Shining knowledge about victimology

We all have been victims of one sort or the other. Many of us have fallen victims without knowing that we have been made one. If only one gets to become aware how the culprits out in the world are there to make you a victim, it saves a lot from undergoing the trauma. A course in victimology is catching up across the world. Hopefully, an online course on victimology is very soon to be rolled out by the Mitra Mandali.

Dr Keerthi Bollineni, a technical support manager at Vasavya Mahila Mitra Mandali, strives to empower women for last six decades. Her focus is on the fair sex, especially on how harshly they are treated by society.

The Mitra Mandali, which was established in 1969, is working with women who are vulnerable to domestic violence and have become the victims. The NGO strives to help them by supporting their skills so that they find a new meaning to their lives. In a chat with Womenia, Keerthi tells about the new course and the Mitra Mandali’s role.

Tell us about victimology
Victimology is a professional course that is been taught abroad. This course helps in studying the person who is prone to violence. This course is been taught in American, European and Asian countries. Students who pursue law usually take an interest in learning this course.

Students from every department are seen to adapt to this course to gain knowledge about victimology. This course is new to India because we are not giving equal rights that are set for the victims in every aspect. Victimology is the rare phenomenon of Indian system. Here we focus on victims and see that they get equal rights. There is a World Society of Victimology in which I am a part of it. The WSV promotes the study of all aspects of victimisation. 

How did you get an opportunity to talk about victimology at Hong Kong University?
One of the Professor who recognised my work on victimology sent my profile to the Hong Kong University. I was selected and was asked to give a lecture on victimology as a guest faculty.

How many sessions were held at the University about victmology?
I spoke about five days at the Hong Kong University; each session was for an hour. I spoke on all five days of the session. The sessions focused on the study of victims and a time slot of 15 minutes was set for interaction on the topic which was more of a question answer session.

Who was the target audience?
Students from different countries participated in the session.

What opportunities do victimology students gain after pursuing the course?
Law graduates will stand to gain knowledge about how to deal with the victims’ mindset as they are very sensitive. It is like an add-on course for any career option. OP Zindal University at Haryana has a course in victimology. We are even planning to set up an online victimology course that will help students who take this course as a career option.

By D Shreya Veronica