REALLY??

Is Pratigya really helping social progression and women's empowerment in India?

I lived in India for over 20 years and in the West for over a decade. I am more loyal and in love with India today than when I left because I have spent a lot of my time abroad defending India against the misconceptions and the stereotypes surrounding our land and our people.

But while I stand by my country I am also very much aware of its societal and systemic shortcomings. India is a country that has a lot of academics and a lot of very practical people. In fact, it is this embedded practicality that helps the poor and the middle class masses survive and sometimes even thrive in a country where hard knocks and fierce competition is so apparent in any walk of life (be it work, business or education)

India has good laws and the necessary system and infrastructure to execute those laws but the law will only be truly effective when it is fortified and its performance is monitored and checked.

Why do I have more faith of getting justice in the West than in India as an average middle class Jane with no money or influence?

Because the western system is supported by key controls that FORCE it to work (to the degree that it does)

1. Accountability mechanisms like arms-length watchdogs. Bodies that are established to fight for the rights of citizens who are shunned or mistreated by the system
2. Legislation strengthening the power of NGO's and giving them teeth to fight injustice and TAKE ACTION against the abusers themselves rather than leaving it to the cops alone
3. A strong and influential media that uses the Freedom of Speech and Expression to the nth degree for all its worth.

These are just a few examples of controls that make law and order in the West work. When the system works and fair play for average citizens becomes an assumption not an expectation, that is when social evils, issues, stigmas take a blow.

In all my years in India, neither as a student or an employee or a citizen did I learn about any watchdogs or any legislation strengthening NGOs. In fact NGOs and Media have only become more visible in the last decade (and I am very happy about that). Even Freedom of Information legislation is relatively new.

The US faced a similar problem in the early 1900's and it took the McCarthy Era to fix it (to a major degree though not totally). An era where special taskforces were deployed to root out corruption with zero tolerance within the law enforcement and legal system

But then again would a solution that was good for a country of less than 30 Million work in an environment where there are over a Billion??? I think it would be very difficult to manage.

Law and Order is an excellent drama that shows the law enforcement and legal system in the West for what they are - sometimes effective and sometimes not. They show success and corruption on the part of the supposed HEROS. And it is this realism that makes it so popular. But does this realism make it effective in addressing any corruption in the US and Canadian law enforcement and legal system? No. It brings awareness but ZERO EFFECT, INFLUENCE OR IMPACT.

Impact is brought by the NGOs, the media and the watchdogs breathing down the necks of the law enforcement and legal systems.

Similarly, I would not classify Pratigya as a social drama. It is JUST A DRAMA. It will not impact, influence or effect societal change or progression in India. Also the focus of the show is not social issues/evils (that is just a carrot where recipes given to eat the carrot are exciting to read but unpalatable to consume) but Kriya.

Is Pratigya really helping social progression and women's empowerment in India? Unfortunately No.

In my opinion, if this show wants to progress from a drama into a social drama and wants to show TRUE AWARENESS of societal issues and realistic implementable solutions then the story has to stop erroneous and potentially dangerous solutions ' stop showing people fight to save marriages of domestic violence victims and their abusers, stop showing middle class victims marry goons for revenge, stop showing women slapping people with weapons and brute force to resolve issues. It is only when these sensational things are replaced with sensible things that the actions of the female protagonist can be something that we consider, reflect on and practice.

Show that domestic abuse victims are given shelter in safe surroundings and is given marketable skills and training, show that stalkers are either punished by law/media/NGO/community, show how successful the law really is in meting out justice to uneducated helpless women or the average joe/jane. Half-baked solutions do not save but mislead and give the vulnerable and naive a false sense of security and knowledge.

Until then Pratigya is just another soap where the cast is superb and the onscreen chemistry between the leads is entertaining.

Just because I express dislike or intolerance for a fictional character's solutions or an element of the plot that I think is unreasonable or ineffective, does not mean I am not supporting social change or progression in India. It just means that I have an opinion on something fictional that I am seeing.

It is a request not to look for a deeper, more altruistic meaning in the actions of the female protagonist or erroneously consider this soap as a means of effecting change in a country as complex as my motherland India.

let us enjoy the show for its unrelenting creativity, discuss the plot to death even use satirical posts on the plot and the characters but please let us not bash members on a personal level for a differing opinion.

Hope

I totally agree with u Hope. Pratigya is just another serial. Indian TV (and others) is still not responsible socially. Pratigya does not provide any solution to any real problem, it only provides entertainment. Pratigya is a good entertainment, nothing more. I hate people like Sajjan Singh but he is a great actor and a very entertaining character. Pratigya is pretty and looks good with Krishna. Krishna is handsome and girls love him. All these characters r only characters.

