Oh My God...............!!!! Not PK......!!!

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

       -His Holiness the Dalai Lama

“All of us think that our religion is ‘good’ and those in apparent (and often politically motivated) opposition to it are ‘bad’. But the real truth is that all of our religions are equally guilty of being used to promote violence, and....thanks to centuries of political manipulation that have distorted the way we read our holy books—all of us are guilty of not following what our religions really say.”

                                                                                       -David Liepert

We Indians love controversies, whatsoever may be the reason. While our homes are rivers brimming up with controversies from bua ke beti ki love marriage to chachi ki angrezi bahu, and when in face of soaring temperature and increased demand of ever curious mind this river starts drying, we switch to news channels on TV, where the monsoon of controversies never comes to halt.  This is the reason that gives high TRP’s and revenue to debate shows by high pitched anchors, who aspire to provoke nation by raking up question on controversies. The most recent controversy on movie PK is the one hitting the headlines with so many hullabaloos around it. But vhaaiii??

Precisely, because it speaks up against commercialization of religion by self made Godmen, exhibits dogmatic practices of various religions and questions blind faith. These are enough reasons to scratch the drowsy souls of religious activists, who like self styled Godmen or Gurus are self made custodians of religion with self made interpretations of movie-PK. But, I would like to ask these activists that how vandalizing theatres, lodging FIR’s and boycotting a creative film is going to uphold their religion? Do you exactly know what religion is? Hinduism is not just a religion, it’s a way of life. It is known as “cradle of spirituality” and also “mother of all religion”, on the basis of the fact that it has influenced some religions and most importantly because it can embrace other religions, embrace their scriptures, saints and even their philosophy. It is based on ideals of compassion, non-violence and tolerance.  Swami Vivekananda in his speech at Parliament of Religion in 1893 described Hinduism, as a religion that has taught the world tolerance and universal acceptance. The holy book of Quran also emphasises on the fact that there is no compulsion on religion and preaches intolerance.

“There is no compulsion on religion.” (2:256)

“The truth is from your lord; so let him who please believe and let him who please disbelieve.” (18:29)

Even Christianity believes in Pluralism, there are equally valid paths to God. Christianity is only one of these and is no more superior to others and tolerance is faithful serving to God. When these major religions are based on edifice of universal acceptable and tolerance, how come the followers are so intolerant? Are these crusaders even aware of meaning of religion? What is faith?..... Well, I seriously doubt. In fact, I am sure most of them involved in these hoodlums would have not even seen the movie but have been rampant enough to make noise on whose music, any guessing??.

PK is a totally stunning movie, a creative piece from Raj Kumar Hirani’s directorial hub. It is no way disrespectful to any religion, although it talks about religion but never disregards faith. It unequivocally raises fingers towards blind faith in religious babas who are supposed to have direct connection with almighty, human prejudices, religious chauvinism and commercialization of religion. It didn't focus on just one religion as being depicted by religious goons but on almost all prevalent religions in India. He is seen offering milk to shiva-linga, takes part in Muharram procession practicing self flagellation, getting baptized and offering seva in Gurudwara. The tender manner in which he performs these activities and unveils human fragility dominated by fear will steal your heart and make you empathize with tears. The presence of Tapaswi Maharaj is central to institutionalization of fake babas indicating to recent arrest of Baba Rampal and Asharam Babu from their ashram and discovery of opulence, ill practices composed by them in their abode that boasted of sanctity and spirituality once upon a time. There is no beating around the bushes on the fact that a large part of Indian populace irrefutably believes and follows sadhus, tantriks or godmen, who have minimal education but are expert in expounding sermons, who are clad in saffron robes which signifies spirit of fire that renounces all worldly attachment but are seen living with all material luxury, consumerism, extravagance and not to mention major deceits, murder cover ups and sexual abuses in their backyard.

