If she is lucky enough, she can enjoy her child hood, always being compared to her brother and making her feel useless and inferior. She has to struggle at every phase of survival, proper education, proper nutrition, proper sanitation, the list can be enormous, not to forget the abuse from an elder brother or father.

Even before reaching adolescent she may be forced into marriage, she can face genital mutilation, forced prostitution and various forms of sexual harassment, honour killing, sex slavery…….an unending list.

Now she is married, she is not independent because her parents have never given importance to her education. Her in-laws perceive her a burden. So she has to bring dowry from her parental home. If she fails to meet their unending demand she is ill-treated, abused beaten and in extreme cases burnt to death. Death-thank god her soul can now rest in peace, but it is not always the case; she leaves behind her children. Then starts their share of misfortune.

Karl Marx have very rightly said ”Social progress can be measured by position of  female sex”. Still parents do not send their daughters to school the reasons can vary from poverty to lack of proper schools in the neighbourhood. These reasons can be over come incase of a boy but not for a girl who is considered the weaker sex.  They do not understand that education is the biggest gift a parent can give their daughter. It is the most precious dowry. A working wife brings more money and prosperity- a dowry paid in installments. In India the alarming ratio of girl:boy gives goose bumps . But still as per Darwin’s law of survival for the fittest, girls are fighting and surviving all the odds offered by the society. Their fight will continue till the last girl in the face of earth gets wiped out.

As per her “now we should try to understand exactly domestic violence is happening everywhere in society, which needs to be answered in right spirit, where a woman is forced to endure repeated domestic violence so as not to be thrown out of the house. As understood in general sense, domestic violence is violence that occurs within the private area, generally between individuals who are related through intimacy, blood or law. Despite the apparent neutrality of the term, domestic violence is nearly always a gender-specific crime, perpetrate by men against women. Thus Bell Bajao campaign for to halt domestic violence should ideally put a stop to violence, give protection against future abuse and use corrective measures to fighting continued domestic violence.”

For those who aren’t aware, an ‘honour killing’ is carried out when family members murder another family member who has brought disgrace and shame on the family. Usually, in India, it takes place over an “inappropriate” relationship or marriage outside caste or religion.

In my opinion, while the Domestic Violence Act requires review and since even women now can be prosecuted under the PWDVA, ‘Honour Killings’ should also be included with separate consequences, like the case of Sati and dowry where there are specific laws with maximum and minimum terms of punishment. There is no specific law to deal with honour killings. The murders come under the general categories of Culpable Homicide (Sec.299) or Murder (Sec.300) with punishment under Sec. 302 as stated in the Indian Penal Code.

In many cases, the victims who run away with ‘unsuitable’ partners are lured back home after FIRs are filed by their families. The police cannot be unaware that in many cases they are coming back to certain death at the hands of their relatives and fellow villagers. Yet, pre-emptive action to protect them is never taken. Undoubtedly, the virus of caste and class that affects those carrying out such crimes affects the police in the area too. But that can be no excuse to sanction murder. Active policing and serious penal sanctions is the only antidote to this most dishonourable practice.

What is also so horrible, apart from the killing itself, is how it’s carried out. The person can be burned alive, tortured, maimed, and/or beaten to death. Such extreme action, just to follow the norms of society! A large part of this problem in villages is due to the strong presence of a panchayat or informal court, which consists of members of the same caste and decides all matters relating to their community.

However, India’s most recent honour killing took place in Delhi — not a village. The parents who murdered their 19 year old daughter and her 19 year old fiancé said that they had been left no alternative. Their daughter’s deed frustrated them, and they didn’t regret killing the couple, a euphemism for doing away with anyone seen as spoiling the family’s reputation. These are socially sanctioned by caste panchayats and carried out by mobs with the connivance of family members.