There r only 2 shows on Indian television that I think r closer to reality and try to address the issues a lot of people face around the world. Television is still very far from showing good social messages and solutions to problems. We shud all accept it as entertainment and nothing more. It is not their responsibility to show social messages on TV and it is our responsibility (if we r sensible enough and if not, then parents' responsibility) to not pick up things from the show and consider them as solutions to various social issues. Although they dont say it directly that Pratigya (or any other serial) is addressing a social issue and providing a solution, some people in the cast do say that this is a great serial and people shud stand up this way etc. They hav their own opinion but they provide us with entertainment only and they shud accept that and convey that only.

It is very sad to see most of the female protagonist sending a wrong message and people admiring that attitude.


It is only when these sensational things are replaced with sensible things that the actions of the female protagonist can be something that we consider, reflect on and practice. 👏 👏

Originally posted by: bhavni88

and it needs to start from the top..ie the politicians..to the average man on the road..

I think it shud b the other way around. Even the politicians were the average men before becoming politicians.

Sometimes u dont know where to start from but u shud not take these serials seriously.

It will take a lot of time before the east becomes powerful and strong like the west (and this is not a criticism!) India or some of the other countries in the east r not very old. We dont have to or want to become like the west but there r basic issues that shud solved so that the country becomes a better and safe place to live.

I live in Canada but my homeland is Pakistan and right now I m not happy at all where my country is going. It saddens me so much. I m not afraid to accept the flaws in my country bcoz we can only get rid of the flaws and issues if we recognize them. I know its easier to say all this when u r not even in that country and going through the everyday struggles. Its going to take a lot to make that country a better place to live. Even Canada is not perfect, no country is.

Originally posted by: bhavni88

great written post Hope..👏👏👏

I agree with the points made..

my parents and husband were born in India...I have been on visits many times..

the only way India can progress is if corruption can be curbed/controlled/abolished...this is my view...

I dont feel that this show is highlighting any progression or women enpowerment....

India can overtake the west but inorder for this to happen law and force needs to be in place..

and it needs to start from the top..ie the politicians..to the average man on the road..

We are 'quick' to adapt western food/clothes/music etc but what about the things that really matter and that can bring a positive change??

thanks bhavni

I agree

the west has some very good legislation and systemic controls we should adopt but as the show points out in many smaller towns tribal or parallel forms of councils etc exist. Western laws are not equipped to deal with this nuance or nuisance take your pick

SS in the show is shown to be a law unto himself much like AB's role in the movie Sarkar. Yet the show does not effectively address how the law works around him.

in fact there are epis in which they show people coming to him justice as opposed to the cops. this is real.

the show does not show any women's rights or human rights NGOs in any form or manner to counsel kesar. Don't you think that if the show really want to show resolution of domestic violence it would show this rather than show the social advocacy efforts of a woman with no resources, counselling expertise or experience, occuapational training experience and influence (other than her sis' to be FIL)?

so we take this show with a pinch of salt, eh?

I am sometimes shocked to see that the female protaganist solutions are even considered valid and justifiable for dealing with the issues at hand? I only put this post because today there was an implication that this show is trying to effect change😲 and that challeninging the efforts of the female lead was not supporting social change in India? Anyways that is my opinion.

Originally posted by: unknown18

I totally agree with u Hope. Pratigya is just another serial. Indian TV (and others) is still not responsible socially. Pratigya does not provide any solution to any real problem, it only provides entertainment. Pratigya is a good entertainment, nothing more. I hate people like Sajjan Singh but he is a great actor and a very entertaining character. Pratigya is pretty and looks good with Krishna. Krishna is handsome and girls love him. All these characters r only characters.

There r only 2 shows on Indian television that I think r closer to reality and try to address the issues a lot of people face around the world. Television is still very far from showing good social messages and solutions to problems. We shud all accept it as entertainment and nothing more. It is not their responsibility to show social messages on TV and it is our responsibility (if we r sensible enough and if not, then parents' responsibility) to not pick up things from the show and consider them as solutions to various social issues. Although they dont say it directly that Pratigya (or any other serial) is addressing a social issue and providing a solution, some people in the cast do say that this is a great serial and people shud stand up this way etc. They hav their own opinion but they provide us with entertainment only and they shud accept that and convey that only.

It is very sad to see most of the female protagonist sending a wrong message and people admiring that attitude.


It is only when these sensational things are replaced with sensible things that the actions of the female protagonist can be something that we consider, reflect on and practice. 👏 👏

the whole slapping stalkers and thugs thing is very reckless in real life.

I have seen may articles where this has not only been glorified but also duplicated by young girls after watching pratigya.

I was horrified.

yes stalkers need to be indimated but through sensible means not provocative.

I have heard of many many instances where if you slap them or provoke them today with any form of engagement then tomorrow they come back and throw acid or assault you in a manner

provocation is not the answer

I was stalked too when I was in my teens for three months

I did not slap the guy.

