SAHARA- No More

After hearing too many stories on our podcast about domestic abuse, Arjun and I wanted to talk to people who could actually help deal with this problem, as opposed to just complaining loudly about it like we would do. This week, we were fortunate enough to speak to Hemali Shah and Neha Duggal, both of whom work for The South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency, or SAHARA. SAHARA is an organization committed to serving the South Asian community and survivors of domestic abuse. In our conversation, we first learned about the formation and evolution of SAHARA, as well as the needs it services. Then, as we attempted to scratch the surface of a complex problem, we spoke about the mentality of victims of abuse, what it takes to get help, what that help looks and sounds like, and how we individually can help. We also spoke about the demographics of abuse, some of the preconceived notions about who is abusive and who gets abused, and if any of those notions hold up. As we move toward the end of the conversation, we learn about patterns that are specific to the South Asian community, victim shaming, and how we can be better. While Arjun and I in no way think we are solving this problem, we do think that if we are all more comfortable having this sometimes ugly conversation, progress can be made. To that end, please send us your thoughts, emails, tweets, etc. so we can all grow.