him she is adamant that she
won't go with him anymore. With a dull expression, she told us that her
grandparents and mother had scolded her a lot for eloping with him

Sameera's Grandmother, was very cordial, she compelled us to have black

tea and with a brave expression told “now Sameera is going to the town for
tailoring work and we will seek a match for her after these confusions are
over”. We expected an answer from Sameera but she was silent and looked
puzzled.

SALEENA

The Cr. No. 517/98 is clearly a criminal offence the girl, Saleena, being of
14 years. As we went to see her, she was alone in her house just returned
from School. Firstly she was reluctant to part her experiences and told that
she couldn't reveal things to us since her father and mother were not at
home. "If you need, you contact them " was her comment. But after
repeated interventions and smooth dialogue she first disinterestedly and later
lively described the 'event'.

They are living in a 'lakshamveedu colony', which has 20 one-room houses,

sharing a public well, but no electricity. Purely an unhealthy condition
prevails in the colony; in Saleena's house there are five members along with
three goats dwelling in the same room. Their main source of earning is
cattling the goats and cows. The relation with the neighbours is very much
intense and close. Saleena was perplexed by the thought that the neighbours
will mistake her if they see her alone in the house, with us, we being total
strangers to them. Anyhow she frankly depicted her 'severe experience'.
Every morning she used to go to the hilly areas near their colony to cattle the
goat. One day as she was about to return home in the noon, she saw a
stranger running towards her from the opposite side of the hill. One man
stood on the top of the hill whom she knew. On seeing this she was feared
and ran with all speed, but the stranger came close and caught hold of her
and pushed to the rocky area, she fell down, screamed aloud. He caught her
pushed and pulled her and torn her skirt and blouse. As she continued
crying loudly the 'accused' ran away. She was brought home by the
neighbours. The acquaintance that she saw from the hill told Saleena's
people that he is one 'Babu' involved in illegal arrack business. The next day
Saleena's mother went to trace Babu but saw his mother only, with whom
she had word battles. Babu's mother retaliated "it is all because of your girl"
she used abusing language about Saleena. After long discussions and
dialogues with the neighbours Saleena's family reported the case on the 4t h
day of incident. By that time Babu was absconding. Saleena went to Police
Station along with her Bappa (father). During their 3rd visit to Police
Station, the policemen asked them to produce a certificate showing the rape
attempt. Submitting the same, the SI seemed to be co-operative and arrested
Babu. He easily came out on bail. Later they didn't know anything about
the progress of the case. They are very poor, have no money even to go to the
Police Station 'regularly' to follow the case, but they strongly
strongly feel that no girl should
have such an experience and the accused should be punished to prevent such
atrocious acts. To make all these fruitful, they have no ways and means.

Despite these worse situations Saleena is continuing her education and her
parents are ready to send her for higher studies. She told us she has friends
including boys at School with whom she used to mingle openly. But after
these incidents her parents always restrict her from mingling with boys.
They never send her out alone. Nowadays she didn't even go to the hill
where she used to go always. For a long period after the incident she was
affected with nightmares, and didn’t even eat or sleep. It took months for
her to recover from the shock. Her neighbours were very much considerate,
stood strongly with Saleena's family, which helped them to overcome the
agony of facing the situation.

III. Unnatural Death

It was mentioned in the earlier part of the project that (Secondary Data
Details) during the field work and primary data collection, the direction of
enquiry will be towards why and how these 'policings' reached such a state
of affairs that there is not even a particular section to probe unnatural death
and how these; should- not-be- repeated- suicides (!?) go on happening, can
we have measures to assist such individuals and distract them from self
immolation, if so how can we have self help groups that safe guard the
affected ones etc. Towards understanding these factors it needs multi-
faceted research of these and similar cases researching on the politico-
legal, socio-cultural and economic factors that affect the very life of the
affected. During the period of study (1990-98) most reported cases come
under the sub head Unnatural Death. Out of 394 cases reported 127 cases
come under this section. Probing each unnatural death might have brought
in awful revelations. As a token to the future studies we enquired a few
cases:

Sl. No Crime Number Year

1. 207 1993
2. 158 1995
3. 184 1997
4. 94 1998
(altered to 304 IPC)

5. 272 1998

SULAIKHA
The victim of Crime No. 207/93; Sulaikha is a martyr of marriage. The very
marriage turned an atrocity to her life. Sulaikha's is a clear case of Dowry
demands and related violence culminating in death. Initially, it had been
reported as unnatural death then after the enquiry it has been charged under
Section 498/A.

Ist wife and 4 sons

Umma 2nd Wife Uppa

(Pathumma) (Koyakutty)

4 Sons 3 Daughters 2n d Daughter Sulaikha Husband Hamza

(Victim) (Accused)

Sulaikha's studied only upto 10t h Std. When she was 18 years old she was
married to Hamza giving Rs. 15 thousand and 10 pavans of gold as dowry.
Hamza had Umma, brother and sister living with him. At the time of their
marriage Hamza's brother was divorced. During the first six months, they
didn't have any problem in their life. But later in-laws started nagging her for
not bringing enough dowry and she was humiliated always for not being
beautiful. Sulaikha's Umma reflectively repeated to us, the dialogues she
used to have with Sulaikha when she complained about her in- laws. "Here
there are two more girls to be married, if your returned home for the
harassment from the husband house what will be the result? so don’t take the
humiliation and harassment to the heart and bear it for the sake of your
younger ones, if not for you…………"

The picture we got from the depiction of Sulaikha's Mother is as follows:

Hamza's brother having some kidney trouble and he didn't go for work. He
used to mis-behave towards her, if though she told her husband that his
brother tries to reach her for his sexual interest Hamza asked her to keep
silent and not to go for battles. Hamza liked to quit the family for Sulaikha's
sake but his mother didn't allow it and he was unable to break the situation
and come out. One day quite unexpectedly she was reported to have
committed suicide by hanging . Sulaikha's 4 year old daughter told
Sulaikha's mother that on the very day of her death, she repeatedly
requested Hamza to send her home but he didn't allow. Sulaikha's father is a
master cook and earned life by cooking for feasts. Paradoxically while he
was cooking for a marriage feast, the shocking news of his daughter's death
came to him (the very death being the culmination of her married life).

When they reached Hamzas' as Sulaikha's mother described to us: Sulaikha

was having two injuries on her nose. There were no other wounds on the
body. Nobody from their house see Sulaikha 'hanging', the body was lying
on the floor. Mohammed Kutty (Sulaikha's Uppa) strongly believes that it
was not a suicide. Hamza didn't show even the post-mortem report to them.
They didn't allow Sulaikha's daughter to go with them because she may
reveal the details to them. Sulaikha's elder sister was divorced at the time of
Sulaikha's marriage she has a son in that marriage, now she is married to
another fellow. Her younger sister is married to a man (whose is second
marriage) who is elder to her by 20 years. She is of equal age with his
children who also have got married.

Why did you give her to such a relationship? we asked, Sulaikha's mother
told "they didn't ask for much money as dowry. Hence we thought it is better to
give her to them than she sitting unmarried.

For them Sulaikha is only a 'memory' now. A better life is only in their
dreams. They are not even able to see or touch Sulaikha's daughter. If hers
was a murder; How was it? Who did it? etc. are not clear even in Police
records. The accused Hamza had been arrested on 10.9.1993 (Sulaikha died
on 15.8.93 as per police records). The case was charged on 29.4.94.
Despite clear-cut evidence of dowry demands and violence the accused was
acquitted under section 248(1) IPC on 25.9.96.

GEETHA & YESODAMMA

The Crime No. 158/95 and 184/97 have certain direct connection. As per
158/95 Geetha, (Daughter of Kamalavathy, the elder sister of Kondayath
Madhavan Nair) jumped to death in front of the running train sixty days
after her delivery. We didn't get more details regarding the case except that
mention in FIR. It is reported in the FIR that she committed suicide thinking
that her just born child is mentally retarded. Geetha studied upto Pre-degree
Class. In 1993 she got married to Vijayan, her cousin, they were in Delhi
for one year after marriage, where Vijayan was employed, she returned from
Delhi for Delivery and was very normal always. Her family never
recognized that such a complexity is going to happen in their life, as they
told us. But unlike in other cases interviewed they behaved in a distant and
calculated manner. If though Vijayan is their close relative they don't know
where he is working now, the case was reported to Police, as per FIR says,
by Premkumar S/o Madhavan Nair. In this case we felt lot of gap between
silence and the voice. FIR says Geetha committed suicide thinking that her
son is mentally retarded but we saw Vishnu, Geetha's son, a very smart boy,
playing with his friends, when we went for interviewing the family. He is
living with his grand mother (Kamalavathy) in their own house, near
Madhavan Nair’s. Vijayan, his father, married to a woman who worked in
his own company in Delhi, and now they are living somewhere in Kerala.

As per FIR index the unnatural death reported as 184/97, makes the whole
situation of 158/95, 180/97 and 184/97 much complicated. The ASI of
Police, Pattambi, reported 184/97 as he went there for enquiring the Cr. No.
180/97, he saw Yasodamma, the victim of the Cr. No. 180/97, lying dead in
her house. When we went to enquire the same we saw one of Yasodamma's
younger sisters Chandramathiamma & her son Ravi who were living near
Yasodamma's Tharavadu; Madhavan Nair's another sister all of them lived
in close neighbouring houses as if in one compound.

The ASI of Police went to Yasodamma's house as the case 180/97 was filed
by her, as per Sec. 354 IPC, against Madhavan Nair, who is her brother and
Geetha's uncle (victim of 158/95), Kunhiraman and Chathodi Mohammed.

Chandramathiamma depicted all the details to us Yasodamma's husband

(their father's nephew) Govindan Nair was Taxi driver working Bombay.
They had four daughters and two sons. Her fourth daughter, as mentioned
by Chandramathiamma loved her neighbour, of 'low caste' and for that she
got a lot of humiliations and committed suicide when she was 18 years old.
She had a twin brother who quit the place and didn’t return. Her three
daughters and elder son have their own families. Chandramathiamma says
"it was my sister who managed our tharavdu and paddy field, she was brave
woman and strongly stood in her life against any issue and dealt with those who
retorted her, through strong arguments. She feared nobody and nothing she was
not in good term with uncle Madhavan Nair. Actually I don’t know
whether it was murder or suicide, when the news of her death was spread my
son (who was sitting silently by her side as she was talking) went to see that
“awful scene”. Her son says "the dead body was rotten and worms, ants and
insects were covered on it. Neighbours and natives were not ready to touch
the body even. Ta milian came and helped in burial of the body after post-
mortem." Chandramathiamma : " her children came on hearing the death
but they never came to this house later for short-stay even.
Hearing all these, we went to Madhavan Nair's who is living nearby. He
told us "Yasoda was my sister's daughter and I was not in good term with
them, Her husband, car driver working at Bombay was a drunkard. She used
to go with him, to Bombay off and on. At those times her Ammamma,
(grandmother) (my sister) nurtured her children, her moral side was not
good; after going to Bombay she became bad". We asked him about the
death and he told that "she used to go away like that and we didn't enquire
into such matters. Police came and told us the news of her death." Madhvan
Nair didn't mention about the case she filed against him and the fights
between them before. These cases carries a lot of 'untold' and
'uninvestigated' issues.

Madhavan Nair
(Accused of 180/97)

Geetha Yasodamma
(victim of 158/95) (victim of 180/97 & 184/97)
Unnatural death Madhavan Nair's Sister's daughter
Madhavan Nair's Sister's daughter

4 Daughters 2 Sons

1 Daughter 1 Son
Unnatural Death Twin brother of
unreported deceased daughter
eloped

SUHARA
The utmost disturbing incident we had had during the deep interviews is that
of crime No. 94/98. Suhara’s death had been reported as “unnatural”. Later
it had been altered to 304 IPC. When we went to Suhara’s house we saw her
mother, her children and two of her sisters- in law. Firstly they were
unwilling to believe us. Elder sister- in- law explained the reason “After
Suhara’s death, people totally unknown to them come off and on telling that
they are from crime branch, Police etc. They compel them to put signature
in some papers. One day they retorted reiterating that they couldn’t sign on
any paper without discussing the matter with those persons who intervened
in the case, they couldn’t do anything. Later they didn’t turn”

We tried our level best to make them believe that we are not of that sort.
Suhara’s mother murmured “if this will help to punish the accused..............”
By that time Suhara’s father came home. Mother started saying. Once
started, they clearly described the whole issue.

They had three sons and two daughters. Suhara studied upto 7th Std only.
At the age of 14 (in 1988) she was married to Isahak, employed in Gulf
giving a dowry of 17 pavans & Rs. 10,000/- Suhara started living with her
in-laws; Mother-in- law Aysha; Brother Hamsappa, Hamsappa’s wife Aysha
and their two children. Isahak’s elder brother Mohammed kutty, a butcher
by profession lived nearby with his wife and children. His slaughter house
was attached to their house. One day Suhara happened to see Mohammed
kutty killing a pregnant goat. She was totally disturbed and then onwards
she didn’t eat the meat brought from his shop. Her in- laws used to scold her
for not eating meat.

Isahak used to send money to Mohammed kutty, before his marriage. But,
after marriage, he had some word battles regarding expenses, and he started
sending money to Suhara. This made Mohammed kutty affected.
At times Suhara and her two children used to go and stay at her house for
one or two months. One day her father came to call her home, she described
the agonising situations at the husband’s house. He compelled her to return
home with him, so that they can have peace in their life. She told him she
will reach him within two or three days. Hearing this father returned.

That day she received money from Isahak. Her brother- in- law asked for Rs.
5000/-. Before he had been given 5000/- and informing the same to Isahak,
he insisted her not to give money without his consent. (Suhara used to tell
all the problems to her mother) She didn’t give money telling that it had
been sent towards the expenses of house construction. Days before he asked
money from Suhara’s father and he gave him another Rs. 5000/-, which he
didn’t return. Suhara reminded it to him. He threatened her “I will handle
you” Suhara told all these to his father during his last visit to see her, i.e. the
previous day of her murder. Father, with tears in his eyes described all these
to us.

After this incident, the next night, Isahak’s neighbours came telling that
Suhara is seriously injured for the fell down from the staircase and is
hospitalized at Moulana Hospital; Perinthalmanna (The FIR clearly tells that
Suhara died, on the way to the hospital) It being night, only father went with
them. Mother stayed with her daughter- in- law and children. In the morning
they also went to the hospital, but smelt something wrong since they were
shown Suhara half an hour later; making them shockingly realize that
“Suhara is dead”.

Next day, during police enquiry Suhara’s father explained all the tortures
Suhara had to suffer from the in-laws. According to him, the Police
purposefully let Saidalavi, his brother’s son report the case, Police told him
just to follow Saidalavi and not to tell anything. Their behaviours seemed
dubious. Father was not interested in Saidalavi’s reporting the case, because
he didn’t know Suhara’s problems as he had just returned from Gulf. Thus
the crime was reported as “suspicious death”. Local politicians also
intervened in the issue. They promised that they will send complaint to
Vanitha Commission. For that they took copies of the dead body of Suhara,
(They showed those to us also) But after 6 months, understanding that they
didn’t do anything, Suhara’s father took back all the documents and he sent
the petition to the Vanitha Commission.

The grave crime as reported by Suhara’s father is as follows: Children of

Hamza and Isahak quarrelled with each other and Hamza’s son injured the
other on his leg, using knife. Seeing the wound Suhara got disturbed and
she cried out that she wanted to go home with her children. But mother-in-
law insisted not to go. Hamza pushed her to the wall and hindered her. He
told furiously “you won’t go to your house anymore in life”. she was scared
to brave them and dropped the plan of going, (Suhara’s children told her
parents later that she was crying all the time while she prepared food for
them fed them and made them sleep). While Suhara and children were lying
on the bed Hamza and Mohammed kutty entered the room, took children
forcefully, thinking that they were asleep, they put the children on a sofa in
the living room. The elder son woke up during that time which they didn’t
notice. He told the parents that he saw through the window. Hamza and
Mohammed kutty caught hold of her and stabbed her to death. When he saw
them stabbing his mother and the elder son cried aloud, and then only they
understood that the son was an eye-witness to the murder. They boy was
unable to utter a word even, as his uncles (the accused) threatened him that
“you will have the very fate of your mother if you tell this to anybody”.
Isahak reached home, only four days after the murder. He didn’t see the
dead body. Father told us “Six months before he asked for his sons. But we
didn’t sent. Elder one is scared of going to them. How can we sent them to
him?”

Both were crying as they talked. We couldn’t hide our emotions. It was that
much unbearable an incident. “The case was charged, but all accused got
bail, Police officers also know that it had been a clear murder. But the
accused influenced the local politicians and with their help got bail, if though the
local political parties conducted police station march on the other side” - Suhara’s
parents added.