PK controversy is scaling new heights which is doing nothing but giving free publicity to movie like Subramanian Swamy’s claim that PK has been funded by ISI, filing FIR for hurting religious sentiments and portraying Lord Shiva in bad light (because Shiva was seen using loo in a scene and was chased by PK.....!!! OMG). The love scenes between Sushant Singh Rajput (Sarfaraz) and Anushka Sharma (Jaggu) who are grown up individuals mature enough pursuing studies in Belgium are being claimed to be proponents of love-jihad by Bhakht Gan. Can this get more hilarious...!!!!?? Will any of the bhakts please elaborate, in which Upanishad, Veda Or Epic there is mention of such jihad??

We all have learned in schools that God is Omnipotent (All Ruling), Omnipresent (Present Everywhere) and Omniscient (Having Unlimited Knowledge). He has better understanding of our intention better than we do and nothing is beyond his ability to perceive it, then what is the need to undermine his almightiness?... Why succumb to undirected protest and useless hoodlum? Does he need anybody or any religious group to protect and reinforce himself? Yeh wrong number hai. Let us agree to disagree and let the movie PK remain a piece of art and entertainment. It is totally agreeable that not everybody would be satisfied with the content of the movie, but in no way such content will hurt anyone’s religious sentiment. Your faith, belief and religious sentiments is part of your innate mortal existence and no work of art, entertainment can hurt or belittle it. Here, I would like to quote a dialogue by Aamir in Dhoom3

“Bande hain ham uske, humpe kiska zor hai.........”

Let us give actors and director of the movie due share of respect for their hard work and diligence on making a movie on such a sensitive subjective which is nothing like sensational. And still, if you don’t like the movie just don’t watch it (Nobody will force you). Let creative people enjoy their artistic freedom, as you enjoy your freedom of expression and freedom to practise any religion. Aamir Khan played the role of alien in the movie but you are not alien to frauds and bombs that run in name of God. There was a dialogue in movie by a Muslim girl which intelligibly stated that

“ Itna chota nahin ho sakta hamara khuda, ki use hamare school jane pe aitraaz ho.”

And most importantly

“Apne apne bhagwan ki raksha karna band karo, warna is gole pe insaan nahin bas joota reh jayega.”

P.S. - Dear religious activists,

Stop whasting of time and utilije kariye kauno acha kaam me......... !!!

Neww year aa raha hai... naya resolution lijiye...ki wrong number nahin lagayenge aur time whasste karna hi hai to insaan aur insaaniyat se pyar karnee me whastee kariye........... Happy Newww Yeaarrr...!!!

Ram Ram

Apka Apna

PK

#WeSupportPK  #PKana #PKaya

Hello blog friends,

It has been a long time, since we have been in touch. I had some engagements, which kept me hooked till now. But do not worry..........am COMING SOON. 
And of course....Wishing You all....A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...!!!

HAPPY DIWALI FRIENDS....!!!

Why we should not boycott Haider ?

Vishal Bharadwaj has established beyond doubt that he is a true votary of Bard with his trilogy on Shakespearian tragedies Maqbool (Macbeth), Omakara (Othello) and last one being Haider, an adaptation of Hamlet. In Haider, Vishal takes Indian audiences for a tour to unearthly, beautiful valley of Kashmir not to explore romanticism in mighty mountains and shikaras but to scout around “Switzerland of east” looking for, rotten thorns that exist in beautiful flowering meadows, stains of blood on snow-capped mountains, insurgency in valley of Sufi-Saints and sparkling Jhelum that has learned to live with pain of its people since decades.

“Something is rotten in state of Denmark” points Marcellus (a character from Hamlet) on rising moral and political corruption in the State of Denmark. But in Vishal’s version of desi Hamlet, state in rotten state is heavenly Kashmir. Haider is a courageous portrayal of existing melancholy in state of Kashmir, a tragic melody with dark humour concerning despairing state of ordinary Kashmiris. Set in Kashmir of 1995, Haider is a tale of deceit and revenge, story of a son forced into militancy seeking to avenge his lost father who army has picked up leaving behind no clue of his whereabouts. Bharadwaj has beautifully painted a canvas of human indiscretion inspired by Shakespeare’s work in settings of Kashmir, remaining loyal to emotions drawn in bard’s work.

