Drunken brawls causing violence and death in families

New Delhi: There are increasing reports of violence and death in families, as a result of alcohol abuse.

Recently a child was reportedly killed because the parents were in the midst of a drunken brawl.

“He is trying to make amends for what happened and he is doing a lot of things to make up for the past,” says Divya (name changed).

Alcohol brings physical violence but perhaps what’s even worse is the emotional violence. Divya's alcoholic huband is sober for seven years now, however, she will never forget the emotional trauma and fear that she went through.

“There was always an anger and fear in the house. We were always fearful whether the person would reach home, whether the person would bang his car on the way and finally when he reached home what will happen,” says Divya.

However, Divya who heads a multinational company did not walk out of the marriage as it was a disease that her family was battling with.

If the person suffered with TB or cancer, then one wouldn’t look at the person as if he did something wrong. It just happened. The only thing different with alcohol is that there are several ugly physical manifestations that come across," adds Divya.

Social scientists say domestic violence is rampant in families, which have alcoholics, though in most case alcohol itself is not the real reason for the violence.

"There is already a power relationship within the way family in India is structured. Drinking is not the cause of violence. It can probably provide an excuse as one have less inhibitions, when one is drunk,” says Sociologist, SS Jodhka.

Fourteen-year-old Jaikishan’s parents are alcoholics and he is the only breadwinner for the family. Jaikishan's elder sister does most of the household work. She carries the burden of her alcoholic parents.

“I feel angry towards them and I tell them to stop it, however they do not listen. Instead he beats me up when I tell him to stop working,” says Santoshi.

Two-years ago, a man in a drunken state shouted talaaq three times and divorced his wife. This is just one of the several cases that showcased the collapse of family, however, cases such as those of Divya, perhaps give us hope that there are fighters who believe that alcohol addiction will not hamper personal relationships.

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