Now, Isahak had remarried and living in his newly constructed hous e, for
which Suhara had been keeping the money he had sent His second wife and
her family know the sad plight -of Suhara. Second wife was unwilling to
stay with her in-laws.

It was in the evening we started our dialogue. Darkness had spread around.
It was 8o’clock. Double heartedly, we returned. We couldn’t break the
silence, as Suhara’s parents stopped the narration. Emotional outbursts of
Suhara’s parents, they scene of a boy outside the window seeing his
mother’s murder, from their bed room, Photos of Suhara’s dead body,
Suhara’s innocent children who played in the Portico while we were hearing
her parents each and every thing concerning Suhara’s life and death disturbs
us now also. We feel, we were the least able to soothe Suhara’s family, as
we were unable to soothe ourselves.

SOBHANA
272/98 is a pathetic case of psychic problems as mentioned by the victim,
Sobhana's father’s brother. Sobhana became mentally ill from her college
days itself. She used to tell her mother and father that her ailment is because
of the shock resulted by seeing a snake. Whenever she became ill she was
drowsy and used to talk and toss. When she was studying in the college she
tried to commit suicide by jumping into the well. She had passed TTC, and
was working as a primary school teacher near her house. Because of that
she used to stay in her house, and visited husband’s house off and on. When
we went to interview them mother and father had been to one of their
relatives. Before our return they came; On hearing the purpose of our visit,
Sobhana’s father became very unhappy and said “what ever the reason be and
whoever the cause for it be, we lost our daughter………..” This comment made
us reflect on the “unnatural” side of Sobhana’s death. But they didn’t tell
much about it. Any how, they co-operated with us, Thinking that Sobhana
will be okay, if she gets married, her parents arranged marriage to a military
officer who was working at Delhi. It was their sixth year of marriage while
she committed suicide. Her second child – daughter – was of six months old
then, now her children are with their father's family. Sobhana's parents told
us she lived very happily with her husband and children. Husband's family
was very good to her; she committed suicide from her own home. It was a
case of acute depression that needed added care and concern while she was
living. They didn't share much and they never considered the situation
uncanny, it seemed.
IV. Women Missing

As mentioned in the secondary data details during the reference period of

study, only six cases had been reported out of the six cases the following
were probed in detail.

Sl. No Crime Number Year

1. 135 1991
2. 146 1997
3. 244 1997
4. 263 1997
5. 429 1998

JAMEELA

Cr. No. 135/1991 had been reported on 5.6.91. The astonishing factor of
this case, as reported in secondary data details was that the "event of
missing" had taken place four years before the reporting of the same.

Abdurahiman, the complainant of this case is a retired Police Constable.

Jameela, the missing woman, is the only daughter in his first wife, He got
divorced from the first wife, after six months she died. (Now he is living
with his second wife and 5 children).

After her mother's death he took Jameela with him and she was nurtured by
her Step-mother. She was married to Musthafa, a labourer in a coir
company. They lived together only for five years. Musthafa used to batter
and beat her for not delivering a child. As it became unbearable for her they
got divorced. Later she got married to one of her cousins and it existed only
for 3 years. Her in- laws used to tell that she is mentally sick. The second
marital tie didn't turn good to her. After four years she got interested in
having connection with Abdullah, which her father didn't like. She expelled
out from the family. If though Jameela married her third husband as per
'religious regulations ', he also didn't 'look after' her. As the father expelled
her out the husband didn't look after her, she started living with her
Moothaappa (father's eldest brother) who showed concern to her. From
there she used to go for migrations at times, used to return later or
sometimes family members may see her from unknown places and
forcefully bring her home. But one day she went on her own and didn't
return for a long time. As mentioned by her family members that was the
reason behind the gap between the happening and reporting of the event. As
her 'outings' became a problem the relatives took her to a psychiatrist at
Thrissur and started medication, which she actually didn't like.

"She was a peculiar character, loved goats and cows, used to give her food to them,
loved children very much and if babies cried she used to scold their parents shouting
at them, loved loneliness and always
always talked to herself". Jameela's stepmother
added, "I loved her more than I loved my children." She opined that the
reason behind all these mysterious expressions from her side was the worst
experience she had to undergo in her first marriage.

Whenever the father scolded her, the stepmother used to console embracing
her telling "don’t worry, the good days will come". Hearing this she will
behave as if she is happy. Her stepmother, with tears in her eyes told us, in
spite of my blessings to her nothing good happened in her life. Now Jameela
is in Mental hospital, the family members once in a month go and visit her.
During the first month of her stay at the Mental hospital she used to plead
the visitors to take her back home. Two years had passed by and now she
had stopped pleading. Earlier she used to ask for certain special foods of her
interest but now never demands anything told her stepmother. Jameela's
experience has no equal in our rest deep interviews. Her stepmother’s
opinion that it was her bitter life experiences that brought in such awful
complicated situations, leads to more complexities.

GEETHA & JAMEELA

Geetha, the woman missing as per Crime No. 146/97, had been living with
her mother, father, two elder sisters and brother. She studied upto 10th Std.,
failed and stopped studying. She had studied tailoring and was working in a
printing press as a trainee. Her mother, father and brother went for “Koolie”
work. They were living happily. From her work place Geetha got
introduced to one Saidalavi, as the connection because close, they decided to
live together and one day she eloped with Saidalavi. Her brother petitioned
to the police. As we went for the interview, to Geetha’s house only Geetha’s
sister- in- law was present there. She was reluctant to tell anything. Geetha’s
cousin, Sunitha who lived near-by, came to us; hearing the aim of our visit
she willingly explained the details, as follows:

Geetha and Saidalavi are now living at Wadakkancherry Geetha “had been
converted as Jameela”. They have one son. Sunitha mentioned that
Geetha’s mother, hearing the news of her delivary, went to see them,
without telling it to Geetha’s father and brother. If she told, they would have
hindered her from going and might get scoldings; Sunitha always feel
concern for her. Geetha’s mother was not there, as we visited them. She
went for work, told Sunitha, we waited at Sunitha’s house, so that we liked
to see Geetha’s mother and hear from her. She came at 6 o’clock in the
evening; As we enquired her, first she sat silently, bending her head
downwards, as if she was having tense thoughts. Then she started
crying........ We sat near her without interrupting her............ After some time
she told us “I hope that Geetha will be living happily some where” She
didn’t reveal us about her regular visits to Geetha. (We were happy to hear
from Sunitha that Geetha’s mother visited her regularly. But it was without
others understanding. It is worthy to note that Geetha’s conversion to
Jameela hadn’t affected her mother, if though she didn’t tell it out directly.
We didn’t disturb her much. She might have been scared of the scoldings
and beatings from her son and husband; Geetha’s mother added “when
Geetha was missing they (my husband and son) blamed
blamed me telling that it was
because of my support she did all this:. As Sunitha’s description reveals,
Geetha’s mother silently suffers all the blaming now also.

SATHI

The victim of Cr. No. 244/1997, Sathi alias Yasoda, was 19 years old. She
was living with her mother and father, younger sister and brother. One day
she quarreled with her sister and mother scolded her for the same. This
made her furious and she got out of the house saying that she is going to one
of her friends. But after two days she didn't return her father, on the third
day filed the case. Afterwards they received her letter from Kallambalam
telling that she went with a man whom she got introduced from the Bus.
When they got the letter Sathi's father, uncle and brother went to
Trivandrum searched a lot, atleast for one month. From there, they
shockingly discovered 'the gang' which Sathi was caught in. By then Sathi
has dwelled for 30 days in that Colony. If though they discovered her, they
were unable to catch her from there. Sathi's father told us that she was
trapped and kidnapped by this gang at Kallambalam. When they went to the
Colony, the guy who caught Sathi was not there. They revealed all the
issues to Police and returned home disappointed. Then the Police caught the
fellow they intimated it to the Sathi's family, arrested them and brought to
Pattambi. Sathi was unwilling to blame the fellow, this helped him to escape from
the case and he was released. They had never seen him later.
Sathi's family didn't pursue the case more, Sathi's father told us "thinking
that their daughter's future will be in danger". When we went to interview
the case nobody in their house talked to us except her father. Her brother an
auto driver watched us doubtfully. Sathi's mother went inside and didn't
come out to talk when she understood that "we were to interview them".
Sathi's father’s depiction makes the whole affair dubious. The Gang who
kidnapped Sathi very cunningly stands a mystery now also.

NIRMALA

Nirmala, the victim of Cr. No. 263/1997 was 28 years old at the time of
missing she had stopped going to school from 7t h standard onwards. Since
then, she was working in the match company at Palathara. Mohandas came
to the company for working. She was acquainted to Mohandas for 5 months
only. They loved to live with . But Nirmala thought that she would not get the
consent of her parents for the same, since they belonged to different castes.
From 12 years of age till then she was an earning member to her family. Her
elder sister had been married. Her parents were not trying to seek a groom
for her since they feared that they wouldn't get her earnings after the
marriage – Nirmala told us. Life at home was a total bore to her having no
entertainment. Her home is in one of the remotest under developed areas.

In these circumstances, Nirmala, anticipating a better future, eloped with

Mohandas. The very next day her younger brother, Subrahmanian reported
the case to the police. The police officials asked him to bring a photograph
of Nirmala. On the fourth day of missing, the case was charged. During this
time the brother came to understand from Nirmala's workplace that she
eloped with Mohandas. On the 12th day of her missing Nirmala's brother,
after some enquiries understood that Nirmala and Mohandas were at
Thodupuzha, Idukki in one of Mohandas' uncles' house. Mohandas actually
belongs to Ottapalam his parents are no more. He has only one sister who is
married. Nirmala's brother Subrahmanian went directly to Thodupuzha met
the couple, and brought her home forcefully. He threatened Nirmala that
"they won't allow her" to live with Mohandas since they belonged to
different castes in which marriage interactions don't take place traditionally.
He scolded her that he would tie up her legs and hands and she would be
under house arrest. Nirmala retaliated to it (as she explained to us she was
laughing) that she had been living with him for 12 days, happily and in her
rest life; she will surely live with him, no matter whether her brother or
father hinders the way. Later Subrahmanian succumbed. Mohandas came
to call Nirmala the next day. They reported before the court at Ottapalam
and submitted to the court that they are going to register the marriage. Later
they registered marriage at Pallippuram Panchayath office. Now as we saw
them they are living happily. Nirmala is residing at her home to look after
her aged parents. Mohandas who is working in a match company at
Mannarghat comes to Nirmalas’. Nirmala's mother told that they are aged,
unhealthy having no money, that is why Nirmala has to suffer the whole lot;
she added, now also she is working and protecting her parents. Nirmala's
mother lamented that she will be free and live happily with Mohandas at
Mannarghat, where he is having a room of his own only if her brother gets
married to a girl. On our enquiry Nirmala showed their "wedding photo"
she introduced Mohandas very happily. When we went there he was not
there.

This case reminds us that if two persons want to co- habit on their own, they
need to chanelize much energy for fighting against the social properties and
practices of family, caste, police and court etc.
The woman, though very brave to stand the repercussions, because of her
subordinate role, is being grabbed
grabbed and detached from living with the beloved,
through a lot of threats and atrocious acts. It will not help the woman be
independently take decisions regarding her life if though she is an earning
person.
SARFUNEESA

Sarfunneesa 17 years, Cr. No. 429/1998 – Time of Happening 21.10.98 and

reported on 23.10.98 by Muhammed (Father of Sarfunneesa) Shamsudeen
27 years (Sarfunneesa's father's brother's son- in law)

Sarfunneesa was a ninth standard student, one day as she was going to
school Shamsudeen the accused came in an auto-rikshaw and forcefully
dragged her into the auto-rikshaw’ threatening her "if cried I will kill you"
and kidnapped her. As her mother told us, Shamsudeen had no permanent
job and he lived on the money he got by "arranging" girls to the needy as
"maids." Shamsudeen forcefully took her to one teacher at Panamaram,
Waynad who was in need of a home maid. His exact connection with the
teacher is not known (i.e. How he came to understand the teacher's need etc.)
to Sarfu's mother. Sarfu's father reported the case in the police station that
Sarfu didn't return from school in the evening and with the help of police
officials he advertised the issue in the daily; the teacher (Even before this
incident Sarfunneesa's family had had the opinion that Shamsudeen was an
irresponsible guy) to whom Sarfunneesa was sold by Shamsudeen saw the
advertisement and fearing the aftermath, she telephoned to the Pattambi
police station, that the girl is with her working as a "maid" to her.

The police officers intimated this news to Sarfunneesa’s father and they
brought her back. Sarfunneesa was reluctant to speak out her experiences she had
had during those seventeen days. She ran to the backyard of her house as her
mother was explaining all these agonies to us. Later we went to her and
tried to console her but she became furious and behaved as if she hated the
whole world. After the event she never went out of the house alone and she
is not going to school even.

We returned with so many serious doubts in our thoughts. The accused is

absconding now.

1. What all harassments she had had from the accused and during the 17
days at the teacher's.

2. What is the actual role of the teacher in this? How Shamsudeen

(accused) is connected with the teacher.

3. Why Sarfunneesa had not communicated her grave experiences even

to her mother? How agonizing was it?

4. Why the police officials, even after understanding that the accused
was absconding, didn't enquire the case deeply. So that the victim
could have received an iota of justice.

When we asked Sarfunneesa's mother, why didn't they ask the police
officials probe the case later and find out Shamsudeen, arrest and bring him
to the court's door, without which he can't be punished. She replied. “We
are very poor ones, and we live with the small earnings of Sarfunneesa's
father. Sarfunneesa's future will be affected and she may not get married
with the stigma if this case continues. Sarfunneesa is living with two sisters
and parents; one of her sisters got married. This may affect her sister's future
also.”

We returned with a heavy heart. If though further action had been dropped
by the police in this regard Sarfunneesa's and her family's life had been
turned top side down by this.
V. Kidnapping : 359 – 367 IPC

Sl. No Crime Number Year

1. 96 1997
2. 206 1997

During the study period, only 4 cases if "kidnapping" had been reported, But
the deep interviews of other cases suggest most of the kidnapping turn
unreported for almost all the parents and relatives think that "it will worsen
the situation and will affect the victim's as well as family's life".

REENA & VIJAYALAKSHMI

Cr No 96/97 and 206/97 concerns the same fellows. Reena's mother Indira
Teacher telling that Mr. Muraleedharan had kidnapped Reena, had filed Cr
No. 96/97. When we went to see the Reenas only her mother was present
there. As she understood we visited them to enquire the details regarding
the case she became furious and told us "I don't like to reopen the old issues.
What you people need is to make stories regarding our experiences. But all these
make our situation more vulnerable. We talked to her very politely and told
"we are not to 'sell the stories' what we are for is to 'study the situations', we
are also 'humans' like you".

This made her much cooler. Then we asked her why Reena went with
Muraleedharan? Was she interested in it? Teacher "may be ……….I don't
know. I can't tell you anything regarding it. She is also trying to forget it.
Don’t remind us all these ordeals. Reena stopped going to school after this
incident, we were told. We were that much dejected by these situations.
The thought that we once again disturbed them distracted us. We were
unable to understand how they behaved to Reena as and when she returned?
How Reena herself sees her past experiences? How did these affect the
whole family? etc were in our thoughts.

VIJAYALAKSHMI

Much of these unanswered questions regarding Reena were revealed to us

through our dialogue with Vijayalakshmi (victim of 206/97)
Muraleedharan's wife, with whom Reena eloped. Vijayalakshmi willingly
answered. It was a frank dialogue. She was married to Muraleedharan in
1984. When she was 16 years of age she went to college after marriage took
her degree later. She had Mother, Father and four brothers. Muraleedharan
is an artist. He was 26 at the time of marriage. Theirs was otherwise a
happy married life. With two children, elder daughter and younger son, as
she told to us. As she was at her home for second delivery Muraleedharan
eloped with his neighbour Reena of 16 years. She came to know it later.
Muraleedharan had promised before time that on Vishu, April 14, he would
go and take her when resting of 3 months, after delivery was over but he
didn't go to her and take them home. Then her brother went to the
Muraleedharan's and came to understand the problem. On Vishu night
Muraleedharan eloped with Reena. He filed a petition. On June 4th , he
accidentally saw Reena and Muraleedharan, and talked amicably to them
and they succumbed to compromise. Based on that dialogue Reena returned
to her family and Vijayalakshmi and children were brought to
Muraleedharan, All these happened as if nothing had happened.
Vijayalakshmi told us "Hearing this betrayal from Muraleedharan's side I don't
actually
actually like to live with him. But it is just an adjustment for our (mine and my
childrens') safety and peace. Reena had also promised Vijayalakshmi, as she
told us, that she is not having any 'relations' with him now.
"Did you talk to Muraleedharan about this" We asked Vijayalakshmi.
Vijayalakshmi told "what is there in talking too much? Once enquired and
he told me "it just happened like that" as if it was not of 'his' choice.
Vijayalakshmi told us "in my whole life I will not forget this betrayal", if
though she is not for any revenge.

