Margina Begum is the elected vice chair person of the Women’s Union Committee in Gotapara. Her husband Atiar Sheikh is a farmer and fisherman. They have both been instrumental in changing the lives of many families in their community. They have known each other since their youth and used to live across the river from each other. But marriage was a different story for Margina Begum. “My in-laws made my life hell, since ours was a love marriage, they did not like me and as soon as we left the in-laws home I thought my life was better.”

It was only after she attended the meeting on violence against women, facilitated by one of the campaign allies, that she realised what she was going through was absolutely wrong and unnecessary. It was not just her in-laws who abused her, her husband too thoughtlessly and regularly hit her. “I did not understand the violence in my life. I thought it was normal for him to be angry and beat me. My husband didn’t know what he was doing and that it was wrong even though he loved me.”

In spite of being afraid to speak to her husband about this matter, soon after the meeting Margina Begum went home and spoke to her husband. The fact that several women were going through the same situation encouraged Margina Begum to take up the mission to stop violence against women.

It must be true love because shortly afterwards Atiar accepted an invitation to join one of the meetings. Since then everything has changed. Gradually their lives have become free of violence, all decisions are made together, domestic work is shared and together they talk to families about putting an end to violence against women. Atiar Sheik says, “These days even my son comments that we go everywhere together and do everything together; in a village this kind of love is rare.”

“We have learnt what violence is, all kinds of violence – mental, physical and emotional. It is important to let people know about this”, says Margina Begum. She is not scared to speak to families and individuals about violence against women, “I am not scared nor am I shy because it is a matter of life and death. If I go to the doctor and I am shy or scared, how will the disease be cured?”