Posted:
Hey all, I haven't watched today's episode yet, but when I came to the forum as usual to see what the reactions were, I was quite shocked to see some of the invective against Ishwari. 😲 I know she is a fictional character, and I know she is currently the obstacle to our ship, and I completely understand that her behaviour is infuriating, but to say things like "go ahead and take the pills," and "get out of the way" is taking that frustration too far.
This plot development is a biting critique of the way our society and its households are structured. We teach women that the only way to be relevant is as selfless, all-sacrificing wives, mothers, and daughters-in-law and then suddenly expect them to give up the only validation they have known with complete grace. Ishwari has no identity outside of her children; after fighting so long and for so hard with no time to think about anything else, she finds herself completely free of responsibility. For someone who has never had the chance to think about anything further than the next day's food, that free time can be incredibly anxiety-ridden. Moreover, Ishwari lacks the vocabulary with which to communicate or even understand where her anxieties lie. She can't articulate that she feels uncomfortable about Sona because that would mean her happiness was separate from Dev's, something that goes against everything she has been taught to uphold.
Suicidal thoughts, and mental illness in general are really serious issues, and I think they require a bit more sensitivity in the way we speak about them. Since I am not a professional, I can't diagnose Ishwari, but it is clear that she suffers from some kind of deep anxiety which clouds her mind and makes her act in desperation. If you think about it, the very reason she feels compelled to take this step is being echoed constantly by forum members: she is in the way of Dev and Sona's happiness and wants to "get out of the way." Is it any wonder that the voices in her head are saying the same thing?
Ishwari is acting this way out of fear, and our attitude should ultimately be one of compassion, not derision and ridicule. We also don't know who reads our words when we put them online, and how our attitudes might strike them, so we need to be considerate about what we say when it comes to such a topic. I hope I don't come off as too preachy, but I couldn't stay quiet on this matter. It's fine to be frustrated with Ishwari's behaviour, to question it, and to try and understand it but I really think that encouraging her suicide because it's "better off that way" indicates a certain insensitivity towards serious mental health issues.
Kumkum Bhagya