She told us about Reena "When I was brought to this house after marriage
"Reenamol" was just delivered to Indira teacher…I used to love, caress and
care her as my own child…and to that child…Muraliyettan did all these
cruelties………she was unable to complete. She burst into tears. Now these
"neighbours" are having no connection.

VI. Physical & Sexual Assaults : 351 – 354 IPC

Sl. No Crime Number Year

1. 45 1994
2. 167 1997
3. 180 1997
4. 293 1997
5. 294 1997
6. 159 1998
7. 238 1998
 HAFSATH

Hafsath, victim of Cr No. 45/94, 5t h child of her Umma (mother), who has 8
children, was "manhandled" by one of her neighbours Illias, He coercively
embraced and kissed her. Hafsath complained the same to her family and
they filed a case. She was 17 years old then. She studied up to 7t h STD. As
per FIR the case was reported, and accused was arrested on 12/2/94, the case
was charged on 28/3/94 but later on 23/2/95 the case compounded.

When we went to see Hafsath, she was not there. She is in her partner’s
house now. Hafsath's brother talked to us. As he told us "There is nothing
more to be revealed other than what had been reported to the Police. It
happened 4 years before her marriage. This incident did not affect her
marriage. They gave 10 pavans and Rs. 1000/- as dowry.

Hafsath's family is dwelling in a small house in the street near railway line.
The incident happened when she went to fetch water from pipeline.

Hafsath's brother reiterated "oh! it is not a problem. It is quite natural of a

"man to behave like that" These fellows behaved very doubtfully to us.
When we asked, "Is this Hafsath’s house ?" They looked puzzled. We were
unable to understand Hafsath's versions of how the incident affected her?
Whether it has changed the 'pattern of her life'? Has it affected her
'understandings' about the social life and interaction with men? Her family
members were bewildered and asked, "Are you from Vanitha Commission? Will it come
in newspapers? If at all these come in news papers it will affect her future". We
repeatedly told them we came to 'study' the issue, not to publish it in
newspaper and all" But they were reluctant to consider it. They told they are
scared of media projections.
 PARVATHIYAMMA

167/97 has a different tone, Parvathiamma, after her partner Achuthannair's

death was living alone. Her children were away seeking their fortune. One
year after this case her son has to resign from job and come to assist her
since she is scared to stay home alone. We visited Parvathiamma, and she
told us "On 12.7.97 early morning at 6.30, she saw somebody lying in her
"padippura" she asked who it was. He non- hesitantly replied, “I'm
Chandran, Your neighbour”. In the night I went for film and just lied here.
She didn't mind it. But 10 minutes later he came inside, threatened her,
bitten her deeply on her knees and nose. She cried loudly. He ran away.
His idea was to bribe "money". Parvathiamma told, "His wife was about to
deliver. He was badly in need of money. He is a drunkard. Everybody
knows he makes "arrack" in his house. His father had been caught in
robbery two times and he got bail with the help of "local politicians".
Parvathiamma's case was referred in the court in late 1998. Witnesses
betrayed since the accused and his team helped them to go to Dubai.
Parvathiamma's younger son appealed to Vanitha Commission, Rosamma
Chacko, who was member of the Legislative committee for social welfare of
women, Kerala; and to the district collector, Police enquiry was strong.
Chandran managed to get a certificate from the Mental Hospital Thrissur;
this helped him to get out of the issue. She told us "she didn't get justice
from any where" Chandran repeated the same thing to yet another of their
neighbours; in 1999 September. That day he ran out and escaped. This also
was reported to the police, but later it was also compounded.
 YASODAMMA

The Cr. No. 180/97, had been referred along with the descriptions of Cr. No.
184/97, it is the reported unnatural death of the victim of 180/07,
Yasodamma, one of the accused of the same being Madhavan Nair. The
brief of this case is that Madhavan Nair, Yasodamma’s - the victim - uncle
along with Kunhiraman and Chathodi Mohammed, forcefully entered
Yasodammas’s house, and hindered her pathway, as she was getting into her
house, after bathing outside; They kicked her and slapped her, teared off her
dress; This atrocious scene was witnessed by her relative Saraswathiamma
and all the accused dragged her, hit her and tried to assault her. It is
shocking to notice that, the Police officer who went to investigate this case
(Crime No. 180/97) and take ‘notes’ of the issue, saw the dead body of
Yasodamma. The FIR suggests that the “death” had happened days before,
as there were worms, insects and mites on the body. It had already been
decayed.

As per FIR, Crime No. 180/97 occurred on 14/1/97, it was reported on

23/7/97, by the victim herself. But Yasodamma’s dead body was seen by
the Police officer on 16/7/97. i.e., three days after the reporting of the first
case, This make everybody, suspect that Yasodamma’s is not a “suicide”.
As we got details during deep interview, (depicted under “unnatural death -
184/97) this is a clear case of “murder”. But it is still undetected. Who did
it? Why? How? Etc still remain unexplored and unanswered. The most
disturbing point is that the final report of 180/97 had been submitted on
22/10/98, closing the file, stating that the case dropped since the victim,
Yasodamma is dead.
 AMINA & IYYATHUTTY

294/97 is a counter case against 293/97 both under Sec 354 IPC. Victim of
293/97, Amina (34) was battered and assaulted upon by Muhammed Kutty
(54 years) who is the brother of Amina's younger sisters' partner. Amina's
partner Assainu was working in Gulf, at the time of this 'issue'. He had been
working there for 15 years; Amina and Assainu have 2 girls of 15 years and
7 years and one boy of 12 years. One day when Amina was coming home
after bath from neighbouring pond, with her 3 Children, Muhammed Kutty,
Iyyathumma & Suhra came from the opposite direction. 1s t accused
hindered her way and pressed on her breast and neck, 2nd accused slapped
her on back and the third accused threatened her that 'they will kill her'.

"294/97 has been reported by Iyyathutty, Muhammed Kutty's wife telling

that the Aminas forcefully entered their house and battered them for having
fury towards them as they asked Rs. 15000/- that they lend them before".
We first of all visited Amina; she frankly explained all that happened. As
they were relatives, he used to 'try' her through sugar coated dialogues (he
used to try to embrace her and try to put his hands through her dress and
such) She told us nobody will think that such an elder fellow will behave like this,
towards one who is very younger to him.
him She used to write these issues to her
partner. She used to compel him to tell "Moothappa" to direct his son not to
behave like this to her. At first Assainu didn't believe her. Later when 'these
issues' became serious he took it to his heart. Hearing all these "through her
letters", he was unable to come home quickly and he wrote to his
Moothappa, to warn Moothappa's son, Muhammed Kutty, the accused of
this case, this made things worse and hence these 'unbecomings' from their
side. Assainu came after 6 months, in 1998, and didn't go to gulf later.
After the incident Amina's family – brother and father – helped them to
report the 'case' and accused were arrested. The very same day Muhammed
Kutty reported 'a counter case' to the Police, in the name of his wife
Iyyathutty – i.e. Cr. No. 294/97. The case was like this "Assainu was to give
Rs. 15000/- to them which they lend to him. They would have given the
money. But later they attacked their house" etc., Iyyathutty and family told
us Assainu and Amina attacked them. Iyyathutty was hospitalised and 2nd
day they reported to the police. Finally case was compounded with the
mediation of Mosque committee as both told it. Iyyathutty's case was fraud
one we felt from their expressions.

Amina's revealings made it clearer. "Assainu was in Gulf when the case
happened. Iyyathutty reported that both Amina and Assainu attacked them.
Iyyathutty and family didn't tell anything other than what we got from FIR
Index."

Amina's is a case of continuous sexual harassment. She revealed the

incidents as follows: Muhammed Kutty used to tempt her off and on to have
"sexual inter course" with him. Muhammed Kutty brought the proposal for
Amina's daughter in early 1997. After her Nikah, one day Muhammed Kutty
came near her telling "Now the way is clear. Everything is okay; your
daughter’s marriage is over, your “husband” returned to Gulf. Amina, we
will have a nice time" Hearing this Amina shouted towards him. Seeing her
negative mood Muhammed Kutty forcefully embraced her and pushed her to
the cot. Amina cried aloud; her little ones came to the room crying, "please
don't do anything to our Umma". Seeing the situation becoming more
vulnerable Muhammed Kutty went out telling that, "I will teach you a
lesson". It was after this, the incident from outside their house. This telltale
incident proves that it was to lighten the case of 293/97 the accused and his
family gave a 'counter case'.
 RADHA

Radha (the victim of Cr. No. 159/98), while she was staying for a few days
with her mother in Vellamcherry Colony, Prabhapuram (Actually she was
living with her husband Arumughan, at Kottakkal with their 3 Children.)
with her children, was attacked by two men (who were identifiable to them,
Radha’s family, but they didn’t know their name and address) Saidalavi, the
reported accused was not the real accused, told Radha’s mother to us. It was
she who described the incident! On 13/4/98 night, these men forcefully
entered their house. When Radha went to the bathroom outside the house,
with her little kid, they caught hold of her, threatened her, not to make any
noise. She cried aloud, neighbour came, a lot of people gathered, the
accused ran away, being afraid of the crowd.

The police records tell that the accused is Saidalavi (22 years) S/o Moideen
Kutty, Natyamangalam. He was arrested on 21/4/98 produced before the
court and got bail. The case was charged on 30/6/98.

Radha’s mother told us they compounded the case and got Rs. 4000/- from
the accused. All these are done in an easy manner that it reminds a drama.
But as to Radha she deserted by her husband, Arumughan, had he was
against compromising the case. Radha’s mother is disturbed, and Radha is
unhappy and affected for
for it was for no fault of hers, she lost her happy life with
husband and children.
children Arumughan belonged to Pondicherry. They lived
together for 12½years. They gave 5 pavans and Rs. 5000/- towards dowry at
the time of marriage. Arumughan didn’t return the same when he deserted
her. Now, Radha is living in the house provided by her mother, (in her
inherited property.)
This case is a typical example of manipulating the criminal actions to help
the accused. Radha’s mother told us Saidalavi was only a helper to the
accused. The accused had influenced everywhere and they managed to
evade from the charges of accused. They went to Dubai with the help of the
Police, She blamed, because it was the police who charged the case against
Saidalavi only, and spared the real accused.

We asked, “Why did they compromise if Arumughan was ready to continue

the case?” They thought what is good in punishing the helper of the accused
instead of catching the accused!!

SHEENA

Sheena, victim of the case 238/98 is studying in 10t h STD now. When she
was in 8t h STD, one day she went to the nearby river, to have bath, with her
friend Suseela. She was not used to go to river for bath since she had a heart
operation. On her way back she was attacked by one Shamsudeen who
came from back and forcefully embraced her, catching her 'breast'. There
were scratches on her breast. This shocked her and she came home crying
and lied down as if fainting. All at home were bewildered and as she was a
heart patient, they immediately hospit alised her. The doctor checked and
told them there is nothing to worry about. The next day she was discharged
from the hospital. Shamsudeen the accused, having a wife and 2 children, is
living on the banks of a river, Sheena's house is in the opposite village and
through the middle flowed the river.

Sheena's mother Malathy told us "They became ready for compromise, thinking
that it may affect her future". She told, "we are new to this place – We have
been here only for the last 4 years. We do not know the pulse of the people
here. More than that, she is a girl who had suffered a lot, what we need is
peace".

After the incident, it took many days for her to go out to the public. She was
scared to go out and talk to others. It reduced her concentration in studies.
She went to school only after two weeks. Later her mother and brother
instilled 'interest' in her and helped her to be brave, and face the situation.
Sheena's brother is an auto-rikshaw driver. He was very helpful in bringing
her to the day-to- day life activities. Sheena is very much okay now.

We had to investigate almost the same but much complicated an incident,

which aggravated the agonies of a woman for the rest of her life that is still
continuing now. The case is as follows.

VII. Prevention of atrocities against SC-ST : Sec 509 IPC

ELIZABETH & SARAH

The Crime No. 293/92 had been reported under 3 (1) X (1) prevention
atrocities against SC/ST act and 509 IPC. During the reported period, only
two cases had been reported under this section

Chandramohan, Scientific Assistant, Kerala Agricultural University

molested Elizabeth an eight -year-old child. Sarah, Elizabeth's mother who is
a college lecturer mentioned the event to us, as we visited them.
"Chandramohan's child, who was Elizabeth's friend, and Elizabeth were
studying in the same class, 3rd STD. Chandramohan was a close friend of
Elizabeth's father. Elizabeth used to behave very frankly to him and used to
tell him the "family problems" they had between her mother and father.
According to Sarah, Chandramohan "exploited" this situation and
"misbehaved" to her, in the-utmost- unbecoming-way. One day there was no
bus due to strike and Chandramohan, seeing the girl from the school, picked
her and told her that he will take her home. Before that he told her they have
to take 'Anju' (his daughter) also and they went inside the classroom. He
asked her "where is Anju's seat"? She showed it to him. Suddenly, in an
unanticipated manner he asked her to lay on the bench and forcefully caught
her to make her lie. She was scared and cried aloud and ran away from the
school".

This incident was not brought to the public first. The offender being her
father's close friend, they were feared to report the issue to the police. This
incident had collapsed the girl's mood also.

But the turn of events happened at a different point. One Mr.

Ramachandran, who happened to hear this 'issue' on 23/10, reported the
issue on 12/11. The local people, told us that Ramachandran and
Chandramohan were in feud; for the former’s wife was having 'illicit
relationship' with the later. (Now they have divorced)

Elizabeth, if though very much disturbed and don't like to repeat the stories
on her own, is some what balanced now and studying in college. But she is
timid and an introvert. She fears if once again she will have to face the
'court' since the case is in Supreme Court now. She is not for any 'legal
intricacies' as it is very much affecting her. Elizabeth's mother told us "This
incident in their life have made the whole life top-side-down. Elizabeth's
father, who is not at all interested in continuing the case, always nags saying
that 'Sarah is the cause of all'. She was ready to submit the issue before the
police and court, once it was started, if though by somebody else. Sarah gets
scolding for it now also. But Sarah’s decision is that once published, they
should seek a justifiable end, so that these atrocious situations should not be
repeated to any girl in the future.

Sarah is a typical sufferer of beatings and battering. She revealed whole lot
of her experiences, which was never reported to any police or court before.
But every body in her college knows that she is a victim of 'wife beating'.
Hers is a life of 'house arrest' in her husband's home. She cannot even
telephone from her home and feel fear when her friends cal her. As she told
the telephone is in her father- in-laws room, only at the time of serials in the
TV, which her in- laws see regularly, can others call her? She reminded us if
we telephone her do it only at the time of serial. Her husband is a Bank
officer, and their’s could have been a 'good family atmosphere' otherwise,
she reflected on the thought that her husband is a good bank officer, good
organizer of his employees federation, good to others socially but inside the
house, he is "yet another one". He behaves brutally to her, she believes
every husband, if though very progressive in outlooks will behave in the
same way. On getting acquainted to us she asked us "Are you married? Do
your husband love you? Etc."

Everybody in the college knows her tragic issue. She murmured "if not for
this engagement I would have finished myself. Every body feel pity for her,
but nobody or she herself takes initiative to seek how to dismantle the case.
She herself believes 'one day it will change. He is the only son of his
parents. Sarah even has no "freedom" to talk to her children in private and
vice verse. They say, "She will destroy them". But Sarah sighs and
expectingly reiterates, Now a days since the children are growing up, "They
– my children – are understanding the situation more, They are very much
loving to me. That is enough". Now she had designed her own dissents to
in-laws and husband. The family atmosphe re is very tense, Mother in- law
used to call her "filthy language', for years. One day she decided to call her
back the same 'filthy word'. This shocked mother-in-law and later she didn't
call her like that. Sarah herself feels discredited for using such words to her
mother-in- law. But she assured us "But it had had its effect".

For three times, on her return from college, she felt the smell of gas in the
kitchen. Sarah told us "exactly at the time of her return from college she
used to prepare tea and have it." Her mother-in-law knows this. Two times
mother-in- law asked her to kindle the gas and she left the kitchen and went
to bathroom. (Actually, she is not allowed to prepare food and distribute it in
the family.) For the first time, on smelling the gas she thought " oh! It is an
accident!" Second time she had some doubt. At the third attempt as she
understood it as an attempt on her life, she told her mother-in- law calmly
"There is no good if you go and hide in the bathroom. The flame will take
the whole home and all of us will die at the same time". After that her
mother-in- law never repeated the attempt. Her father / mother in- law calls
her "mad".