Haider is an alter ego of Shakespeare’s Hamlet which can be defined by actuality of its character and anyone familiar with the play can easily relate to the movie. Haider (Shahid) is a student who returns from Aligarh to discover a disappeared father, house in ruins destroyed by army and an adulterous mother.

“Dil ki agar sunu toh tu hai. Dimag ki sunu toh tuh hai nahi. Jaan lun ki jaan dun? Main rahoon ki main nahi.”- Haider.

Shahid, as Haider has given his best performance till date depicting all shades of brooding Hamlet through hum hain ya hum nahin (desi version of To be or not to be). One of the scenes where he reminds people of promises made by first PM of India, Jawaharlal Nehru on 2^nd Nov after partition is worth watching.

“We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given […] not only to the people of Kashmir but the world. We will not, and cannot back out of it. We are prepared when peace and law and order have been established to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United Nations.”

Tabu plays the role of Ghazala (Gertrude in Hamlet), manifesting shades and layering in her character. She plays the character of overbearing woman in search of peace and love. She is captivating and menacing at the same time letting her eyes do all the talking, proving her worth as one of the best actress of B-town. She is at such an ease as Ghazala.

"Disappeared logo ki biwiyaan aadhi bewa kehlati hain, half widows.”

She dominates the screen in Haider and overshadows other characters with her soulful acting. KK Menon (Claudius) is vicious as Haider’s Uncle , who lures his mother into relationship and uses disappearance of his brother for political gains. Irfan Khan’s entry as hideous Roohdar (Ghost in Hamlet), man with a message for a son from his lost father changes the course of movie. As the truth is revealed to Haider, he finds himself engulfed in hatred and revenge. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (friends of Hamlet) are there too in form Salman and Salman who mimic Salman Khan religiously in terms of clothing, hairstyle and mannerism.

Although Haider is an adaptation of Hamlet, its dialogues and scripts have been inspired by scriptwriter Barashat Peer’s novel ‘Curfewed Nights’. Vishal has delicately showcased state of ongoing conflict in Kashmir, emotional warfare of ordinary people, with subtle references to oedipal undertones of mother-son relationship, treachery and adultery customized for Indian sentiments.

It was a stout-hearted attempt on part of Bharadwaj to touch on such a sensitive subject like Kashmir with cryptic yet fine drawn references to AFSPA, enforced disappearances, disarmament, interrogation centres(Mama 2) and their tortures. It goes without saying, that no three hour movie can reveal the level of indiscrimination and intolerance faced by people of Kashmir. But, Vishal with his bold movie on highly politicised issue of Kashmir has set an example for other bollywood directors to inch closer to realism with commercial cinema.

AFSPA, which has been main concern of Kashmir issue, has found special mention in the movie. The daily lives of Kashmiris which is constantly guided from dawn to dusk with curfew timings, constant frisking and security checks with detectors, scanners, security cameras hovering around shrieks of tension and animosity that exist in Kashmir. More than 23 years have passed since this draconian law came into existence. Human right commission has regularly voiced their concern against this law, which provides armed forces unlimited power to arrest and jail a person without trial for 2 years on mere suspicion, in other words its license to kill. The incidence of Feb 1991 mass rape by army personnel of woman of Kunan Poshpora village is still etched in mind of people. Then there is case of illegal execution of human rights activist and lawyer  Jaleel Andrabi. There are too many half widows and orphans. There are also mothers like Praveena Anangar, whose 17 year old was picked by army in 1990 and who now chairs the Association for Parents of disappeared, for whom search will never end.

The only drawback of the movies is too much layering of plots, sub-plots and characters lead to an uneven storyline. Movie is unable to reflect on other tragedies prevalent in valley and fails to make a remark on issue. In spite of being a powerful dramatic satire, it appears to be unstable and stressy. The second half of the movie becomes draggy, loses its hold and leaves audiences to their own self-conclusion. Weaving Hamlet into Kashmir issue was a daunting task and Vishal was partially successful in it. I just hope, second part was not result of sheer politics.

