It's quite common in South Asian families. I'm Pakistani and I have witnessed this right before my eyes, I've even been a victim of abuse. It came to the point where violence was the norm and I couldn't see anything past it.
I have seen my mum being physically beaten. I have been physically beaten. I'm grown now, it doesn't happen much- but the verbal abuse does continue. It's sad that you have to live under the same roof with the person who has caused you so much pain for so many years.
When we bring it up to try and get an explanation as to why he did it, he denys certain memories and even the serverity of how it happened.
Anyways, coming from a Asian school and college I've learnt that this is mostly common. But with the newer generation, this cult of violence is slowly fading out.