At first when we went to Sarah's we met Sarah's mother-in-law. She didn’t

show much interest in receiving us. She didn't mingle with us. She told us
Sarah is not here. We told, we are students from the college and came to see
the teacher to clear some doubts. Later we visited Sarah from the college
and she told us it was good that she was not there when we visited her. She
appreciated us for not making confusions by telling out our mission of
visiting her. She would not have been able to tell all these from home. She
finished saying "I depicted all these to you, you may hear a news of unnatural
unnatural
death one day. Then you should remember that teacher had such a life back ground".
 Chapter VII : Part I
SURVEY REPORT

The third part of the study as per the proposal was to do a survey in Ward III
of Ongallur Panchayath, which is one of the densely populated areas in
Pattambi Circle. It is an ideal place that satisfies the different economic,
social and cultural factors discussed in the study. The idea of doing the
survey was to try to enquire and understand the factors that hinder gender
justice. Our study proposed that atrocities against women are one of the
major problems faced by the whole society. The survey was to enquire
openly the opinions of people in intervening these issues and thereby trying
to solve them. For this it needed the wholehearted support of the people of
the area. We have tried our level best to reach every corner of the village
and almost everybody responded very cordially. Many of them expect that
studies like ours will help improve the social interactions since people get an
opportunity to share their experiences, ideas of what and how they think
about transforming their locality & their own life situations and the visions
each have concerning socio- cultural and politico- legal provisions towards a
gender just social set up.

The selected sample

We selected 50 Females and 50 Males at random from the electoral roll of

Ward III of Ongallur Panchayath out of which 10 females and males were
unmarried and the rest married. The selected samples approximately satisfy
all the attributes of the variables of the study. The questionnaire of the
survey included three parts.
Age distribution and marital status of the selected samples

The selected sample constitutes people from four age groups: [refer table 1.0]
18 to 30 Yrs: males and females twelve each, of which five each are married
and seven each are unmarried.
30 to 42 Yrs: eleven males (9 married 2 unmarried) and eleven females (8
married and 3 unmarried)
42 to 54 Yrs: thirteen males, all married and thirteen females (12 married
and one unmarried)
54 and above: fourteen males and fourteen females all married

In the first part we enquired them the following:

F Did Marriage hinder continuing education and selecting job?

F Marriage curbs autonomy?
F Educational Qualifications of the respondents?
F Openness in behaviour towards women at home?
F Do women get the recognition as an individual in family and society?
F Who help you in solving the family problems and individual issue?
F Have you been able to do anything to help other?

1. Educational Qualifications of the respondents?

The Educational qualifications of the respondents show that it is a

representative sample of the educational scenario of the area of study.
Nearly half of the respondents have got high school education. 13
respondents have passed higher secondary, 10 of them are females. 2
females and one male have attained professional qualification. 2 females and
2 males of the respondents are total illiterates. [Ref. Tab 1.1]

Chart IV
 25

20

15

10

0
Illiterates LP UP HS HSS Degree PG & Prof.
above course
Female Male

Chart showing the Educational Qualifications of the respondents

2. Did Marriage hinder continuing education and selecting job?

37 Females responded that marriage didn't hinder them in continuing

education and selecting job. They are not much bothered education and job,
as they are socially trained to give primary importance to maintain the
marital life intact. Three females opined that marriage hindered them from
continuing education and selecting job. One among them is unhappy for it. 2
females replied that they have no problem for that hindrance. All the
married males unanimously replied that marriage didn't hinder them. [Ref.
Table 1.2] This response strengthens the presupposition that the present
attitudes values and norms of the society regarding women’s roles and
rights are not supporting the idea of equal participation. It is as if women
consider their situation as “given” and cannot be transformed. Men are
always having enough freedom in their married life, to select their job and
future.
3. Marriage curbs autonomy?

42 Females and 45 Males opined that the marriage doesn't curb autonomy.
4 females and 2 males are against the opinion of the majority. 4 unmarried
females and 3 unmarried males have 'No response' to the question. It should
be noted here that the subordinate marital status of female counterpart is
being internalised and reified in the social perception of majority of the
population. This in turn works as the common sense behind the perpetuation
of subordination of the females along with the masculine domination.
[Ref.Tab.1.3]

4. Openness in behaviour towards women at home?

At home almost everybody can behave openly towards women, suggests the
survey details. 43 females and 45 males responded YES. 7 females and 5
males are marked NO. This shows that despite the people are trying their
best to manage or cope up with the structural properties of the social
institutions like family and marriage, may be at times to dissents or protests,
foreseeing the fairness in human interactions. [Ref. Tab 1.4]

5. Do women get the recognition as an individual in family and society?

If though almost all the respondents assert that they can behave openly at
home they are divided in their opinion regarding the recognition women get
as individuals in family and in society. 27 females and 32 males are out
each 50 respondents think that women are not getting due recognition as
individual in family and society. This is a good sign of changing trends in
man – woman relationship and understanding the social. [Ref. Tab 1.5]
6. Who help you in solving the family problems and individual issue?

Majority of the respondents get help in solving their problems from the
family members, which affirms that family has a major role in the life
activities of both men and women, while 23 females get help from family
only 11 males get support fr om family to solve issues. The next helping
hands are Politicians (8 females and 13 males get the politicians' help) 10
respondents from each group solve their problem alone with out seeking
help from others. Friends play their part, more in the lives of males than in
that of females. Males get more help politicians than females get. Here we
can’t evade from thinking that the politicians play significant part in the
social life. Hence the sensitivity and mentality of the politicians towards the
issues women face and towards women’s rights and roles of beings
subordinate, masculine dominations etc. has prime most importance. It needs
sensitising the pubic personalities for transforming the very mentality so as
to attain the gender justice in all walks of life. [Ref. Tab 1.6]

Chart V

25

20

15

10

0
Nobody Politicians Mediators Neighbours Family Friends
members

Female Male

Chart showing the response to who help you in solving the family problems
and individual issue

7. Have you been able to do anything to help other?

35 females and 32 males admitted that they have not been able to do
anything particular in their life to help others, if though they are interested in
such activities. Some responded that lack of economic independence and
educational qualifications are the constraints for it.
 Chapter VII : Part II
UNDERSTANDING GENDER JUSTICE

In Part II, the respondents were given 25 statements and asked to mark True
or False. The statements were mixed and later during coding it was re-
arranged in the following manner.

1. Androcentricity in the approach of respondents: The questions asked

to understand the male orientedness in the approach of respondents are split
into two tables No. 2.1 and 2.2. The table 2.1 was prepared based on the
following questions:

Qn. 1 Man is to do the outside work and women should always care the
household activities
2. Cooking and managing kitchen, cleaning the house etc., are
women's work; man should not intervene in it.
3. Women should obey men and live under the control of man.
6. In society women has only secondary status compared to that of
man
15. Friends have no say in your life.
17. Girl should not mingle with others publicly; they should prefer
secluded private life.

Women in a common pattern had answered question no.1, 6, and 15. 60% of
females answered "yes” and the rest answered “no”. To the Qn. No. 1 males
answered in the same manner as that of females but 33 male respondents
answered yes and 17 answered “no” to Qn. No. 6. Friends have say in the
lives of 24 males but have no say in the lives of 26 males.
 Chart VI
FEMALE MALE

n Man is to do the outside work and women should always care the
household activities
n In society women has only se condary status compared to that of
man
n Friends have no say in your life.
Refer table 2.1

These responses remind us how women as well as men have internalised

women’s "subordinate roles and status" and men’s dominant roles. Answer
to the second question (Cooking and managing kitchen, cleaning the house
etc., are women's work; man should not intervene in it?) shows the changing
trends of day- to- day life and gender relations despite the hierarchical
resource allocation and distribution in particular fields of intimate
interactions in the family atmosphere, making this social institution more
flexible. It is a fact that nowadays both academics and activists of this area
of study have come to the conclusion that female partner’s space in a family
is cribbed and controlled, compared to that of the male counterpart. In an
androcentric social milieu male partner’s readiness to share the household
works is considered as helping their women but not as their primary
responsibility. But there will be active and dynamic spaces, which the
interacting agents realise, creatively in all the social spaces of human
interventions. Even then, 34 females and 36 males believe that Women
should obey men and live under the control of man (Qn. 3) showing that in
such cases men are ready to share the responsibilities at home but they seem
unwilling to consider their "life partners" as equals. Response to the 17t h
question (Girl should not mingle with others publicly; they should prefer
secluded private life) shows the way in which the “girls” are brought up as
submissive ones, as a part of reproducing masculine domination. 38 males
and 44 females say, “yes” to this question. This reminds that the primary
socialisation and enculturation of girls and boys are to be taken seriously, for
which the mentality of parents are to be problematized in a gender sensitive
manner. [Refer table 2.1]

The table 2.2 was prepared based on the following questions:

4. Women going for employment badly affect the character formation of their children
5. There are no specific issues in society that women experience.
14.Women's lives end in accepting and completing the roles of beloved, wife,
mother, and daughter. She doesn't need self-motivations and life goals of her own.
16. I have never thought if I had a good friend…
18. There is no value in concepts like women's welfare, status and empowerment etc.
25. The works women have in the family should not be considered as labour

More than 60% of the respondents say ‘yes’ to Qn. No. 4 and 5, it highlights
the importance of employment and economic independence of women in a
family. And they agree to the suggestion that women have specific issues
they face socially. It's giving more light towards people's understanding of
their own life. Males and Females accord in responding self reflexively.
Response to the Qn. No. 14 shows that respondents are recognizing the
absence of self- motivation and realize the handicaps created by the fencing
of the normative aspect of traditional roles such as wifehood, motherhood
etc. Majority of females and males feel that women's welfare and
empowerment is a must, if the society is to flourish. But a few of them are
not ready to consider the women's work in the family as labour. In a typical
traditional atmosphere women and men are immersed so deeply that they are
not even capacitated with the tools to analytically evaluate and make
themselves capable to retaliate against the normative aspect of the roles
ascribed to them.

as per table 2.2 Chart VII

Women going for employment badly affect the 19

character formation of their children 31

There are no specific issues in society that women 19

experience. 31

Women's lives end in accepting and completing the

roles of beloved, wife,mother, and daughter. She 11
doesn't need self-motivations and life goals of her 39
own.

20
I have never thought if I had a good friend…
30

There is no value in concepts like women's 10 (m=11)

welfare, status and empowerment etc. 40 (m=39)

The works women have in the family should not be 11 (m=13)

considered as labour 39 (m=37)

Yes No

This reminds that the available tools are not at all enough for the people, in trying to
understand the complexities of life, which necessitates inventing methods of probing
other possibilities of interactions.

2. "The existing socio-political atmosphere is not enough to solve issues

faced by women"?
74% of the respondents agreed to the opinion that the existing socio- political
atmosphere is not enough to solve issues faced by women out of which 41
out of 50 are females. The rest believe otherwise. This response can be read
with the answer to" There are no specific issues in society that women
experience."[Ref.Tab.2.3] This arrows to the thought provoking idea that
majority of the respondents do not consider the specific experiences of
private life women face, due to their "second status" in family, has focus on
necessitating changes in the existing socio-political atmosphere. i.e. both
these are linked. This reifies the common sense (which in turn is produced
and perpetuated by the rocky structural properties of the social) that social
changes and development are something connected with public spheres and
private sphere has nothing to do with it. This is to be researched in detail, It
can lead to the observations that if we have to attain gender justice as one of
the main property of the social, it needs concentrating on the minute and
complex levels of human interactions also, beyond dividing these into
private and public. This can be taken as a factor to understand the
problematic of 'the development model' of our sociological researches. Such
a model is inadequate to measure the disadvantages and under privileges
that work as the frame of social and gender injustice.

3."Since there is not much justice and generosity in social affairs, it is

unnecessary to have tensions about the problems faced by women"?

If though the respondents notice that there is not much justice and generosity
in social affairs, majority of them (73% of the total respondents both females
and males) do not think that it is unnecessary to have tensions about the
problems faced by women. The social science researchers have to address
this issue seriously as it pulse the day-by-day increasing frustrations and
distress in the social arena.
4. "Drinking, drug addiction etc, affects the human interactions badly".

99 % of the respondents agree with the point that drinking, drug addictions
etc. affect the human interactions badly. Only one male is doubtful about
the said statement. Easy agreements on this issue are not enough to analyze
the aftermath of these social evils. It needs 'multi disciplinary action plans'
to restrict the same since almost everybody suggest that these act as catalyst
to atrocities against women.

5. "Girls should be given equal opportunity with the boys, to get education."

Almost everybody (except one male) say ‘yes’ to the opinion that Girls
should be given equal opportunity with the boys, to get education. But the
problem is that the formal education these girls get, does not help them to
act on their own against the cribbing roles of marriage and family.

6. Respondents' views on gender justice

To check the respondents’ views on gender justice the following questions

were asked:

9. Women ought to have equal property rights with that of men

10. Adults ought to behave in equal terms both to girls and boys. They should get
equal opportunities in all walks of life.
11.Aged people deserve added care from others irrespective of being men or women
19. Women should have employment, own earnings, and economic independence
and property etc
21. Women should have freedom; get justice, and opportunities as men get in society.
Chart VIII
 freedom and justice as Equal property right
men get in society 19%
20%

equal opportunities in all

walks of life
employment economic 21%
independence
20%

aged people deserve

added care from others
irrespective of being
men or women
20%

To general questions, as in the case of table 2.7 all most all the respondents
agree. They agree to the dynamic concept of equality but the traditional
oppression of the women served by and through all the social institutions
like family, community, politics etc., hinder the pathways to it.

The table below (2.8) was prepared based on the following statements:

12. Why men misbehave towards women is that they wear dresses provoking men
13. Women should obey the behaviour pattern that is appreciated by the society
commonly
22. Men have more ability to face the problems in life.
23. Generally men have more brain than women.

These responses show people’s conceiving of the common values and

norms. Females and males responded to some questions in a different
manner. e.g. 50% of females and 80% males responded ‘yes’ to Qn. 12.
When they answer to this question men didn't even think that there is every
possibility for them not to be provoked by any so called temptations.
 Chart IX

why men misbehave

towards women is that
Females No

24

10
they wear dresses
provoking men Males No

women should obey the

behaviour pattern that is

1
6
appreciated by the society
commonly

men have more ability to

12

19
face the problems in life.

generally men have more

30

20
brain than women.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Almost all the respondents, irrespective of male and female say ‘yes’ to the
question women should obey the behaviour pattern that is appreciated by
the society commonly. Only one man and six women say no to this question.
This shows females also vote for the androcentric norms and values, which
see them as mere bodies that are the sex objects of men. When they answer
‘yes’ to Qn. 22 and 23, they never reflect that, females also are capable of
facing the problems in life and it is not yet scientifically proved otherwise
that men have more brain. The answer ‘no’ to these questions reflects the
responses against the androcentric values and norms. It is to be noted here
that the responses against androcentricity came more from women than men
as per chart shown below [refer table 2.8]. We specifically added these questions
to get an understanding of how far and how much people have internalized the common
sensical notions knitting the male-orientedness of the society. These responses clearly
depict how unquestioningly majority of people gulp the socially ascribed values and
norms and how these affect their mentalities perceptions and the internal dispositions.

Chapter VII : Part III

SURVEY REPORT
If though we prepared many open- ended questions in this part, almost
everybody showed interest in answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to them. They, both
men and women seemed reluctant to reveal details regarding their private
lives, such as sexual atrocities, misbehaviour from men, from private/public
life situations whether it be from home, school, workplace, during journeys
or at any time in their life. Almost all of them (except a few) are unwilling to
tell aloud what they think about sex, sexuality, and gender and they cannot
demarcate among these.

On the experiences of atrocities

More than 85% of the respondents didn't have any experience of

misbehaviour/ atrocity from any man from any place nor have they heard or
seen such incidents in their life. One female respondent mentioned that her
husband always scold and beat her. Two females depicted that men from the
roadside attacked them once. [Ref. Tab. 3.1 & 3.14] Four females mentioned to
have experienced assaults and physical advances by men, from buses during
journeys. If though 90 % do never have the feeling that they will be
attacked by men 10 % marked ‘yes’ towards that question, mentioning that
they used to hear that such atrocities are increasing nowadays. One female
blamed men for such activities and another thinks that drinking habit of men
creates problems in the family.

Nine females out of the 50 assure that they can physically prevent the
attacks from men. But, 96 % of the females haven't heard of any atrocious
act/threat against women in their neighborhood, village or Panchayath. To
this question one female answered that she had heard of a woman being
murdered in their village, based on property issues. One is sure that she will
deal with the situation intelligently; one suggests if women get practiced to
physical trainings they will prove their bravery. If they were to face such
atrocious situations, 12 of them responded that they will keep quiet and take
it as fate, 19 told that they will retort with tolerance, 10 assured that they
will make a fuss and make other people to intervene.6 females marked that
they will seek the help of police & court. [Ref.Tab.3:7] Nine male
respondents have witnessed atrocities women, from vehicles. And eight have
seen women being attacked from workplaces. Six among the respondents
have seen women being assaulted during journeys. They told they are ready
to retort and will help women in managing such situations if women needed
it. [Ref.Tab.3: 2, 3:3, 3:3, 3:4, 3:5 & 3:6].