Research indicates that the majority of honour killings happen in the north Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Bihar. Honour killings are rare to non-existent in south India, and also the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. There have been no honour killings in West Bengal in over 100 years, thanks to the influence and activism of reformists like Vivekananda, Ramakrishna, Vidyasagar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

The issue of honour killings really indicates the extremities of life in India — not just from rich to poor, but from cities to villages. While India’s cities are progressing at a rapid rate, and love marriages are becoming more and more prevalent, many villages are not. There, the caste system remains as strong as ever, and the reputation of the caste is of utmost importance — sometimes more important than a human life.The usual remedy to such murders is to suggest that society must be prevailed upon to be more gender-sensitive and shed prejudices of caste and class. Efforts should be made to sensitise people on the need to do away with social biases.

The fact is, you can move to the city but you still can’t escape the scrutiny and judgements of the village.

To read more here’s a TOI article- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Honour-killings-North-India-wages-a-vicious-war-against-love/articleshow/6112387.cms

He has watched the Bell Bajao PSA on TV. Initially the message of the PSA was not very clear to him. But his son helped him to understand that one should raise voice against domestic violence. He feels that Domestic violence is no more a private affair. The mistreatment is a very dreadful thing for the society.

After watching Bell bajao advertisement, he took an initiative to halt Domestic violence in his community. There was this woman who was regularly beaten up and ill-treated by her family for dowry. One day when she was being beaten up, Tiwari ji rang their door bell. Quarrel has halted for that day only. Next day it has started again, then Tiwari ji repeated his action again and again. He told us that from that day onwards violent acts has stopped. She is living with her inlaw’s family happily. Tiwari ji thanks Bell bajao campaign for this fabulous idea…

Breakthrough’s

Sharing her excitement, Mallika Dutt, Executive Director of Breakthrough says, “Breakthrough is delighted at Bell Bajao’s win at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival 2010! The Silver Lion provides us with a global platform to spotlight violence against women and to ask men and boys to become partners in ending it.  Our partnership with Ogilvy is a wonderful example of the reach and success of public-private collaborations, which are essential to bringing an end to the abuse that women face all over the world.”

Bell Bajao! is a national campaign which uses the power of pop culture, media and community mobilization for outreach across India. The campaigns are based on true stories of people who joined the movement against domestic violence. Launched first in 2008, with the support of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and campaign ambassador film star Boman Irani, Bell Bajao! soon became a national movement. The campaign not only creates awareness on the issue of domestic violence but also rouses public sentiment to take action against it.

Zenobia Pithawalla, Group Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai says”What makes this win even more wonderful, is the fact that this work was not created because one wanted to win an award. But because everyone from the client to the creative team to the film maker believed this was what it would take to put an end to Domestic Violence. As we celebrate this news, we would like to thank Breakthrough for always giving us a free hand and believing in our creative work as much as they believe in their cause”.

The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is the world’s biggest celebration of creativity in communications. As the most prestigious international advertising awards, more than 22,500 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the festival. Over 6,000 delegates from 90 countries attend seven days of workshops, exhibitions, screenings, master classes and high-profile seminars.

“My sister Jyotsna, now 16, got married at 12 and has already had four dead babies. She now lives with her second husband because the first one left her. Still, my parents wanted me to get married, but I said no, I want to study. They finally agreed,” Rekha said.

Living in a mud hut on one meal a day, Rekha made a long journey by train from this obscure hamlet in West Bengal to India’s prosperous capital, New Delhi — where she was feted by the country’s first female president, Pratibha Patil.

This act of defiance made her an icon and the news has rippled through the district of Purulia emboldening many children to say no to Child Marriage and instead opt for education and a healthy life.

According to the UNICEF, 40% of the world’s child marriages occur in India, and 78,000 young Indian women die in childbirth and from pregnancy complications each year.

For benefit of all the story is in the link below please read…

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/2/indian-girl-rails-against-early-arranged-marriages/

Among the five entries shortlisted from India for the Film Lions are two of the Bell Bajao ads! Creativeland Asia and Ogilvy India are the only two Indian agencies to have made it to the shortlist.

Our ads on Domestic Violence Awareness comprises a series of films urging men and boys to take action when they witness or hear violence happening in their neighbours home. It is about making the perpetuator of the violence aware that others are watching him. It is about standing up and intervening to stop that moment of violence.

