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Induji the Quintessential Housewife
I find Induji to be the archetypal housewife. Her only occupation is running and managing her family's home. I said occupation - let me correct myself - it is her occupation, hobby, and sole interest in life.
She loves caring for her family - cooking, cleaning, storing food and buying goods for the family. Educating the children was probably Bhuvi's job as he is a Professor. She is not shown having a close friend, sewing, knitting, reading or pursuing any hobby - so I gather she has none.
She is not employed and does not do any volunteer work at the temple or in the community as she is probably kept busy at home. We do not see any servants - so she has a lot of in-house work.
Her entire focus is her family. She probably raised Guttan Mama. When Guttan Mama and the kids were young homemaking was fun and she was cherished by them and her husband. They still do cherish her but alas, they have other interests. They are educated and can converse with her husband at a different level than her. They read and interact with people from all walks of life and have interesting conversations to share but her experience being limited and given that she does not read the newspaper - she feels challenged and left out.
Unfortunately this has created a complex in her. She finds her husband more interested in talking to her kids (daughters) more than to her. She finds her daughters and daughter-in-law sharing jokes and activities that are foreign to her. She suddenly finds herself less needed and more of an outsider in her own home. Perhaps she feels a little jealous, perhaps she thinks she is neglected. Whatever it is - it has created a lot of insecurities and the need to be the focus of attention in her.
So what does she do?
1. Tries to get attention by constantly being a wet blanket. This invariably works out because Bhuvi inevitably attends to her immediately. If that does not work then she pampers Rajat - because that definitely will result in a response from Bhuvi.
2. Try to be controlling by limiting others freedom to meet with another, go to work, or insist on preparing a dish.
3. Harp on the need to follow rituals. Mind you, I say ritual (like 'no going to work after haldi ceremony'). Indu is not much of a believer. Prayer to her is something she engages in a distracted manner while her family is at the breakfast table.
4. She resorts to 'societal image' and pessimism to fill the vacuum in her life.
In my opinion - what she desperately needs is to be engaged in volunteer work or a hobby. Or perhaps even take to catering for small events - this would benefit both her, Alka and her husband when he retires!
Jhanak
Kumkum Bhagya
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