Chart X

will return with no response

tolerance and will will keep quiet and
seek the help of take it as fate
police and court

will seek the help

of police and the
court

will make a fuss

and make other
will retort with
people intervene
tolerance

On answering the question "How will you manage such situations?" 39% of
the respondents replied that they would retort to such a situation with
tolerance.10 each assured that they will make it a fuss and make others to
intervene.12 females and three males wrote that they would keep quiet and
take it as fate. Only two women and nine men stated that they would seek
the help of police and the court six females and four males didn't respond.
One female and four males suggested that they would retort and try to have
help from police and the court at the same time [refer table 3.7]

Respondents’ exposure to Media.

39 females and 37 males read newspapers and magazines regularly. One

woman openly told that she couldn't read and write. One man responded that
since he has no money to buy papers and magazines he is not a regular
reader. [refer table 3.8]

84% of the respondents are regular viewers of TV. Three females didn't
respond 7 females and 6 males never see TV programme.14 females and 10
males are no regular viewers. While 11 females see serials7 males are
interested seeing it. 22 males vote for news, but 7 only seven females see
news and current affairs. Only 10% (5 each) like to see cinema in TV. All
these show that it needs more informative programme that educates all
regarding the subordinations and oppressions faced by women, which could
help everybody understand their own pathetic conditions and try to
overcome it. If though there is a common saying that women are the worst
affected one, for their TV seeing, this statistics show that men also actively
seeing the programmes with women. [Ref.tab.3.9&3.10]

Chart XI
 25

20

15

10

0
Songs, Cinema Serial News andAll these not
Cinema current regular
Female
and affairs viewers
Male Serial

74% of the respondents are against the saying that "Women are powerless
beings." Nine females & eleven males nod yes to it . [Ref. Tab.3:11]. It is
creative that almost all women themselves know that they are human beings,
the same being their power.

78% of the respondents have no fear in telling out the issues publicly. Four
females didn't respond to this question. Those who scare have different
reasons to note like, it may affect their life badly, the society will always
blame women, they have no enough support from others, and it will be
solved by their family itself, etc. Anyhow if one gets motivations from dears
and nears she will stand the case, said one female respondent.

30 women respondents are scared to travel during nights.18 do not scare, 2

didn't respond to the question. But as per the responses received, 44 males
are of opinion that their women associates are scared to travel during nights.
This shows men's opinion and women's opinion are not the same. Women
are not that much scared as men think about them. But men's thoughts
always get momentum because of the deep-rooted male- centered social
norms. That may be the reason behind the response of 42 females and 41
males that there has not been any necessitating situation in their life to travel
during nights. [Ref; tab; 3:15 & 3:16]

About the security in life

It is very much disturbing to note that 22 out of 50 female respondents didn't

respond to the question "Is security increasing in your village" [refer 3.18]

Only 20 females' assured that security is increasing in the village. At the

same time 42 of them admit that women of their village could travel without
any disturbance from men of their village.6 men and 6 women say no to this
question. i.e. While 86% agree that women need not worry about traveling
in their village only 55% is sure of the increasing security. One woman
exclaimed that she believes security is increasing because of the anticipation
that normally human beings are good; one opined that ours is a dense
habitat, it has developed a lot, having roads, electricity, all sorts of public
institutions etc., which expose the social life. Hence there is no much chance
of repeated atrocities against women.

46 out of 50 females marked that they haven't experienced any sexual

atrocities in their life. Four women responded that they have experienced;
physical advances from men, hitting slapping, intentionally touching the
body parts. It is astonishing to note that no man had ever experienced any
sexual atrocit ies in their life.

Understanding about the social organizations.

61 respondents (24 being females) of this area of the study are introduced to
the organizations that help women in fighting against the atrocities. They
know women groups and organizations, political parties, Women's
commission, etc., try to intervene in such issues.
27 females and 30 males stated they would seek the help of organizations
helping women in such situations. 19 females did not respond to this
question. 20 males are reluctant to contact such organizations if their
women associates get into such situations.
 Chart XII

45
40

35
30
Female Male
25
20

15
10

5
0
Will seek the help Will tempt her to will make sure will keep silent will act as the no response will directly fight
of police keep quiet that the accused about it situation
without making it get the
an issue punishment
Response to the events of atrocities.

We asked an open ended question to the respondents that "How will you
respond to an event of atrocity against any one of your woman
acquaintances", the suggestion we got from them can be indexed in the
following manner [Ref. Tab.3.21]

Most of the respondents at first think of seeking the help of the existing legal
provisions like police, courts etc., but they don’t believe that the existing
legal system is sufficient to secure women from such issues. This idea is
reflecting in the deep interviews also. This shows that the provisions and
procedures of the politico-legal institutions are unable even to catch the
complex atrocious situations faced by women.

Response to the open ended question "What all can be done socially to stop
atrocities against women" include so many suggestions from the
respondents. We are presenting here these responses in the order of priority
a\majority of the respondents expressed.

F Organize women and raise consciousness

F Consult police and court
F Try to resist directly
F Government should take necessary actions
F Mediate and solve the problem
F Women should try not to get into such issues since nobody could
save them
F There should be strong women organizations
F Men should specifically be educated not to behave atrociously
against women.
F These issues should be the part of our education
 F There should be a revolutionary change and women should be part
of every political activity, all women organization should unite to
attain the goals
F Strong legal actions should taken against the accused
F Sex education and mixed education will help
F Men themselves should take initiatives to curb atrocities against
women
F Every man should think that every woman is an individual like
him and then only the situations will change.
F Self employment groups should be created to empower women
F Panchayath members and socio- political volunteers can help

The above mentioned suggestions being the just responses from the milieu
demands further discussions necessitating plans for actions encompassing
the wide spectrum of all walks of life.

48 males and 37 females are ready to co-operate in future efforts that foresee
reducing atrocity against women. [Ref.Tab.3.23]

Chart XIII
Response to "Will you be ready to co-operate in such efforts?"

100%
90%
80%
70%
60% Male
50%
40% Female
30%
20%
10%
0%
Yes No Not Sure

Chart XIV
Response to "Have you ever gone to police/court Response to "Did they discourage you from
 to solve a grievance of a family charging the case?"
member/friend/yourself?"

60 12
50 10
40 8 Femal
Female e
30 6
Male Male
20 4
10 2
0 0
Yes No Yes No

Chart XV
Response to "How far do you agree to the opinion that in the
society women are getting no justice and respect as men receive?"

30
25
20
15 Female
10 Male
5
0
Compeltely Somewhat Disagree No opinion
agree agree

45 females and 39 males have never gone to police/court, in their life. The
policemen discouraged both the females, from charging the case. But males
(eleven of them) stated that the policemen did not discourage them
[Ref.Tab. 3.24 & 3.25] This, along with the responses to "How far do you agree
to the opinion that in the society women are getting no justice and respect as
men receive" [Ref. Tab.3.26] clearly shows how our mental ity works to reify the
androcentric social norms and values through the institutional provisions
and the interacting agents add to perpetuating the same.
 Chart XVI
Response to "How far satisfied are you in your family life?"

35
30
25
20
15 Female
10
Male
5
0
Not at all Don’t Somewhat Almost Very
satisfied know satisfied satisfied much
satisfied

25 females and 33 males stated that they are 'almost satisfied' in their family
life while 15 females and 14 males are very much satisfied. ‘No’ man
responds that he is not at all satisfied but one woman responds otherwise.
Seven females don't know whether they are satisfied or not.

Answer to the question "Whether you have been able to tell openly from
your home about the sexual problems you face" suggests that females are
getting more chances to openly discuss their sexual problems from the
house. Males are not getting as much space to share their problems, in the
family atmosphere. Whether such situations enhance frustrations is to be
researched an area. [Ref. Tab. 3.28]

Responses to "Are you able to tell frankly about your sexual issues to your
partner and make sure that you get co-operation" suggest that almost all the
females and males are able to discuss sexual issues with the partner frankly.
Unmarried people, barring gender didn't respond to this question. 5 females
and one male do not get the co-operation from the partner in such issues.
[refer : Table 3.29]
Chart XVII
 Response to "Are you able to tell frankly about your sexual issues to your
partner and make sure that you get co-operation?”

40
35
30
25
20 Female
15 Male
10
5
0
Yes No No-response

Almost everybody agree to the suggestion that it needs the mental

preparation of women in the matters of conceiving, delivery etc.
[refer : Table 3.30]

Nearly 70% of the respondents get the knowledge regarding sex and
sexuality from family and books. Eight females state that they do not get
knowledge from anywhere.
Chart XVIII

Response to "From where do you get the knowledge regarding sex & sexuality?"
Female Male

Family

Books

Both

Friends

Both Friends & Books

From No where

No Response

Seven males and four females didn't respond. This shows that family and
books are play very important role in moulding and modifying their
“habitus”. [Ref.Tab.3.31]
74 % of the respondents (both equally) share the idea that sex education will
help reduce the atrocities against women.

Almost all the females stand with 'arranged marriages' as if they are not
ready to face life situations on their own responsibility. More males prefer
self- choice marriages. Their response to remarriage shows that 19 females
and 40 males act according to life situations. Many of the females are not
interested in remarriage. [Ref.Tab.3.32, 3.33 and 3.34]

These responses add to the findings of the deep interviews of the cases
coming under 498A. (Of the 25 cases deep interviewed almost all males
have remarried and females along with their children are living with their
parents, three among them who have no children in first marriage have
remarried). Here the whole responsibility of nurturing children comes
under the mother's or her family's shoulders.

Questions regarding the best and worst behaviour of the partners had been
put as open ended ones to check whether any additional indicator that helps
to identify hitherto neglected areas will arise. Drinking and Gambling
behaviour of men makes problems to eleven females out of fifty. Nineteen
males have 'nothing special' to tell about the bad behaviour of their partners,
making us exposed to the ideas that these males are either not bothering
about such behavioural fluctuations that their partners may have or the
partners themselves are subservient to the males so that the behavioural
changes are not counted and considered seriously.

Thirty-eight respondents, males and females both equally respond that

they/their partners unable to take independent decisions in the issues and
atrocities they face for they being economically dependent. Eight females
have responded that they have their own earnings. This shows light to the
point that the respondents think the necessity of economic independence.

Nearly sixty percent of the respondents state that the male members of the
family 'always actively participate in all household activities' showing the
changing trends in domestic life. Majority of respondents participate only
in 'inevitable social gatherings'. Nineteen males participate in all social
gatherings like marriage and death etc.

Most of the respondents show their anger and uneasiness to themselves.

More females show their uneasiness and anger to their children; six males
show their irritations to their wives. [Ref. Tab.3.35, 3.36, 3.39 and 3.40]

Chart XIX

Response to "Your participation in social gatherings like marriage death etc?”

All

Inevitable ones

Some

Go no where

Female Male

Responses to "Barring family affairs which area of life activity does you like
most?” are as follows; Twenty- four males and fourteen females are
interested in socio-political activities; eighteen males and twenty- five
females are not interested in any activity other than family affairs. Eleven
percent of the respondents are interested in cultural activities one female has
opines that she is interested in music and reading. [refer 3.41]

The priority of the suggestions made by the respondents, in initiating

activities aiming at the welfare and better position of women socially, is
marked in ascending order as follows:

1. Small groups lead by women should do the welfare activities of the women
2. The Government should start new projects and programme
3. The Panchayath should start vigilance committees
4. Both 1 & 3
5. Not known [Ref.Tab.3.42]

According to the respondents, the main disadvantages faced by women in

their life are as follows:

1. Absence of right of decision making in all walks life

2. Physical and mental atrocities against women
3. Lack of earnings property land etc.,
4. All of these [1,2, 3 and 5]
5. Absence of enough political participation of women
6. Something other than these [1 and 5]
7. Both 1 and 3. [Ref. Tab.3.43]
We received varied responses to the open ended question "According to you
what can be the reason for the specific issues faced by women in society" as
follows, in the order of preference: [refer tab 3.44]

1. Lack of education
2. Lack of economic independence
3. Both 1 and 2
4. They must get social exposure
5. Badness of male/Female &Family problems
6. No opinion
7. Social under privileges
8. Women should understand themselves that it is not slavish to work in
the family
9. Women aren't capable of fighting against the issues

The respondents take the critical life situations like disease and aging in a
balanced manner. While twenty-five females and twenty-two males are
worried about such situations twenty- five females and twenty-eight males
have no worry in facing these situations. [refer tab 3.45]

Sixty five percent of the respondents suggest that both men and women
involved in sex work should be 'equally treated and punished'. The present
situation of treating only women badly, men involved in the same, face no
problem socially, should be changed according to them. Some opined that
the 'males are dissemblers and they also should be exposed'. To change the
situation the government should take necessary actions as they stated.
[refer tab 3.46]
Respondents reactions to the open- ended question, "What is your
understanding about the socio-econom ic situations in which women are
forced to adapt to sex work” can be clustered as follows: [refer tab 3.47]

1. Scarcity of money
2. The problem is created by the capitalist mode of economy. It should
be changed to socialist mode of economy
3. They should be tempted, rehabilitated and provided some other job
4. It is a social issue into which females are caught in accidentally and
continuing the same fearing isolation
5. No response
6. It needs social change
7. Sex education should be given
8. They are greedy to earn money
9. Drug addiction and alcoholism
 Chapter VIII
CONCLUSION

The common perception that helps creating and perpetuating atrocities in

different areas of the social is that womenfolk stand subservient to men. The
connection between the acts of aggression and the commonsense is so
complex and intertwined that dismantling one from the other makes both
muffled. The social properties, legitimized by and through the dominant
ideology of patriarchy, interactions of the beings therein and thereby,
commonsense, and atrocities against women, all these make the research
situation more complex.

This research project enquires the modes and events of the reported
atrocities committed to women and experienced by them, in Pattambi police
station area. Through the experiences depicted directly by the affected
subjectivities of the selected reported cases, the social, cultural, economic
and political factors involved in these atrocious situations are unveiled,
almost in many cases which needs no further comments even. These tell tale
atrocious acts are in themselves apt to reflect the issues of justice involved
in man woman relationships which otherwise should have capacitated just
interactions between them. Our hope is that this study will have its role in
sensitizing the social interventions into the visibly invisible violence in
human relationships. The respondents of the survey suggested, it needs
awareness programmes for the prevention of atrocities. Despite mere
awareness programmes from outside it needs change in the perception of the
human agents concerned. This reminds that if the perceptions of the human
agents are to be transformed, spaces for “social affirmation of selves” are
very much necessary. Research project had been a pathway towards
understanding the interconnectedness of the different mechanisms through
which patriarchal social properties work and how it is specifically reified in
(and through) each events of human interaction. Regarding the deep
interviews, it had been a dialogue between the research team and the
researched, in a complet ely uncontrolled setting so that the very knowledge
out of the dialogue had emerged unpredictably, at times making the research
team silent. We have tried best to describe the minute details, as we think it
will do good to understand the cases in a self -reflexive way, as the moments
of interactions are the only reliable sources of data, the social science
researchers could get.

The deep interviews we had had with the affected women show that they face
the situations not through any awareness campaigns (it doesn’t mean that
awareness campaign will never do help) but they try to overcome the atrocious
situations and attain perceptions regarding their everyday life and by and
through themselves. There are not much effective support mechanisms for the
social affirmation of their “selves” and “social distribution of power” (power as
we conceive, in this study, is the human being, active aspect according to
Ahammed Nizar’s, views on the aspects of reflexivity in social theorizing.)

As per Ahammed Nizar’s views being is the active aspect or power in which
individualization, subjectivity, or even habitus- formation etc is grounded.
Being discussed here means not the essence but the active aspect or power that
is "the originary point" brought to account for the effectiveness of the subject,
habitus, etc. The interconnection between the interiority of the being along
with its exteriority, i.e. the body and the habitat in which it inhabits and
interacts causes the construction of the self. The self is constructed after a
human's birth and it will be present only till death. But its ontology exists even
after one human is dead. Self can be understood as the state of being attentive.
The observation that the self is the reflexive property of the being is a novel
idea applicable to the understanding of gender issues also, physical atrocities
even. Self in its content is a social construction. But the bearing, that part
which depends on the interiority that contains the experiences, is connected
with the being of the human. That is why we are unable to understand the
whole of human life by mere social explanation

The fundamental determination of the active aspect or the distribution of power

(of being) is partially or wholly interactive i.e. social. This in turn transform
the meanings of the very social distribution of the being and "trans- substance"
the being. The interactions of human beings and the "active aspect or the
power" (the being) that enables the interaction determines the identity on the
interacting agents. Meanings, signs, symbols, all these participate in the
determination of the being of human. Here the co- mingling of ontology and
ideology happens. The subjects in specific time space contexts can be the
subjections, as well as the projections of the self. The projections and the
subjections of self are not contradictory but complimentary ones.