While, majority of bollywood is busy in churning out chutzpahs, Haider is a movie to watch out for. Hindi movies have for long portrayed Kashmiri insurgents as stereotypical enemy of Indian soil and talk about sacrifices made by soldiers. But, Haider has successfully presented a new perspective to the entire scenario. There is a covert and subliminal message that Kashmiris are possessed by inteqaam and they should forget about venegeance. But, we still don’t know why Kashmiris never forgive and forget?

“I must be cruel only to be kind;
Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.” 
 ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet

But instead of  boycotting our  bigotry, we are boycotting Haider. Let us give this choppy movie a chance. Haider is an incredible movie which will be remembered for its sensitive political issue and exquisite detailing. Movie exhales gravity as well as motive. On the whole, movie makes you shudder with mournful squall, makes you search for sanity in insanity and will make you sympathize with sinners.

And finally will lead you to ask yourself........

“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form, in moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” 
― William Shakespeare, Hamlet

As the movie comes to end, we cannot help but wonder at lines

“ In recent devastating flood of Kasmir, Indian Army has saved lives of thousands of civilians, we salute their efforts and valour.”

One cannot stop brooding, whether Indian cinema is learning politics or 'To be or not to be, that is the question.'

DO WE REALLY NEED THE GOLDEN GOOSE???

Once upon a time, in a kingdom not far away, there lived a King who ruled over a glorious nation endowed with fertile land, dormant yet adroit population, natural and mineral wealth. Well, literally and officially he was the nominal King under an authoritarian General. He was quiet an ordinary man, like any other men in the Kingdom but he had connections and having right connections in that Kingdom was key to power. However, as a result of wide-spread corruption, lethargic administration and a stoical population whose endurance was on verge of extinction the great General and his poker king were dethroned with heavy steps.

In state of privation for an able ruler and blossoming destitution, a meeting was held by wise men of the kingdom and courtier. They unanimously voted for a nobleman considered to have rhetoric personality and skills of a competent ruler to take over the reins of Kingdom. His coronation ceremony was elaborately celebrated and religiously attended by the populace. Entire kingdom was teeming with conviction of change. During his days as Nobleman, he had heard of a Kingdom far far away where lands were barren but was rich in a special class of birds known as golden goose. After taking over as the King, he decided to pay a visit to the king of Kingdom far far away and enter a settlement to fetch that golden chick. A day before his journey, an old wise man of the Kingdom forcibly entered precinct of the palace and warned him, “Golden Goose will bring no good to this kingdom”. But King and his men took him as a frantic & he was shown the door. Next day, King embarked on his journey and reached the kingdom far far away. Being impressed by his charismatic personality and passion to take his nation forward, King of far far away gifted him a golden geese and even promised to facilitate trade between them. The golden goose was given a special treatment and a royal place was allocated for her laying eggs. Even a committee was appointed to study and devise ways to increase her productivity. But no matter whatever was done, she used to lay just one golden egg in a day. Slowly, on one hand richness started making inroads, trade started booming, new technology offers started pouring in and wealth was getting accumulated but still happiness was nowhere in sight. Rich were getting richer but poor were getting still poorer, death was sniffing around various corners, people were still getting into religious and regional clashes, orthodox and evil practices were on rise and agriculture was dying a slow death. And one not so fine day, one of the advisors to King told him that golden goose was killed by impatient people in hope of getting rich, no of course not, it’s not the same fable. Instead he informed that the goose has stopped laying egg.

..............................................

The above story may be giving you a sense of déjà vu.  If not, let me put things straight before you get into the story with fine tooth comb. After a season of mute administration and long battle cries of tolerant nation, ultimately the day came, when our own Noah- Narendra Modi took charge of our sinking nation. With bullish share market, deposits growing at healthy 14 percent, credit ratings upgrade and effective inflation management government has revived growth on trajectory of optimism.  As a result of these initiatives, India appears to be a half baked cake, where each global major is trying to add its own cheesy layer and devour the taste.

