Akbar and Birbal – revisited
The story in this animation is about Domestic violence (DV) and how one can tackle it. In the animation the women faces not only physical violence but also mental and verbal abuse. The husband states his power over her in the way he communicates to her and dominates her. His physical actions also show his power over his wife.
One important aspect this animation shows is the concept of Domestic violence not being a private matter. We see the lady facing violence being helped by community members (barber and Birbal). This goes beyond the common myth that DV is a matter between the couple or is personal and outsiders should not intervene.
The story also tells us that violence can be handled tactfully and without using violence in return. At the end of the story the husband realizes that his anger and consecutive actions are causing pain and hurt to his wife. In real life also if this internalization happens that violence is unjust, it would end.
The initiative of ending the violence can come from the women herself and is also an very important turning point of the story. The realization by Tarkumal’s wife that she cannot take anymore of the beating, and verbal abuse by her husband was the first step towards ending violence.
But in this story too we see a justification of Tarkumal’s anger through some dialogues, like the one made by the barber at the end where he say “Your wife does not deserve such harsh punishment”. This statement might also make some audiences think that it is ok to get punished and this is not domestic violence.
Also in the beginning of the story one more statement “He was a very short tempered man and nobody knew what he would do in a fit of anger” provides reasoning for the violent actions of Tarkumal.
No reasoning can justify any act of violence. Any kind of Violence is unjust.
Tagged domestic violence
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