All the deep interviews suggest the strong hierarchical elements in the
“intimate” relations and interactions, where the accepted norm is that adult
males of the house holds “rule” (and use force) over the females and all the
adults rule “children”. Domination is maintained through threatening, abusing,
punishments, wherever and whenever the hierarchical social arrangements gets
problematized.

This study helps us to conclude that events of atrocities against women are also
the effects of the breeding, socialization and enculturation of children – both
girl and boy in such a way that men are trained and taught to have masculine
ascriptions, of dominating over women who are brought up so as to be
subservient to men, which is counted among feminine characteristics. These
add to the making of the mentality of human beings. Here social effectiveness
of people is in such a way that the sexist social properties, reinforced and
reproduced through social institutions, such as family, religion, education, sate,
etc., maintaining the traditional social arrangements thereby.

This shows that atrocities against women are inescapably connected with the
breading and reifying of “violence” in all walks of life. To end “atrocities”
what we will have to catch then will be the rocky area of solidified sexist social
properties that help in creating the dominated/dominating,
privileged/underprivileged; advantaged/disadvantaged subjectivities. This will
lead to an understanding that sexist stereotyping, such as “all women are
incapable of being violent and all men are capable of showing violence” are to
be problematized. Problematizing the atrocious situations we enquired remind
us that the society that we discuss and enquire with all the hue and cry is not
“given” and “out there” but the construction of “the social” is happening by and
through the interacting agents. It leads us not to stick on prescriptions or
stereotyping but to create new perceptions regarding human interactions; and
thereby retrieve our social responsibility through trust and care overcoming the
dualist culture reinforced through the social institutions.

It is significant to note that the people get more support and help from the
politicians’ side and ofcourse from the family. It directs us to the thought that
sensitizing these socio-political and cultural leaders by pressuring to
problematize their own lives will do help. Almost all the parents see the
marriage as the ultimate goal for their children to attain. They succumb to “rare
combinations” as they are poor and can evade giving dowry. It reminds us that
the government should think about the ways and means for reinforcing the
Dowry Prohibition Act 1962. Dowry system points to women’s subordinate
status and they have no control on their own property or they have no access to
property all. Women’s access to property is to be established strongly and they
should be capacitated to have control over the property and earnings so that they
can be independent to certain extend.
The significance of this study, as we understand is that the depictions of the
cases studied are to be used in future, by the policy makers and the activists and
academics who struggle against ‘the atrocities against women’, to create social
situations so as to facilitate women to recognize their own “being” (‘being’ here
means the active aspect/power that constitute ‘what we are’) and get
empowered themselves. This study hence understands that it is not mere
depictions of the cases but how to overcome these handicaps are of importance.
How women in particular life situations become reflexive to the dissonances,
and how they prove not being passive victims but active agents so that they try
to knit their own life, notwithstanding the subordinating system of
androcentricity, which always try to hinder “the social distribution of power”.
For this what we need will be to disrupt all the hierarchical elements in all sorts
of relationships and interactions, if though there will be offences against this
idea even at the conceptual level itself.

Atrocities against women whether it be acted out in the domestic atmosphere or

any of the other social spaces, is considered commonsensically, rewardable and
“beating” women is regarded as part of “guardianship” of males. A man’s
ability is measured as per how and how far he is capable of “moulding” women
and ofcourse much disadvantaged ones children, to the prescribed sexist
patterns through socialization. The very attitude of the interacting ones, both
men and women is moulded in a way to valorize those who exert force, control
and dominate women and uphold masculinity in every walk of life. The
guardianship of masculinity over femininity is to be problematized, if atrocities
against women are to be ended. This problematizing will strengthen the idea
that equating masculinity to force control, domination and leadership, violence
and thereby by privilege and advantage; and femininity to subservience, care,
trust, love, vanity, chastity, child rearing and nurturing etc. is “dehumanizing”
the whole social. If humans are socialized and encultured trained to trust care
and love, rear, nurture etc. (not only females) and they are trained not to be
violent and dominant; there can be crossroads in human interactions and a sort
of social ‘trans- gendering’ will happen. These prescriptions of masculinity and
femininity to be “man” and “woman” will then be transformed and human
beings can question the prescriptive role models in their lives. Going beyond
the prescribed lives will thus help us (the very “beings”) to uproot the deep-
rooted patriarchy making it into “mere shell”. It may help us to think beyond the
prescriptions of the so called “thinkable”.
ANNEXURE-I

SECONDARY DATA: TABLES

 Details of Tables Attached – Regarding Secondary Data

1. Table I Year wise distribution of total number of cases and

cases having women victims

2. Table II Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1990

3. Table III Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1991

4. Table IV Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1992

5. Table V Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1993

6. Table VI Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1994

7. Table VII Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1995

8. Table VIII Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1996

9. Table IX Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1997

10. Table X Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims – 1998

11. Table XI Detailed section wise statement of the total reported

cases having women victims

12. Table XII Detailed year wise and section wise statement of the
total reported cases having women victims – 1990 –
1998
 TABLE - I

Year wise Distribution of Total Number of Cases

Sl. Year Total Number of Total Number of cases

No cases reported having women victims

1 1990 311 52

2 1991 306 42

3 1992 348 32

4 1993 341 29

5 1994 315 25

6 1995 342 32

7 1996 317 26

8 1997 368 65

9 1998 531 91

Total 3179 394

 TABLE - II

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1990

Sl. Crime No. as per FIR Total Cases

Section No. & Details
No INDEX

1 Unnatural Death 7, 10, 18 (Child), 73, 83, 103, 25

134 162, 166, 178, 180, 206,
234 243, 244, 245, 259, 263,
278, 283, 299, 300, 302, 304 &
306

2 302, 303, 394 & 452 28 and 211 (File transferred to 2

CBI)

3 313 only 102 only 1

4 324 87 and 301 2

5 323, 324, 427, 447, 448, 2, 15, 20, 91, 154, 177 & 221 7
501 (Read with 34 IPC)

6 339 to 348 13, 62, 155 and 217 4

7 351 to 354 53, 78, 95, 108, 201 and 247 6

8 359 to 367 Kidnapping 280 only 1

9 498 (A) 67, 92, 265 and 269 4

Total 52

Total reported cases 311

 TABLE - III

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1991

Section No. Crime No. as per FIR Total Cases

Sl. No
& Details INDEX

1 Unnatural Death 4, 5, 12, 69, 78, 122, 185, 186, 13

192, 206, 245, 257 and 299

2 Woman missing 135 and 246 2

3 277 219 only 1

4 294 and 506 96 only 1

5 323 283 only 1

6 324, 341, 447, 448, 79, 90, 138, 182, 225, 226, 18
354 & 506 IPC 181, 261, 298, 18, 19, 39, 73,
102, 147, 196, 199, 220

7 498 (A) 33, 137, 144, 166, 228 and 272 6

Total 42

Total reported cases 306

 TABLE - IV

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1992

Section No. Crime No. as per FIR Total Cases

Sl. No
& Details INDEX

1 Unnatural Death 33, 49, 65, 102, 104, 236, 10

306, 337, 339, 341

2 324 IPC 109 and 206 2

3 323, 324, 342, 447, 116, 134, 195, 198, 209, 8

448, 354, 506, 509, 197, 224, 274
(Read with 34 IPC)

4 339 to 348 83, 92, 94, 95, 347, 74, 105, 7

5 351 to 354 5, 18, 233 3

6 498 (A), 309 IPC 213 only 1

7 509 IPC Prevention of 293 only 1

Atrocities Act 3(I) X(I)

Total 32

Total reported cases 348

 TABLE - V

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1993

Sl. No Section No. & Crime No. As per Total Cases

Details FIR INDEX

1 Unnatural Death 50, 59, 104, 126, 140, 171, 12

176, 207 236, 243, 244
and 318

2 Woman missing 190 only 1

3 3 (I) X (I) Prevention 76 only 1

of Atrocities

4 302, 303, 394 and 452 93 only 1

5 324 174 1

6 323, 324, 427, 448, 35, 47, 86, 107, 161, 165, 8
447 182 and 281

7 351 to 354 181 and 249 2

8 498 (A) 19, 158 and 180 3

Total 29

Total reported cases 341

 TABLE – VI

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1994

Crime No. as per FIR Total

Sl. No Section No. & Details
INDEX Cases

1 Unnatural Death 2, 24, 41, 52, 100, 116, 9

119, 171 and 260

2 324 IPC 10, 61, 132, 180, 188 and 6

211

3 323, 324, 447, 448, 501 4, 44, 208, 305 and 308 5
IPC & 339 to 348 & 451

4 351 to 354 45 only 1

5 371 to 376 51 only 1

6 498 (A) 262, 269 & 289 3

Total 25

Total reported cases 315

 TABLE – VII

Detailed Section Wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1995

Crime No. As per FIR Total

Sl. No Section No. & Details
INDEX Cases

1 Unnatural Death 5, 45, 50, 117, 154, 158, 14

208, 209, 227, 240, 285,
293, 315 and 339

2 323, 324, 447, 448, 341 & 27, 35, 43, 64, 65, 143, 9
451 Read with 149 IPC etc. 237, 287 and 338

3 354 R/W 34 IPC 57 only 1

4 376 IPC and 3 (1) X (1) PA 138 only 1

act 1989

5 498 (A) 9, 18, 96, 137, 155, 273 7

and 291

Total 32

Total reported cases 342

 TABLE – VIII

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1996

Sl. No Section No. & Details Crime No. as per FIR Total
INDEX Cases

1 Unnatural Death 34, 49, 68, 120, 128, 157, 11

158, 205, 216, 237 and 288

2 324. 51 and 311 2

3 323, 324, 427, 447, 448 143, 46, 227, 164, 225, 235 7
& 501, 509 Read with and 291
34 IPC.

4 351 to 354 88 and 305 2

5 498 (A) 60, 69, 161 and 214 4

Total 26

Total reported cases 317

 TABLE – IX

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1997

Sl. No Section No. & Details Crime No. as per FIR INDEX Total
Cases
1 Unnatural Death 50, 92, 112, 113, 137, 145, 157, 16+1=17
160, 172, 184, 193, 234, 235, (Suspected
237, 238, 261 and 348 murder)

2 Women missing 146, 244 and 263 3

3 324 12 only 1

4 323, 324, 427, 447, 28, 6, 13, 32, 61, 101, 128, 21
448, 501 and 509 IPC. 143,161, 162, 209, 210, 225,
242, 249, 257, 303, 227, 250,
251 and 285

5 351 to 354 44, 95, 142, 147, 159, 167, 180, 13

197, 247, 280, 293, 294 and 270

6 359 to 367 96 and 206 2

7 371 to 376 41, 187 and 228 3

8 498 (A) 17, 69, 272 and 338 4

9 506 3(1) X 3(2) VI 33 1

SC/ST PA 1989

Total 65

Total reported cases 368

 TABLE – X

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims - 1998

Sl. No Section No. & Crime No. as per FIR INDEX Total
Details Cases

1 Unnatural Death 1, 21, 22, 74, 84, 94, 166, 191, 196, 15+1
(altered to
254, 272, 327, 436, 450, 485 and 528 304 IPC)

2 Women missing 324 and 429 [altered to section 363, 2

366 & 376 IPC]

3 447, 294, 506 119 and 185 2

Read with 34 IPC

4 324 only 138 and 516 2

5 323, 324, 447 and 55, 57, 223, 182, 380, 515, 79 and 8
448 529

6 339 to 348 178, 181, 248, 329, 330, 422, 468, 12

526, 93, 109, 197 and 243

7 351 to 354 44, 78, 87, 92, 108, 127, 152, 159, 20
164, 180, 194, 238, 258, 309, 314,
317, 356, 431, 503 and 505

8 371 to 376 42, 103 and 517 3

9 498 (A) 6, 7, 24, 36, 48, 58, 86, 132, 136, 26

141, 160, 235, 267, 279, 315, 342,
401, 441, 443, 445, 446, 449, 472,
490, 497 and 506

Total 91

Total reported cases 531

 TABLE – XI

Detailed Section wise Statement of the

Total Reported Cases Having Women Victims – (1990-1998)
1990
Sl. No Section No. (IPC) Details
to 1998

1 -- Unnatural Death 126+1

(altered to
304 IPC)

2 -- Women missing 8

3 3 (I) X(I) Prevention of Atrocities Act - 2

1989

4 277 Polluting water used by public 1

with waste, excreta etc.

5 294, 506 Using obscene languages 4

songs and actions

6 302-303, 394 and 452 Murder 3

7 313 Forceful abortion 1

8 324 IPC Beatings and confrontation 17

9 323, 324, 427, 447 and Interpersonal beatings & 91

448 (Read with 34 violence
IPC) 501 and 509

10 339 to 348 Wrongful confinement 23

11 351 to 354 Assault and Battering 48

12 359 to 367 Kidnapping etc. 3

13 371 to 376 Rape 8

14 498 (A) Dowry Demands & related 58

violence

Total 394
 TABLE – XII
DETAILE D SECTION WISE STAT EMENT OF THE TOTAL REPO RTED CAS ES OF 1990-1998
HAVING WOMEN VICT IMS IN PAT TAMBI POLICE STATION AREA
3(I ) X (I ) 294 3 23 , 3 24, 3 39 351 3 59 371
To tal Unn atu ral Wome n 302, 3 24
Ye ar P re ve ntion 277 to 313 4 27 44 7, to to to to 4 98
No . o f De ath miss ing o f Atro citie s 303, IP C
506 4 48 , 5 01 3 48 354 3 67 376 (A )
C ase s 3 94 &
&509 IP C & 509
452 [r e ad wit h 34 IPC]

1990 52 25 - - - - 2 1 2 7 4 6 1 - 4

1991 42 13 2 - 1 1 - - 1 18 - - - - 6
323 only

1992 32 10 - 1 - - - - 2 8 7 3 - - 1

1993 29 12 1 1 - - 1 - 1 8 - 2 - - 3

1994 25 9 - - - - - - 6 5 - 1 - 1 3

1995 32 14 - - - - - - - 9 - 1 - 1 7

1996 26 11 - - - - - - 2 7 - 2 - - 4

1997 65 17 3 - - 1 - - 1 21 - 13 2 3 4
one suspected
as murder

1998 90 15+1 2 - - 2 - - 2 8 12 20 - 3 26
one altered to 304

Total 394 127 8 2 1 4 3 1 17 91 23 48 3 8 58

ANNEXURE - II

DEEP INTERVIEWED CASES

SECONDARY DATA: DATA

BASE
 I. Dowry Demands (Section 498-A)

Crime Date of Date of Name and address of Name and address of

Sl No Brief Remarks
Number occurrence reporting victim accused
Mental and physical
Krishnaveni Kunjukkuttan
harassment from Charged on 3 -12-90
30-6-90 to D/o Bhanumathi amma Puthoor veedu
1. 269/90 17-11-90 Vallikkunnu Parappa husband demanding accused acquitted u/s
1-1 1-90 Naduvattor
more and more money 248(1) on 28-1-9 2
cherukode Vilathoor
towards dowry
Pathumma
D/o Alavi Ummathumma Mental and physical Charged on 27 -2-
2. 33/91 4-1 0-90 4-2-9 1 Thekkummal (Mother in Law), harassment from 91accused acquitted
Pattambi Hamsa(husband) husband and mother in u/s 248(1) on 29-7-92
Pallippuram law
(1) Bhaskaran(husband)
Valli D/o Karappan S/o Karappan Dowry demands, Charged on 23 -6-
3. 144/91 17-6-91 19-6-91 Korichanmaril veedu (2) Selam C/o Chakkali Mental and physical 91accused acquitted
Kizhayoor Pattambi parambil Moideen harassment by u/s 248(1) on25 -8 -9 2
Mele Pattambi husband

Muhammad kutty (husband)

Sulfath D/o Maimuna Transferred to
Nabeesakkutty, Suhara,
4. 19/93 15-1-93 16-1-93 "Sruthi" thekkummuri Beating and physical Ottapalam police
Abdullakkutty (in-laws) Near
Sankara mangalam assault by all accused station.
ganesh tile works ottappalam

Arrested on 7-7 -93

Rasheeda D/o Alikkutty Muhammad kutty S/o Severe Physical
charged on 12 -11-93
5. 180/93 3-7 -9 3 5-7-9 3 Panangattuthodi Saithalikktty Panakkattil assault, Demanding
parties compounded
Naduvattom Naduvattom more ornaments.
u/s 320(8) on 25 -8-94
 Mohandas (husband),
Severe Physical
Ramankutty (brother in law)
25-1-94 to Beena D/o Ramadevi assault, Demanding Mistake of fact on 30 -
6. 262/94 16-10-94 S/o Balakrishna Tharakan,
26-10-94 Gokulam Perumudiyoor more ornaments and 11-94
Poonthira Thodiyil
money.
Kattukulam Mangalamkunnu

Hairunnisa D/o
Kunjimuhammad(husband)S/ Demanding more Charged on 20-4 -95
Muhammad Kutty
money and ornaments
7. 96/95 26-12-94 10-4-95 Vattapparambil o Haidru Kariana parambil accused acquitted u/s
as dowry wounding her 248(1) on 18-1-9 5
Naripparambu Athippatta
physically
Thiruvegappura

charged on 6-7-95 A2
Demanding more and
Rukhiya D/o Muhammad Muhammadali (husband), A3 accused
8. 137/95 24-5-95 1-6-9 5 Vadakkethil Keezhmury moideenkutty (father in law), money and ornaments acquitted u/s 248(1) on
as dowry wounding her 31-7-98 Case under
Naduvattom Fathima (mother in law)
physically
courts Reference.

