Ideas abt. Lakshmi's attempted rape

If you're going to have a rape, or an attempted one, it's a wonderful opportunity to address a problem not only in India but around the world. What differs between Indian women and non-Indian women is the ability to talk about the experience and to access tools/support systems that are out there. Again, this is a statement that speaks to averages and likelihood, and not that Indian women keep quiet all the time.

Ideas: Lakshmi has problems sleeping, anxiety about the rape, not feeling safe even when in her own house. Her behavior change isn't impacted by the support of her family (no fault of theirs). Karan goes with her or secretly takes her to a therapist who helps her understand slowly. Lakshmi goes to small groups where actual women can talk about what happened to them and how they turned the tables on the system, perpetrator, and society to some degree. It talks about surviving and enduring in a healthy way. And also feeling that you are not the only one and how other women and you can rebuild your life again and be stronger.

This would be such a wonderful idea--(not because I wrote the post) but because it happens everywhere (in marriages, among friends, among strangers, among co-workers, among family unfortunately).

Creatives--take the challenge! It would be an amazingly bold statement about women's strengths and a very rich story women in particular should see and be aware of.

it is a wonderful idea and it is one of the big social issues. Beriyaan has been wonderfully showing the social issues and I think it would be great.

I myself have worked with victims in the past and believe me it takes a lot of guts from a woman, indian or not, to talk about what they went thru.

You've brought up an excellent point, gp00. It is true that when such cases occur with women from small cities or rural areas in India, most likely they are either hesistant to raise their voice because of the society they are in or are unsure of the support that is available for them. This reminds me of the social worker, who was shown earlier in this show when Bhavishya abused Saraswati. Saraswati was severely burnt, tortured, and was emotionally unstable because of all she went through. The social worker tried to help Saraswati but she just didn't feel strong enough and couldn't cooperate. All of a sudden, the story took a confusing turn and we saw a new Saraswati with no sign of abuse. It is disappointing that the creatives did not take that opportunity to show the therapists/support groups which are available for such victims.

This time, the creatives should take advantage of the theme and not ignore it as they did in Saraswati's case. It would be nice to see Lakshmi attending a support group and together with their help, bring that man behind bars. He should not be spared after such an act. The Betiyann team should show the opportunities available for the victims (like Saraswati and Lakshmi) who go through the same traumatic incident to help them gain self-control and self-esteem because it does happen and for the women who don't raise their voice for one reason or another, a show with ideas like this provides them courage to fight and confidence that they are not alone.

The idea of support groups , i am afraid , is still not popular at all in India . It is still considered unfortunately , a western concept or an elite concept . On a rural level , or middle class level , people just pick up the pieces and go on . yes , there r social workers .....but like they showed in saraswatis case ....they r regarded as pests rather than helpers !

If u see carefully....which social issue has been handled in Betiyaan ? The serial is based on girl boy discrimination , bas....only that much . There were a number of social issues that they cud have handled ....and sent a message to women all over the world . But they didnt .

The property issue . Instead of showing Savitri backing down , they cud have shown that she rested only after she ensured that the daughters had equal right in the property ....as a right . not as a whim of the father ....like Surya later did .
The Saraswati issue . After Saraswati got burnt....then they showed Laxmi fiting .Did they show Savitri scolding Saras for keeping quiet for so long ?No ! In fact they even showed Savitri paying Dharaben money so that saras cud be happy !
The dressing woman in white issue . The betiyaan were less forceful than Halki fulki and gang .
Even the chanchal issue . She is forbidden by Surya to come to the house as she speaks her mind. But she is Savitris sister . Does Savitri have a right , after years of selfless service in a marraige , to decide who will come to the house or no ....especially her relatives? Does she have the right to say ...no it is my house too...she comes here to see me ? If u , my husband , doesnt like her...no problem...dont talk .but she will come here to meet me....menakas brother lives here all the time so does ur sisters husband hasmukh ! Do i have some rights or no ? And no, u cant fling me out of the house for saying this....I have a right to live here ...it is not charity by which i live here ! But no...not a word on the chanchal issue and now its forgotten.
So u see , although i digressed, social issues r not handled well by these creatives.
I doubt whether they will show Lax getting nightmares about the rape attempt...i dont think the creatives have this sensitivity at all to even delve in the issue . they may show karan , on an individual level helping her out as he alone knows the secret . all the women in this serial hide pain. lax will too ! savitri hid her pain as a woman and tolerated second marraige, saras hid pain and tried to adjust to a beast like bhavishya, lax hid what she endured at the mathurs, even that day ...her first reaction was to hide from savitri . u tell me, when these women r not comfortable talking even amongst themselves....where they will talk to support groups ? ur idea is wonderful ....how i wish they wud really show at least one issue with this kinda help !

you have a wonderful idea. But unfortunately, i really fon't think the creatives would probably do that. I think they just showed that scene, just to bring Karan forth and be "great" in front of Lakshmi's eyes and so they could get closer or watever it is. But they would be interesting if they do show that.

excellent point ....wish creatives do that 😃

Wonderful idea gp00, wud be a great mssg to the public if they showed this. But as koolsadhu said, I don't think theres a very large possibility of them focusing on this issue. Really wish they do though, its an imp issue that has to be relayed to the public.

I think it's a great idea. There was a period of time where all these women were being raped in various serials (Kasamh Se, Saat Phere). SP somewhat took advantage of the situation to make a statement (on how badly women are treated), but not KS (unsurprising).

Both these incidents brought up a lot of truly disturbing comments from the women and girls posting on their respective forums. When Rashi was raped by Ranvir, so many girls saw nothing wrong with that because Rashi was seeking intimacy. They could honestly not tell the difference between rape and intimacy! Many Indian women believe that it's okay if a man rapes a woman as long as he marries her. There is just so much false information and backwards thinking that must be addressed. Rape is one of the worst crimes that could happen to a person short of being killed. It would be nice to see these serials using their popularity to do some good.

but they dont rainabow. they just dont do that . they wont take even a teeny weeny responsibility and show us how to deal with those issues. They will just show the suffering [ the issue] and thats it. Something highly dramatic to make the suffering vanish.....like Karans mom waking up at last minute...or god and bells ringing in temples . something highly ridiculous as the solution to the issue. For instance , if they show a gal is raped.....the solution is a young man agreeing to marry her inspite of her being raped. That makes the young man a Devtaa in the serial . But the woman ?? What about rape and the scars it leaves on her mind for the rest of her life ? Will she ever look at the world normally again? Will she ever feel like responding to love ? How to help her...who can help her ? And why the hell should [ forgive me] marraige be a solution ? It is so so stupid ! In Saat phere this is precisely wat they showed . Piya marrying A man was the solution to rape !! A man will rape....and the one who will give solution to this problem is also a man ! Arre baba....but what about the woman ? Is she anywhere...anywhere in this whole thing ? Saloni supposedly aborts a baby....she is kicked out of the house. no child....right to live in house goes. How stupid ! Can a woman only live in the house so long as she carries the waaris and the other house members r khush with her ? Rape hua na....shaadi karo ! And the woman , tears of gratitude shud boot lick the man as her devtaa. It is so demeaning the way women r portrayed...so, so , demeaning.

Yes, many, many shows depict the women as:

Foolish, self-sacrificing martyrs
Happy to be home with their #1 priority in life: family
Never expanding outside of the home, even once in a while to enrich herself intellectually.
Doing things that don't make any sense, when better and more reasonable alternatives exist (e.g. Lakshmi / Suryakant surgery, Bani KS)

I guess this is the model they hold in high esteem.