Both Japan and China are trying to curry favour with India in their own mannerism. Abe travelled all the way from Tokyo to Kyoto to personally welcome Modi. While Modi was drumming his way in a jam session with taiko drummers and wooed Japanese business community with red carpet not red tapism, Abe pledged to invest $35 billion of investment in India. Xi took Hindi-Chini bhai bhai bonhomie one step further by paying a visit to Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat to taste the dum in gujju soil (pun intended) and after tasting the Khakra-Dhokla in Modinnerism served a platter of Chinese $100 billion investment in next five years. At the same time, instructing his PLA (People‘s liberation army) to pull all their might to win a regional war. We are still reading between the lines....But, more is yet to come with Modi’s impending visit to Uncle Sam. Let us see how many brownie points or coins, he picks up there. Now the question arises, Are these investments enough to swap India from its rugged road to its journey of becoming superpower or these investments will turn into Golden Goose which will stop giving results after some time? Let’s see.......

Norway is ranked as second wealthiest country in the world and enjoys the second highest GDP per capita. Its people are prosperous, happy and free. With their impeccable English and command over foreign languages they can shame much of Europe. In spite of not being a member of EU in 30 years from 1997 to 2001, GDP witnessed an increase of 177%; While Denmark which is a part of EU, UK saw an increase of 75% and 98% respectively. Many would suggest that Norway’s success can be attributed to it’s off shore oil industry (golden goose). It’s precisely true that oil and natural gas transformed Norway from one penniless nation to one of the most affluent countries. But it was only of rise of its educated labour class that created history. Norwegians themselves claim that only with education it became possible for them to harvest and utilise their resources in a better manner. They have strong revenue system, low unemployment, rising oil revenues, salary growth regularly and universal welfare services. Government focuses on rather flat income distribution with outlook of equality and ensures that every Norwegian has right to day care for their children, full coverage of pre-school age group, a common basic education from age of 6 to 16, tertiary education free of charge, a public system to give grants and loans to all students ensuring a proper education right to every citizen irrespective of their income. Even starting a business in not a task in Norway with minimum regulations and only five procedures to be undertaken. Human capital accumulation, not just capital accumulation and natural exploitation has rightly paid Norwegians in form of second most happy nation.

In Finland, another Nordic nation and one of world’s most successful country brags about its welfare state, low infant mortality rate, better school scores and far low poverty than even U.S. Finland‘s welfare system has extracted a well to do economic development strategy. Their schools are notoriously renowned for standardization and best practices in international arena. Schools have no standardization testing for students or South Asian “cramming” system. You won’t be able to see any teacher standing in classes and lecturing for 50 min rather students design their weekly targets. Also in addition to Finland’s excellent, efficient and equitable education system they have dirt cheap health care, social care allowance, and other enlightened policies which have been developed in years.

If you are thinking only European nations can sing in glory because western countries to aamir hoti hi hain, you are mistaken because our South Asian tiger is already roaring with efficiency in Malay Peninsula. Singapore- the alpha male of Asian tigers with population of 5.3 million is one of the most competitive markets and is in possession of 11^th largest foreign reserves. Its roar is already sending shivers across strong nations like China and US. A nation under colonial influence till 1965 that left it ailing in destitution, which was not even sure of its future and was devoid of any natural resource, has written a history of being most promising economy. They have one of the best models for urban planning and bureaucratic efficiency by large statistics.  This has been possible because of their focus on Job creation that drives formation and expansion of middle class, quality housing, top notch public education making sure that even lower income people have access to quality education, innovative measures to challenges like immigration, taxation and debt. Government invests heavily in vocational, technical education and encourage a close interaction between education and industrial policies that is need of private sector. Also an open pro business economy and open door policy to foreign capital investment have made Singapore dark horse of developed countries. Even IMF named Singapore as easiest country to do business. Singapore Finance Minister Tharman quoted to a reporter “Singapore story can be explained by three factors: the cultural work ethic of Singaporeans, our response to adverse external conditions and our government especially its education and housing policies. Our approach is to enable people and support a culture of aspiration, work and personal responsibility, rather than have the government take over responsibility.”

Like we Indians invest in banks for our children’s wedded future, South Koreans invest in education. Everything from their social standing to marriage proposals are determined by their education standards. South Korean parent spend more on education than any other nation around 15% of GNP. Teaching in Korea is a high profile job and teachers are highly respected, highly paid, enjoy high social status and have great job security. South Korea which was once one of the poorest countries today is elite member of rich man’s club OECD. The success story of South Korea stands strong on edifice of its educational culture.