Demand for more

Aminaumma D/o Accused.1.produced
Veerankutty (husband) money and more
Muhammed before court on 21-3-
9. 60/96 13-1-96 16-2-96 Aminaumma, Sulekha ornaments, All accused
Pattammaruthodi 97,Accused acquitted
(Sisters in law) harassed her mentally
Pulasseri on 31 -5 -9 7
and physically

Committed suicide
taking poison for the
Raji W/o Vasu Kolpully Vasu (husband)
10. 17/97 21-1-97 22-1-97 severe mental and Charged on 31 -3-97
thodi Muthuthala Neeli (mother in law)
physical harassment
from both accused
 Demand for more
Haseena Abdulsalam S/o Transferred
money and ornaments,
17-11- D/o Abdulrahman Puthanpurayil Muhammed to Kunnamkulam
11. 69/97 4-3-9 6 Beatings, scoldings,
91to27-2-96 Pullaniyil, Nhangattiri Puthanpurayil veedu Police station
Mental and physical
Thrithala Cheruvathani Thrissur on 5-3-96
harassments

Umaiba D/o Muhammad Aboobacker (Husband) Laila Repeated beatings Charg ed on

1991 Haji Viralikattil (Abu's second wife) ,physical and mental 31-7-97,CDFile
12. 338/9 7 onwards, till 16-12-97 Chundampatta Kunhumuhammed (Laila's harassment from all submitted to DYSP's
10-12- 97
Natyamangalam brother) accused office on 25-3-97

Severe Mental
Serifa Youseph S/o Moochikkattil
2-1 -98 and Physical harassments,
13. 6/98 3-1-9 8 D/oAbduMeleppattu thodi Hassan Pathumma(Sister of Kickings, beatings from Charged on 30 -3-98
before times
Pulasseri koppam Youseph Husband's house

Rajan S/o Unnikrishnamenon

Latha D/o Parameswaran Vattakkavil Kizhayoor
12-11-96 to
14. 24/98 15-1-98 nambiar Pazhavara Unnikrishnamenon(father in "" '' 19-2-98
28-5-97
veettil Thirumittakode law)Thankam Nethiar
(mother in law)

"" 28-2 -98

For the last Subaida D/oMaimali Moosa(husband) Melethil Accused got
15. 36/98 four years till 25-1-98 Illikattuthodi house Nariparamba '''' anticipatory bail from
25-1-98 Thiruvegappura Thiruvegapura session's court on 19-
2-9 8
 September Ramadas (husband) S/o
Rani D/o Lakshmi ""
16. 49/98 1997 2-2-9 8 Narayanan Santhapurath ''''
Karuvath Pulasseri 24-2-98
onwards Kuruvattur

E.T.Vijayan(husband) S/o
AppunniThrikanapuram
May 1997 to Pankajam D/o Ayyappan Thavanur Kalyani(mother in "
17. 58/98 7-2-9 8 ""
31-1-98 Parayil Thiruvegapura 30-3-98
law) Girija(sister in law)
Krishnan(Husband of Girija)

Demands for more

Rahmathunnisa D/o Saidali (30) (husband) S/o Accused arrested on
gold ornaments and
26/2/89 Khadir Pattiparambil Muhammed Paloor 21/3/98 Produced
18. 132/98 25/3/98 money as dowry,
to10/3/98 Veedu Thiruvegapura Pulamanthole before court on 28/3/98
severe mental and
Kaipuram Perinthalmanna Charged on 30/4/98
physical harassments

Demands for more

Fathimathu Suhara D/o Accused arrested on
Moidunni S/o Hussain gold ornaments and
Muhammed Kutty 1/4/98 Produced
19. 136/98 29/3/98 31/3/98 Thachukuzhiyil money as dowry,
Thottathil Veedu before court Charged
Koorkkaparampu severe mental and
Parappuram Kaarakkad on 30/4/98
physical harassments

Nabeesa D/o hamsa Sulaiman(husband) Charged on 16 -12-96

April 1995
20. 214/96 21-8-96 Mundarambath veedu Moidunni(father in law) " Accused acquitted on
onwards
Paruthur Nabeesa(mother in law) 17-10-97
 (1) Siddique
Demands for more
Sareena D/o Hamsa Koriyottuparambil
gold ornaments and
1/97 to Kallithodiyil Kodumunda
21. 279/9 8 16/7/98 money as dowry, Charged on 24/10/98
28/6/98 Thiruvegapura (2) Hamsa (father-in-law)
severe mental and
Kaippuram (3) Kunhimma (Mother -in-
physical harassmen ts
law)
Demands for more
gold ornaments and
Accused arrested on
Kadeeja (35) D/o Shoukathali (38) money as dowry,
19/9/98 and charged
22. 342/98 24/7/98 26/8/98 Saidalavi Muriyamkottil S/o Kutteparambil Saidalavi severe mental and
on 30/9/98 got bail
Velluthur Pailipuram physical harassments,
from Sessions Court
complai nts that she is
not beautiful
(1)T.V.Raghavan
S/oKaruppunni Demands for more
Premakumari D/o Thottakkaravalappil All accused
gold ornaments and
10/97 to Thamikkutty Perassannur Kuttippuram surrendered in the
23. 441/98 27/10/98 money as dowry,
27/10/98 Varikkakkuzhiyil court charged on
(2)Kuttan(brother in law) severe mental and
Karambathur Paruthur 30/12/98
Sarojini(W/oKuttan) physical harassments
Kunhumani(Brother in law)

(1) Jayan Thalappily Demands for more

Kattukampal gold ornaments and
(2) Kothammu (mother-in- law) money as dowry,
6/6/93 to Ramani D/o Achuthan
24. 490/98 1/12/98 (3) Chandran (brother- in- law) severe mental and Not charged
25/11/98 Kodipalliyalil, Pallipuram (4) Bhargavi (Wife of physical harassments
Chandran) and complaints that
(5) Ambika (sister- in-law) she is not beautiful
Demands for more
(1) Saidalavi Karimpana
gold ornaments and
Palliyalil Vallapuzha
Rasiya (23) D/o money as dowry,
12/93 to (2) Beepathu (sister-in-law)
25. 497/98 4/12/98 Koyamma Parakkathody mental and physical Not charged
4/12/98 (3) Bapputty (husband of
Pulakkottu Nellaya harassments and
Beepathu) (4) Saidalavi's
compulsion on her to
Mother
get out of his house
 II. Rape (Section. 376 IPC)

Sl No. Crime Date of Date of Name and address Name and address Brief Remarks
Number occurrence reporting of victim of accused

1. 41/97 13/2/97 19/2/97 Souda (14) Thottathil (1) Abbaz (2) A1 A2 threatened the Arrested on 12/3/97
Azhakankandathil Kammukutty, victim and kidnapped her charged on 18/12/97
Keezhmuri Keezhmuri took to a deserted house,
Naduvattom Naduvattom A1 forcefully raped the
victim
2. 187/97 27/7/97 28/7/97 Nabeesa Rasheed Accused raped the victim Arrested on 10/9/97 got
Chakkuparambil Ambalavattathuveedu as she went to give milk bail from the cours
Vilayur Puramannur to them 21/10/97 The accused
undergone chemical test
on 24/11/97
3. 42/98 31/10/97 28/1/98 Pushpalatha Sasikumar Tempted the victim by Material object collected
Kizhakepurakkal Kizhakethil promising to marry and and sent to Ernakulam for
Muthuthala Muthuthala had had forceful sexual chemical test on 12/5/98
relationship the victim charged on 20/2/98
becoming pregnant
4. 103/98 6/3/98 9/3/98 Sameera D/o Saidali Parakkad Tempted the victim by Material object collected
Nabeesa promising to marry and and sent to Ernakulam
Lakshumveedu kidnapped her taking Rs. Chemical Lab on 12/5/98
Parakkad 700/- and 4.1/2 Pavan accused arrested on
Gold and having forceful 12/11/98
sexual intercourse

5. 517/98 20/12/98 24/12/98 Saleena (14) Babu Kunnupurathu Attempted rape from the Reports not cognized yet
Palathinkal Paruthur nearby jungle
Nadaparambu
Paruthur
 III. Unnatural Death

SL No Crime Date of Date of Name and address of Name and address of Brief Remarks
No Occurrence reporting deceased reporter

Suicide due to hanging from

Sulaikha (22) Muhammedkutty
husband's house, Hamsa the
1 207/93 15/8/93 15/8/93 W/o Hamsa S/o Koyakkutty
accused arrested on 10/9/93,
Vallappuzha Ponnathazhath
Charged on 29/4/93, Acquitted
Thirumittakkode
u/s 248(1) on 25/9/93

Geetha (22) Premkumar Suicide death due to burning

W/o Vijayan S/o Madhavan Nair
2 158/95 28/6/95 28/6/95 for the new born was 12/7/95
Kondayath Kondayath suspected to have Mental an d
Kizhayur Kizhayur
physical handicap

Yasodamma (57) Awaiting chemical

W/o Late Govindan Nair Rappayi Seen lying dead in her house,
3 184/97 26/7/97 26/7/97 report from
KondayAth ASI,Pattambi Police station by the ASI of Police as he went Ernakulam
Kizhayur there to enquire another case

1. Hamzappa (Brother -in-

law)
Suhara alias Jameela Victim seen dead, (as reported
2. Isahak (husband) Altered to IPC 304,
W/o Isahak. (24) by Saidalavi, Suhara’s Cousin)
3. Ayisha (w/o Hamzappa) file transferred to
4 94/98 26/2/98 night 27/2/98 Vazhiyil Veedu, due to stabbing seen deep
4. Aisha (Mother-i n-law) CBI for further
Choorakkaodu wound on the neck, from
6. Mohammed K utty - investigation
Pancharathu Padi. husband house
(Brother -in-
law)
Sobhana,Schoolteacher,( M.P.Krishnankutty(54) (uncle
28)W/o Sasi
5 272/98 11/7/98 11/7/98 of the deceased) S/o Suicide by hanging for being 29/7/98
Madayipallath Kunchuezhuthachan mentally depressed
Chundampatta
 IV. Women Missing

Sl Crime Date of Date of Name an address of Name and address of

Brief Remarks
No No missing reporting missed reporter

one day Jameela got out of

Jameela (44)
1. 135/91 6/87 5/6/91 Abdul Rahiman (father) the house and didn't return Undetected / 31.10.91
Arupurathody Churakode
later

Geetha (17)
Rajan (Brother) Geetha went to her school, to Altered to 363 IPC, case
D/o Kolavan
Kizhakkumpurathu receive transfer certificate, at closed “un -detected on
2. 146/97 16/6/97 17/6/97 Kizhakkumpurathu
Veedu 8’o clock in the morning, but 12/6/98, further action
Veedu
Ongallur, Pallipuram didn’t return till the date. dropped
Ongallur, Pallipuram

Mother scolded sathi for

Sathi (19) D/o
Gopalakrishnan (father) quarreling with her sister
3. 244/97 22/9/97 24/9/97 Gopalakrishnan Ariyelli
Ariyelli Veettil Kodallur being unhappy she eloped
Veettil Kodallur
and didn't return

Subramanian S/o produced before the court on

Nirmala (28) W/o Nirmala went in the morning 25/10/97 and went home with
Kuttykrishnan Nair
4. 263/97 11/10/97 16/10/97 Subramanian Maadambil to the work place but didn't husband
Maadambil Kalrikkal further action
Kalrikkal Paruthu return
Paruthu dropped

Sarfunnisa D/o
Mohammed Studying in 10th standard Accused Shamzudin (27)
Mohammed
5. 429/98 21/10/98 23/10/98 Elampulakkad went to school but didn't Korathody Kudallur arrested
Elampulakkad
Karinganadu Koppam return on 3.11.98
Karinganadu Koppam
 V. Kidnapping : 359 – 367 IPC

Name and Name and

Sl Crime Date of Date of address of address of Br ief Remarks
No Number occurrence reporting
victim accused
Victim
Reena Murali Charged
kidnapped
96/97 15/4/97 17/4/97 Karuvadiyilveedu Naduvakattil on
by the
Kulukallur Kulukallur 25/6/97
accused
Victim
was
mentally
tortured
by her
(1) husband
Vijayalakshmi Muraleedharan
Murali Charged
Kokkath
206/97 21/8/97 21/8/97 (2) (A1) who on
Thathanampally
Ramankutty along with 31/1/98
Vilayur Nair A2
kidnapped
Reena
victim of
Crime
No.96/97
 VI. Physical & Sexual Assaults: 351 – 354 IPC
Crime Date of Date of Name and address Name and address
SL No Brief
Number occurrence reporting of victim of accused

From the public road while tak

Hafsath(17)D/o Abdu Illyas S/o Abdulla
drinking water he dragged a
1. 45/94 12/2/94 12/2/94 Karimpatta Chathankulam
embraced, forcefully kissed h
Vallappuzha Vallappuzha
and tried to assault

Partvathyamma Forcefully entered the house

Chandran Vayilala
2. 167/97 12/7/97 12/7/97 Cholayil Palapatta the vi ctim, biting the nose a
Churakode
Churakode upper thigh and threatened to k

Yasoda 1. Kunhiraman Nair

Forcefully entered the house
D/o Lakshmi Amma 2. Madhavan Nair
3. 180/97 14/1/97 23/7/97 the victim, kicking and teared
Nethirimangalam 3. Chathodi
the dress and assaulted.
Kizhayoor, Pallipram Mohammed

Attacked from the public ro

(1) Mohammed and biting the hands a
Aamina Kollaruthody
4. 293/97 8/11/97 10/11/97 (2) Iyathutty (3)dragging on the hair caught h
Cherukode
Suhara of the breast threatened to k
and assaulted
(1) Assainu (2) Attacked from the public ro
Iyathutty Aamina (3) and biting the hands a
5. 294/97 8/11/97 10/11/97 Kollaruthody Moithuppa (4) dragging on the hair caught h
Cherukode Hamza Kollaruthody of the breast threatened to k
Cherukode and assaulted
Forcefully entered the house
Saidalavi
Radha Vellancherry the victim, threatened to kill h
6. 159/98 13/4/98 14/4/98 Thonnykadavu
Prabhapuram and caught her on the neck a
Naattymangalam
assaulted
Sheena (15) Shamzuddin Attacked from the public ro
7. 238/98 8/6/98 8/6/98 Melepurathu Paankuzhi Edapalam and forcefully caught hold of h
Edapalam Vilayur Vilayur breast and assaulted

VII. Prevention of atrocities against SC-ST : Sec 509 IPC

Crime Date of Date of Name and address Name and address

SL No Brief
Number occurrence reporting of victim of accused

Sexual Assault on the G

Elizabath P Kora (8) P M Chandramohan, Pattambi Govt. U P S
D/o Sara Lecturer Scientific Asst. Soil
1 293/92 23/10/92 12/11/92 3.30 PM, the victim be
Govt. Sanskrit Research Lab. Agri
Mala-Araya Caste
College, Pattambi University Pattambi Christian-ST)
ANNEXURE - III
SURVEY REPORT :
TABLES
SURVEY REPORT
TABLES
 PART - I

Table: 1.0 Age distribution marital status of the selected samples

Age Female Male

Groups
Married Unmarried Total Married Unmarried Total
18 to 30 5 7 12 5 7 12
Yrs
30 to 42 9 2 11 8 3 11
Yrs
42 to 54 12 1 13 13 - 13
Yrs
54 and 14 - 14 14 - 14
above
40 10 50 40 10 50

Table: 1.1 Educational Qualifications of the respondents

Illiterates LP UP HS HSS Degree PG & Prof.

Female

above course
2 6 9 18 10 3 0 2
Male

2 4 12 23 3 4 1 1

Table: 1.2 Did Marriage hinder continuing education and selecting

job?

Female Male
Married

Yes No Yes No
Unhappy No problem Unhappy No problem
1 2 37 - - 40
 Unmarried
Not applicable Not applicable

Married 80 and Unmarried 20

 Table: 1.3 Marriage curbs autonomy?
Married Female Male
Yes No No response Yes No No response
3 37 - 1 39 -
Unmarried

1 5 4 1 6 3

Married 80 and Unmarried 20

Table: 1.4: Openness in behaviour towards women at home

Female Male
Married

Yes No Yes No
38 2 38 2
Unmarrie

5 5 7 3
d

Married 80 and Unmarried 20

Table: 1.5: Do women get the recognition as an individual

in family and society?
Female Male
Married

Yes No Yes No
21 19 15 25
Unmarried

2 8 3 7

Married 80 and Unmarried 20

 Table 1.6 : Who help you in solving the family problems
and individual issues ?

