Haunted

What makes HAUNTED a truly haunting book is the way it gives a chilling account of the way Domestic Violence can lead to the twisted mindsets of the people involved – from the perpetrator of violence to the victims… which leads to the percolation of that evil into society.

The main story “Inherited” is a personified example of the evil of one man and the effect on all around him.

Each of the six stories of the book deals with the different issues that come up with children as they grow up – with a focus on children from disturbed family backgrounds.

HAUNTED is a wake-up call to us as a society to stem violence in our homes so that our children, our future may be secure.

Most importantly, this book deals with the Woman and her mind, and how it is her balance that determines the balance of her children.

Rashmi’s efforts to counsel come not from an educational degree, but from suffering, and then from viewing and trying to heal the pain of others.

Charu WaliKhanna’s inputs come from a legal perspective as well as well as from being a Member, National Commission for Women.

Together their efforts make this book a complete handbook for children’s issues – from a psychological, societal, as well as from a legal perspective.

EXCERPT:

So when this case came to me, I discussed it with my own home edition of Encyclopedia Brittanica – my daughter Sonakshi.

And this is what she said of Patriarchy:

A conscience whether individual or collective, is based on a perceived reality. If something exists in the individual or collective mind, for them it is a reality. In oppression lies the reality of the oppressor – but it is a reality so imposed upon the oppressed that it is internalised by the oppressed, and so becomes a shared reality. The oppressed then lives within the confines of the reality imposed by the oppressor.

In the beginning all systems are imposed. Initial imposition will cause anger and revolt. But then slowly and with adequate force, the system gets internalised. Internalisation of a system is a far better and more effective way of repression because there is no revolt or uprising against it. Over time, the system the system gets so internalised that the oppressed starts believing that he or she is inferior. With this mindset, the system gets reinforced and strengthened.

Patriarchy is one such oppressive system.