While other nations are delightfully tip-toeing with their education in tip-top condition towards amelioration, India’s present and future generation with their half-baked education fetched on basis of hard-earned cash find themselves in a total muddle. According to Pratnaman, an NGO In 2008 only 50% of class 3 student could read class 1 text, but by 2012 it declined by 30%. Even about 50% of class 3 kids were not able to recognize digits up to 100. The reason behind this decline has been years of neglect by government schools and related authorities. And thus, private sector is making huge inroads in education in rural India. As per UNESCO, India has lowest public expenditure on higher education per student, health and infrastructure. A country like Canada allocates 17.9% of budget on healthcare and 12.7% on education, Norway 17.9% of GDP on health care and 16.2% on education, Argentina 13.8% on education, South Korea 18.5% and India 3.4% of GDP on health care and 12.7% on education, quiet low as compared to other countries.

Successive Indian governments fail to realise that technology, scientific advances cannot be achieved by investment or FDI measures but brilliance, imagination and hard work of talented people. On one hand, countries that are emerging as leaders in scientific innovation are clearly those which focus on maximising potential of their citizens and retain the brightest minds & on the other hand, India is magnanimously herding its talented cash cows towards brain drain.

Natural capital which is considered to be wealth of any nation would become redundant in absence of human population to exploit it resourcefully. Thus, measures that aim at increasing human capital accumulation often gives a double dividend by equalizing income distribution, while at same time increasing growth. So, now we know why a kingdom not far away with its talented people, natural and mineral resources could not make golden goose lay egg & why that frantic man warned the king of golden goose? Why the new king was not better than the mute king? Because both were unable to ascertain that their golden goose is their population and they need to invest in them rather than dealing with foreign nations. Only an educated society can have well husbanded country side (infrastructure), enriched farm (agricultural production) and conditions (robust growth, increasing GDP, FDI) so favourable that even normal goose (citizens) can lay golden eggs (growth).

India cannot become superpower just by dealing with powerful nations. To push the power button, it needs to realize the need for balance between free competitive markets and welfare, and turn the utopian concept of welfare into reality. Let us start nurturing and nourishing the golden goose lyingstill in Indian population. If we fail to fathom importance of welfare system, day is not far  when acche din would become a metaphor, happiness a state of mind and India’s dream of becoming superpower would be beyond possibility as much as Modi’s suggestion to Soft drink manufacturers of blending fruit juice with their sweet frizzy drink. Hope Mr Narendra Modi is listening.

P.S. - Still story is not yet over................ you can get more from story.......!!!!  

THE SARI AND PALLU EFFECT

“When television is good, nothing is better; when it’s bad, nothing is worse.”

                                                                 -Newton N. Minnow

                                               ……………………………………

Husband slaps his wife and the camera roles from, one character to another in order of their importance playing “let’s statue” for five minutes staring at each other and of course the slapped wife. And after the slap hangover everyone stands still while the mother and son throw the bahu out of house. ( Reason- varied and out of the reach of my mind for reference watch Sasural Simarka)

                                             ……………………………………

DIYA AUR BAATI HUM (TV Series)

Sooraj (mithai shop owner) – Sandhya (IPS officer and Sooraj’s wife) brought Rajkumar (antagonist) to Pushkar from Jaipur today.

(Whole family is stunned)

Bhabho (the disciplinarian saas)- Is this true Sandhya?? Why didn’t u tell us before?? (Angrily)

(Excuse me Bhabho… Sandhya was not aware that before taking orders from her seniors she needs to consult sassumaa…..of course glare on her like anything…afterall she is your bahu)

Sandhya -   …………………..( don’t take it wrong its speechless as usual)

Babasa (sasurji) - What was the need for Sandhya to get into this matter??

                                                …………………………………………..