Nobody Politicians Mediators Neighbours Family Friends

members
Female 10 8 2 2 23 5

Male 10 13 4 3 11 9

Table: 1.7 : Have you been able to do anything to help others?

Female Male
Yes No Yes No

15 35 18 32
SURVEY REPORT
TABLES
 PART - II

Table 2.1: Showing androcentricity in the approach of respondents?

Female Male
Qn. No
Yes No Yes No
1 30 20 30 20
2 25 25 24 26
3 34 16 36 14
6 30 20 33 17
15 30 20 24 26
17 38 12 44 6

Table 2.2: Showing androcentricity in the approach of respondents

Female Male
Qn. No
Yes No Yes No
4 19 31 19 31
5 19 31 19 31
14 11 39 11 39
16 20 30 20 30
18 10 40 11 39
25 11 39 13 37

Table 2.3: Response to "The existing socio-political atmosphere

is not enough to solve issues faced by women"

Yes No
Female

41 9
 Male
33 17
Female 50,Male 50
Table 2.4: Response to "Since there is not much justice and generosity
in social affairs, it is unnecessary to have tensions
about the problems faced by women"

Yes No
Female

11 39
Male

13 37

Table 2.5: Response to "Drinking, drug addiction etc, affects

the human interactions badly"

Yes No
Female

50 0
Male

49 1
Female 50,Male 50

Table 2.6: Response to "Girls should be given equal opportunity

with the boys, to get education."

Yes No
Female

50 0
Male

49 1
Female 50,Male 50
Table 2.7: Respondents' views on gender justice.

Qn. Female Male

No Yes No Yes No
9 47 3 49 1
10 50 0 50 0
11 49 1 50 0
19 48 2 47 3
21 48 2 49 1

Table 2.8: Responses to common values and norms.

Qn. Female Male

No Yes No Yes No
12 26 24 40 10
13 44 6 49 1
22 38 12 41 9
23 20 30 30 20
SURVEY REPORT
TABLES
 PART - III
Table 3.1: Response to "Did anybody in life misbehave
towards you just for being a woman?"

Yes No
Female

5 45

Response to "Have you been witness to any sort of atrocity towards women?"
Male

9 41

Table 3.2: Response to "Have anybody misbehaved

towards you from school/college/workplace?"

Yes No
Female

1 49

Response to "Have you been witness to any atrocity against women from
school/college/workplace?"
Male

8 42

Table 3.3: Response to "Have you ever experienced

any atrocity during journeys?"

Yes No
Female

5 45
 Response to "have you been witness to any atrocity against women during
journeys?"

Male
6 44

Table 3.4: Response to "Do you have the feeling that you will be
attacked by men at any time?"

Yes No
Female

5 45

Response to "Did you experience any atrocity from any woman?"

Male

1 49

Table 3.5: Response to "Do you have the feeling that

you can physi cally prevent the attack from men?"

Yes No
Female

9 41

Table 3.6: Response to "Have you ever seen/heard about

any sexually/physically atrocious act /threat against
women in your neighbourhood/village/panchayath?"
 Yes No

Female
9 41
Male

7 43

Table 3:7: Response to "How will you manage such situations?"

Female

A B C D B&D F
12 19 10 2 1 6
Male

3 20 10 9 4 4

Table 3.8: Response to "Do you read newspapers and magazines?"

Yes No
Female

39 11
Male

37 13

Table 3.9: Response to "Do you attend to the news coming in TV

and newspapers regarding atrocities against women?"

Yes No
Female

40 10
Male
44
6
 Table 3.10: Response to "Which TV programme do you like best?"

Female A B C D E G
8 5 11 7 5 14
Male

5 5 7 22 1 10
A = Songs, cinema and serial B = Cinema C = Serial D= News& Current Affairs E = All these F = Not regular
viewers.

Table 3.11: Response to "Women are powerless beings.

How will you respond to this statement" ?

Yes No
Female

9 41
Male

12 38

Table 3.12: Response to "Do you have any scare in telling out
the issues publicly, if at all you face "as woman?"

Yes No
Female

7 43

Response to " Do you have any scare in telling out the issues publicly, if at all
your close women associates face "as woman?"
Male

11 39
Table 3.13: Response to "Do you go to public places alone or
with somebody at home?"

Female Yes No
Alone With somebody Both
17 9
17 7
Response to "Do your close women associates go to public places alone or with
somebody at home?"
Male

20 16 36 14

Table 3.14: Response to "Have you experienced any misbehaviour

from men from public places?"

Yes No
Female

2 48

Response to "Have your close women associates experienced any misbehaviour

from men from public places?"
Male

6 44

Table 3.15: Response to "Is there any necessitating situation

in your life to travel during night?"

Yes
Female

No
Alone With somebody Both
5
3 2 45
Response to " Is there any necessitating situation in the life of women close to you
to travel during night?"
Male

4 5 0 41
 Table 3.16: Response to "Are you scared of travelling during
nights?"

Yes No
Female

30 20

Response to "Do your women associates scare to travel during nights?"

Male

44 6

Table 3.17: Response to "Do you have the opinion that women
of your village can travel without any disturbance from men?"

Yes No
Female

42 8
Male

44 6

Table 3.18: Response to "Is security increasing in your village?"

Yes No No response
Female

20 8 22
Male

35 15 0
Table 3.19: Response to "Have you ever heard of any organizations
that help women in such issues?"

Yes No
Female

24 26
Male

37 13

Table 3.20: Response to "will you contact them during necessary

situations?"

Yes No No response
Female

27 4 19
Male

30 20 0

Table 3.21: Response to "How will you respond to an event of

atrocity against any one of your woman acquaintances?"

A B C D E F G Both
Female

A&C
14 1 22 5 2 3 0 3
Male

26 4 18 0 2 0 0 0
A = Will seek the help of police B = will tempt her to keep quiet without making it an issue C =
will make sure that the accused gets punishment D = will keep silent about it E = will act as per the
situation F = no response G = will directly fight
Table 3.22: Response to "Do you think that the existing
legal system is sufficient to secure women from such issues?"

Yes No
Female

18 32
Male

23 27

Table 3.23: Response to "Will you be ready to co-operate in such

efforts?"

Yes No Not sure

Female

37 12 1
Male

48 2 0

Table 3.24: Response to "Have you ever gone to police/court to solve

a grievance of a family member/friend/yourself?"

Yes No
Female

2 48
Male

11 39
Table 3.25: Response to "Did they discourage you from charging the
case?"

Yes No
Female

2 0
Male

0 11

Table 3.26: Response to "How far do you agree to the opinion that
in the society women are getting no justice and respect as men receive?"

Completely agree Somewhat agree Disagree No opinion

Female

21 20 6 3
Male

28 10 12 0

Table 3.27: Response to "How far satisfied are you in your family
life?"

Not at all Somewhat Almost Very much

Don’t know
Female

satisfied satisfied satisfied satisfied

1 7 2 25 15
Male

0 0 3 33 14
Table 3.28: Response to "Whether you have been able to tell openly
from your home about the sexual problems you face?

Yes No No response
Female

22 26 2
Male

18 32 0

Table 3.29: Response to "Are you able to tell frankly about your
sexual issues to your partner and make sure that you get - co operation?"

Table 3.31: Response to "Are you able to tell frankly about your sexual issues to
your partner and make sure that you get - co operation?"
Yes No No-response
Female

35 5 10
Male

39 1 10

Table 3.30: Response to "Do you agree to the opinion that it needs the
mental preparation of women in the matters of conceiving, delivery etc.?"

Yes No Not known

Female

48 1 1
Male

49 1 0
Table 3.31: Response to "From where do you get the
knowledge regarding sex & sexuality?"

Both Friends From no No

Female

Family Books Both Friends

& Books where Response
19 10 5 2 2 8 4
Male

15 20 0 7 1 0 7

Table 3.32: Response to "Do you agree to the opinion that

sex education will reduce atrocity against women?"

Yes No Not known

Female

37 11 2
Male

37 13 0

Table 3.33: Response to "Which type of marriage does you

prefer-arranged or self -choice?"

Arranged Self choice Both

Female

43 2 5
Male

28 17 5
 Table 3.34: Response to "What is your opinion about remarriage?"

According to life
Not interested Agree to
Female

situations

23 19 8
Male

1 40 9

Table 3.35: Response to "Can you mention one of the

best behaviour of your partner that you like most?"

A B C D E F G H I J K
Female

10 4 6 6 2 2 1 7 1 1 10
Male

14 2 4 13 1 _ _ _ 6 _ 10
Female: A = Behaves lovingly B = we take to journey C = Likes profession D = Trustworthy and
frank
E = Simplicity F = Discuss views G = Reading H = Nothing special I = No response J = Widow
K = Unmarried

Male: A=prepare very nice food B=interested in journeys C=going for films D=open behaviour
E=very tolerant F=no response

Table 3.36: Response to "Can you mention one of the bad

behaviour you don't like?"

A B C D E F G H
Female

11 5 8 7 10 1 6 2
Male

4 9 7 19 10 1 - -
Female: A = Drinking & Gambling B = Gets angry quickly C = No response D = Nothi ng special
E = Unmarried F =Undeserving blaming G = Smoking H = Self decision (female)

Male: A = self decisive B=keep the house untidy C=unnecessary anger D=nothing special
E=unmarried F=over interest in costly materials.
 Table 3.37: Response to "Have You ever been unable to take
independent
decisions in the issues and atrocities you face for
not having your own earnings?"

Yes No Have own earnings

Female

19 23 8

Response to "Have your women associates been unable to take independent

decisions in the issues and atrocities they face for not having their own earnings"
Male

19 31 0

Table 3.38: Response to "When at home, how the male members

of your family consume the leisure time?"

A B C D E A+B B+C
Female

NA
4
4 3 30 2 1 5 1

Response to "When at home, how you consume the leisure time"

6
Male

4 4 5 31 0 0 0 (do all
these)
A = don't do anything seriously B = Will hear radio and watch cinema C = Read newspapers and
books D = Always actively participate in all household activities E = will attend to teaching
children NA = Not applicable
 Table 3.39: Response to "Your participation in social gatherings
like marriage death etc?"

Female All Inevitable ones Some Go no where

3 39 8 0
Male

19 27 4 0

Table 3.40: Response to " To whom do you show

your anger and uneasiness?"

A B A+B C D E D+E
Female

F
27 15 1 0 1 2 2 2
Male

41 1 0 2 6 - - -
A = Self B = Children C = Friends D = Husband/wife, father & brother E = Mother & Sister, F = Never gets
angry

Table 3.41: Respo nse to "Barring family affairs which area of life
activity does you like most?"

A B C D E F
Female

6 25 1 3 1
14
Male

24 5 18 1 2 0
A = Socio-political activities B = Cultural activities C = Nothing special D = Something other than
A & B E = A+B, F = Reading and Music

Table 3.42: Response to "Which of the following should be given

 priority in initiating activities aiming at the welfare and
better position of women socially?"

Female A B C D E

13 27 6 2 2
Male

15 19 10 6 0
A = The Government should start new projects and programme B = Small groups lead by women
should
do the welfare activities C = The Panchayath should start vigilance committees D = A+C, E = Not
known

Table 3.43: Response to "According to you what is the

main disadvantage in women's life?"
Female

A B C D E F G
1 11 14 10 9 3 2
Male

5 9 19 5 8 1 3
A = Absence of enough political participation of women B = Physical and mental atrocities against
women C = Absence of right of decision making in all walks life D = Lack of earnings property
land etc., E = All of these F = Something other than these (A+C) G = C + D

Table 3.44: Response to "According to you what can be the reason

for the specific issues faced by women in society?"

A B A+B C D E F G H
Female

12 13 10 4 1 2 1 3 4
Male

17 10 5 6 3 0 5 2 2
A = Lack of education B = Lack of economic independence A+B C = They must get social
exposure D = women should understand themselves that it is not slavish to work in the family
E = Women aren't capable of fighting against the issues F = No opinion G = Social under
privileges H = Badness of male/Female &Family problems
Table 3.45: Response to "Are you worried about critical life
situations such as disease and aging?"
 Yes No

Female
25 25
Male

22 28

Table 3.46: Response to "Women involved in sex work are treated

badly and men involved in the same face no problem socially.
What is your response to this situation?"

A B C D E F G H I
Female

30 3 7 5 1 1 0 2 1
Male

35 6 1 2 2 2 1 1 1
A = Both should be equally treated and punished B = Hate both of them, should be changed socially
and Government should take necessary actions C = It is not righteousness of both men and women.
They should be exposed D = Males are dissemblers E = Males are also guilty F = No response
G = Alcohol / and man get into trap H = Women having subservient roles to men I = Social change
should be needed.

Table 3.47: Response to "What is your understanding about the socio-

economic situations in which women are forced to adapt to sex work?"

A B C D E F G H I
Female

17 8 15 2 0 2 6 0 0
Male

11 16 9 3 1 4 3 2 1
A = Scarcity of money B = The problem is created by the capitalist mode of economy. it should be
changed to socialist mode of economy C =They should be tempted, rehabilitated and provided some
other job D =It needs social change E = Drug addiction and alcoholism F =No response G =It is a
social issue into which females are caught in accidentally and continuing the same fearing isolation
H =sex education should be given I =They are greedy to earn money
 REFERENCE

1 : Adrienne Rich, 1977, Of women born: Motherhood as experience and

institution.
2 : Ahmed Nizar, 1996-2000, Prayoga trust Proceedings, Social Science
research Group, Kozhikode.
3 : AIWS - Ed, 1997, An overview of violence against women, Summer
School of Women Studies, Hyderabad.
4 : Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Madurai (Ed) , Feminist Research
Methodology.
5 : Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Madurai (Ed) , Women and Legal
Rights
6 : Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Madurai (Ed) , Women and Quality
of Life.
7 : Andermahr Soumya et al, 1997, A Glossary of Feminist Theory.
8 : Beauvoir –Simone De , 1983, The Second Sex, Penguin books Ltd. ,
London.
9 : Craft Marywollstone , 1929, A Vindication of the rights of women,
Everyman's Library, Dutton, New York.
10 : Davies John Langdon, 1990, A Short History Of Women, Deep and
Deep Publication, New Delhi.
11 : Deep interview materials of the 50 respondents .
12 : Desai Neera. A and Krishnaraj Maithreyi, 1990, Women and society
in India , Ajantha Publications, Jawaharnagar, New Delhi.
13 : Desai Neera. A , 1957, Women in modern India, Vora & Co. Publishers
Private Ltd., Bombay.
14 : Diane Richardson and Victoria Robinson - Ed, Introducing Women’s
Studies - Feminist Theory and Practice. (Violence Towards Women -
Mary Maynard)
15 : Eichliar Margrit , 1988, Non Sexist Research Methods-A Practical
Guide, Allen & Unwin Winchester, USA.
16 : Eileen Kane , 1955, Qualitative Approach to research from seeing for
yourself , The World Bank, Washington DC.
17 : Flavia Agnes, Protecting women against violence - Review of a decade
of legislation ’80 - ’89.
18 : Gareth Morgan and Linda Smirchich, 1995, The Case for qualitative
research in National Institute of Public Cooperation & Child
Development (Ed) ): Hauz Khas,New Delhi. Miles M.B.& Huberman. A.
M.(1994)An Expected Source –Qualitative data analysis , Sage
 Publication, New Delhi.
19 : Howard Spivak and Robert D Sege, 1996, Oxford text book of public
health Deborah Prothrow – Stith.
20 : Jalna Hanmer and Sheila Saunders , Explorations in Feminism - Well
founded fear (A community study of violence to women.
21 : Jan Paul, Private Violence and Private Policy - “The needs of battered
women and the response of the public services”.
22 : Marcia Westkott, 1979, On Intersubjectivity.
23 : Margrit Eichler, Non-sexist Research Methods-A Practical Guide.
24 : Mythrayee Mukhopadhyay, Legally Dispossessed (Gender, Identity
and the process of law).
25 : Office of the Pattambi CI of Police, FIR index of the police station.
26 : Philips Anne (Ed), 1989, Feminism and Equality – Readings in social
and political theory, New York University Press, Washington Square,
New York.
27 : S. P. Sathe, Towards Gender Justice- RCWS Gender Series - Ed -
Meera Kosambi.
28 : Shulamit Reinharz, Experiential Analysis - A contribution to feminist
research.
29 : Stoller Rober J , 1968, Sex and gender , New York Science House,
New York.
30 : V. Spike Peterson and Anne Sisson Runyan, Global Gender Issues.
31 : Bell hooks “Feminist Theory from margin to center”, Pluto Press, 345
Archway Road, London