The Power of Courage

The Power of Courage

The cycle of violence and submission can be long drawn but some women do gather the courage to break it regardless of age. Shobha Devi made that break at the age of 60. 

Shobha, a resident of the village of Chakmahi, Vaishali and a member of the SC community has endured years of physical, emotional and psychological distress. However, after being beaten almost to death by her husband Ramshwar Das one evening, she found courage. “What more can I lose?” she asks showing the painful bruises on her thighs, arms and stomach. 

One evening her husband accused her of using washing powder and dragged Shobha by her hair and let lose a volley of kicks and hit her with a wooden rod. When the neighbours heard her cry for help, they rushed for her rescue. 

The thrashing left Shobha in the hospital for eight months. A persistent pain still runs through her limbs and her legs are often swollen. On the basis of a complaint she filed against Rameshwar at the Hajipur police station, he was arrested. 

It took Shobha more than 13 years of persistent abuse to come to a realisation. Initially, Rameshwar worked in a jute mill in Kolkata but after he suffered an accident that left the bones on his face crushed, he gave up his work. To earn bread, Shobha started to work in the same jute mill but her husband grew increasingly bitter, short-tempered and suspicious. Many times he demanded her to leave the job but Shobha refused. 

The situation rapidly degenerated. The abuse took myriad forms. Shobha gave up working at the jute mill hoping to buy peace at home. Oxfam India with its partner organization in Vaishali, stepped to counsel Rameshwar and took Shobha to the women’s police station with an application requesting an end to the violence.  When the violence did not stop after multiple counseling sessions, Oxfam’s work helped Shobra to file a complaint against her husband’s abuse. Shobra now lives a peaceful life with her new found courage and has resumed work. She feels that no women should suffer in silence. 

In case you wish to make a monthly contribution to help women like Shobra to live a violence-free life, please click here, https://www.oxfamindia.org/womenrightstele

Gender Justice

We campaign to change patriarchal mindsets that influence violence against women  

Read More

Related Blogs

Blogs

Stories that inspire us

Gender Justice

20 Mar, 2023

Delhi

International Women's Day Round Up

This International Women's Day was celebrated across our office in their own unique ways. From felicitating women farmers to launching a new brand of product, this International Women's D...

Gender Justice

02 Dec, 2022

Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh

Striving for Financial Inclusion: Need Women-Friendly Ecosystem

In India, one half of the population i.e.women contribute enormously, whether it is in the formal sector or the informal sector or unpaid care work. It’s almost a thankless job for women ...

Gender Justice

28 Nov, 2022

New Delhi

Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls And the Role of Civil Society Organisations

The issue of violence against women and girls has become a pandemic in the current situation, especially in South Asian countries where strict patriarchal norms and structural inequality ...

Gender Justice

15 Sep, 2022

New Delhi

India Discrimination Report | 8 Things You Need To Know

Discrimination in the labour market occurs when people with similar abilities are treated differently due to their identity or social backgrounds. So far, very few attempts have been made...

img Become an Oxfam Supporter, Sign Up Today One of the most trusted non-profit organisations in India