Everyone may not be aware who Smriti Irani is, but everyone surely knows Sandhya Bahu or Bhabho. Any one sane can easily figure out a striking resemblance between the former puppet PM and Sandhya bahu who is shown to be as stunned and expressionless as much as Nargis Fakhri whenever someone lashes on her though she is an IPS officer. Similarly, is the case with all the Indian TV bahus like Simar (Sasural Simarka, Colors) who never simmers even when her husband marries another woman in front of her, Akshara (Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) is a living goddess who is always correct and when the entire family was beggared she even turned into CEO who brought back everything with her strategic management skills, Gopi bahu (Sath Nibhana Saathiya) who behaves like a gong which can be stuck by vehement comments from any of the family members but will never ring or make any sound.

The Great Indian Soap operas have made a mare’s nest of Indian woman and their roles in society. The various saasbahu sagas, I would call them saasbahu  kahani because although the central theme would be child marriage or  a woman’s aspiration to be an IPS officer or female foeticide ultimately drama will metamorphose into protagonist getting married and story thereafter is onset. Mum-in-laws guided by these build a castle of expectations (altogether forgetting that saas bhi kabhi bahu thi) for their convent and college educated six figure earning bahus to be like soap opera daughter-in-laws who only grow up dreaming of getting married to their prince charming. Just like TV bahus, they should necessarily be docile, intelligent, wise, sugar coated superwoman, always clad in heavy saris with thick vermilion on their forehead and airbrush face. She should also be a master chef with varied culinary skills, Pablo Picasso in matter of art and craft and operate latest gadgets as well. As if that in not enough, she must be a self-sacrificing woman whose only aim is to make family happy and preserve sanskars. Also their bahurani should nothing be like television minx or vamps that pose with smart and confident look with trendy dresses or backless blouses, who are primarily busy plotting and aim to peel off layers of clothing along with every shred of happiness around them. But the entire self build substructure crumbles down when bahurani is not dumb and soft spoken instead she is vociferous, has mind of her own, aims and inspires to be successful in her career, loves to wear comfortable clothes like jeans, skirts and last blow comes when she is nowhere near being even an average homemaker.

Such an unassertive and backward portrayal of females reinforces gender stereotypes that date back to colonial influence. Who is to be blamed for such a dismal quality of television shows? Producers (who are mainly woman and lead a totally different lives than the characters on TV) or sentimental aamjanta which loves watching females weeping in consternation. TV producers and directors are selling sentiments and its working wonderfully for them while our minds are getting embedded into a perverted social attitude where female role is limited to doing household chores, doing dishes, washing clothes and raising families.

Television is a mirror to society and reflects the thinking and aspiration of its viewers. If such is the taste and outlook of our average Indian viewers, certainly it sounds bell of our intellectual regression. In India of 21^st century females are emerging as challenge for men in every field; we are protesting against rapes, infanticides, dowry system; where women’s have started fighting for their rights; we clearly ignore the influence of television on more than 60 crore Indians of all age groups. It’s really shameful that such a strong powerful medium like TV presents such a distorted image of woman.  

Is television only responsible for entertainment- entertainment at cost of playing with sentiment? Isn’t media responsible towards woman who have no access to education or towards ‘ablanaris’ for whom husbands are bought at a price by rudimentary fathers?? Why not come up with real issues and against bizarre traditions? Shouldn’t it teach Indian mom-in-laws that your daughter in law may be different from them and they should accept them as they are? Can’t it be shown that woman can be more than a homemaker: a career oriented woman with dreams and aspiration. Shouldn’t it be revealed that sanskar and respect cannot be controlled by clothes, it lies in eyes? Altogether is that an arduous task? No, precisely not. In late 90’s Indian Television was host to various soap operas like Rajani, Tara, Shanti, Saans, Hasratein, Astitva-ek prem kahani  that challenged stereotype image of Indian Woman. These serial focused on women liberation and dared to talk about rape, extra marital relationship, divorce and remarriage.

Let’s hope our producers come up with more realistic television serials that portray a girl with a strong sense of individualism and aspires to be a career woman rather than sulking daughter-in-law. And more shows which will deal with real life issues, evil practises in our society and raise a toast to “mardaani” in every woman.....!!!!!!