Our fingers are crossed.

Men have always been taught to perceive themselves as the superior sex. It is this conditioning that makes them believe they have to control their wives, especially if they are considered disobedient.

Domestic violence experts say the problem in India stems from a cultural bias against women who challenge their husband’s right to control their behavior. Women who do this—even by asking for household money or stepping out of the house without their permission–are seen as punishable. This process leads men to believe their notion of masculinity and manhood is reflected to the degree to which they control their wives.

Although men’s preoccupation with controlling their wives declines with age–as does the incidence of sexual violence–researchers found that the highest rates of sexual violence were among highly educated men. Thirty-two percent of men with zero years of education and 42 percent men with one-to-five years of education reported sexual violence. Among men with six-to-10 years of education–as well as those with high-school education and higher–this figure increased to 57 percent.

A similar pattern was seen when the problem was analyzed according to income and socioeconomic standing. Those at the lowest rungs of the socio-economic ladder–migrant labor, cobblers, carpenters, and barbers–showed a sexual violence rate of 35 percent. The rate almost doubled to 61 percent among the highest income groups.

According to a study conducted by the Centre for Women’s Development Studies in New Delhi, 45 percent of Indian women are slapped, kicked or beaten by their husbands. India also had the highest rate of violence during pregnancy. Of the women reporting violence, 50 percent were kicked, beaten or hit when pregnant. About 74.8 percent of the women who reported violence have attempted to commit suicide.

Educated women are aware of their rights and are no longer willing to follow commands blindly. When they ask questions, it causes conflicts, which, in turn, leads to violence. In many Indian states, working women are asked to hand over their paycheck to the husband and have no control over their finances. So, if they stop doing so or start asserting their right, there is bound to be friction. Education is an empowering tool for women and should not be seen as impacting negatively.

It’s ridiculous to think after all the family morals we were taught with our upbringing, accompanied with the formal education we’ve been endowed with, it still doesn’t provide a husband common sense that women are equal beings and also have some dignity of their own to protect.

The girl – and the trees – were nurtured over the years and today both are grown up.

We are aware that in most parts of India the birth of boy is celebrated over a girl’s, but this  village in backward state of Bihar has been setting an example by planting mango and leechee trees to celebrate the birth of a girl child.

In Dharhara village, Bhagalpur district, families plant a minimum of 10 trees whenever a girl child is born, to meet the dowry and wedding expenses of a girl child. In Bihar, payment of dowry by the bride’s family is a common practice. The price tag of the bridegroom often depends on his caste, social status and job profile.

The villagers have been planting trees for generations.

Mr.Singh paid for the weddings of his three daughters after selling fruits of trees he had planted at the time of their birth.

“One medium-size mango orchard is valued at around 200,000 rupees ($4,245; £2,900) every season. These trees have great commercial value and they are a big support for us at the time of our daughter’s marriage,” he says.

The villagers say they save a part of the money earned through the sale of fruits every year in a bank account opened in their daughter’s name.

The tree-planting has been going on in the village for generations now.

“We heard about it from our fathers and they from their fathers. It has been in the family and the village from ages,” says Subhendu Kumar Singh, a school teacher.

“This is our way of meeting the challenges of dowry, global warming and female foeticide. There has not been a single incident yet of female foeticide or dowry death in our village,” he says.

His cousin, Shankar Singh, planted 30 trees at the time of his daughter Sneha Surabhi’s birth.

Sneha, four, is aware that her father has planted trees in her name; the child says she regularly waters the saplings.

As yet she doesn’t know what dowry is, and says the trees will bear fruits for her “to eat”.

The village’s oldest resident, Shatrughan Prasad Singh, 86, has planted around 500 mango and lichee trees in his 25 acres of land.

His grand-daughters, Nishi and Ruchi, are confident the trees mean their family will have no problem paying for their weddings.

“The whole world should emulate us and plant more trees,” says their father Prabhu Dayal Singh.

A great initiative, almost like a solution to every problem.