I got help from others (not cops)

the issue was resolved and never repeated.

when I was being stalked I remember thinking I should deal with this myself and be brave. so I went up to the guy and asked him what his problem was adn why was he followign me each day. the sleazebag told me THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT and if you make an issue of it I will throw acid on you. and it was at that moment that i realized he is right. I am vulnerable as I travel this route alone everyday and a lot of this route is located on quiet residential neighbourhoods so I spoke to my family and got reinforcements and took lots and lots of precaution

my actions were sensible but not sensational. I did not get any recognition for outsmarting him but here I am 20 years later safe and sound and THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED.

I think in our (eastern) culture kids r scared or not open enough to share these kinds of problems with parents or some sensible adult. Even some parents r scared to do anything bcoz of their so called izzat. Parents and adults need to b strong and give their support to girls who go through these things.

There has been one incident in my life that I was too scared to share with my parents. I was only around 11 or 12 years old. Today I can tell anything to my parents. I regret I didnt tell them. I didnt do anything abt that issue but I wish I did and told my parents. Now I will make sure, when I hav kids, they will b able to share everything with me and if not me, then at least with some sensible person. It was a bad experience but it taught me something good, just like everything in life.


Slapping around guys is not the solution. They will get bak at u and as u said Hope, they wont b able to do anything. Pooja said in one article how she stood up for herself like Pratigya but Pooja needs to remember she is a celeb and that incident happened in Mumbai in public. If this happened in a village or something then that girl wud b in a lotttt of trouble.

Originally posted by: unknown18

I think in our (eastern) culture kids r scared or not open enough to share these kinds of problems with parents or some sensible adult. Even some parents r scared to do anything bcoz of their so called izzat. Parents and adults need to b strong and give their support to girls who go through these things. Slapping around guys is not the solution. They will get bak at u and as u said Hope, they wont b able to do anything.

yes sid, u nailed it. support starts at home.

in fairness, the serial did show the father try to lodge a police complaint and even try to leave town until the issue died down. the parents actions were not surreal with regards to the stalking

it was the actions of the lead which implied bravery but was actually a hit and miss attempt at false bravado as we saw once she actually ended up living in the house of supposed stalker.

Some definite solid points, Hope and it ultimately is all subjective and up to the eye of the beholder.

Unlike other soaps using the same codes and conventions, MKAP manipulate them in different ways in order to attract their target audience with different views. They don't want to disappoint either groups. Hence MKAP adapts the entertainment-education model. CVs are trying to tackle issues in both general perspective of right verses wrong and broad perspective of leaving the ground for audience to be creative in how they perceive the characters/the overall drama. Audiences have many reasons why they watch soap operas. Escapism is a big reason; people choose to watch soaps to look lives other than their own. It helps viewers to see that their lives may not be as bad as the characters on television. Some are truly seeking social messages, some idealize some characters just because the character is appealing. The track where K & Shakti confronted each other with weapons tried to give a family drama, the very next day CVs brought up Kriya restaurant track (not to disappoint Kriya fans) and the other day- the pickpocket scene (to wow them who think P is the soul of the drama). See! They are smart!.

Krishna Singh

Some of us perceive him to be unique character simply because that is who he is or what he find to be the most satisfying path to embrace. He doesn't see what SS is doing as the "right" thing to do but cherish that blackest of black feelings from the moment he arise to the moment he fall to slumber. We are identified with him and saw him as someone who was trying to turn his life around.

Some of us seeking social message use the standard logic, heroes are good, villains are bad. A man of good will and good intentions resorts to violence only as a last resort. We much prefer to live in a safe, orderly society of mutual rules which abridge existential freedom than suffer the perpetual fear of chaotic society.

SS as a clear antagonist

Some of us come up with the SS's motivation (evil, revenge, greed) and stop. We see it from the hero's perspective. For them, there's something scarier about SS that relishes or loves the fact that what they are doing is destructive or causing suffering of some kind, whose motivations are ultimately opaque. They terrorize people because it is in their nature to do so. Hero should kill villain. Period.

That might not excite audience like me and think he probably doesn't know he's the bad guy. Knowing the whole arc gives us more to push against. CVs might have tried to bring out the inner wounds of SS to show a human side in him. Most of us may not like him, but will understand his inability to evolve to the "good" side. Just a whisper of humanity adds so much depth to the overall story. IMHO. A hitman does his part to forward his boss' agenda. Its his job, he has to survive. Does that make him protag or antag? Every character is the protagonist in their own story. SS and K are exactly the same, separated by the thinnest of moralistic lines. We are not advocating behaving like SS in real life. But we need to have the imaginative opportunity to examine our moral "goodness" which, after all, is hardly put to the test if you are well-to-do, well-educated and live in a free society. We most likely leave that mindset reinforced in our determination to be morally good, because now we have confronted our own dark side.

It doesn't require too much effort to see MKAP through P's eyes, as she is quite morally the standard protag. For some, her points/actions rattles around for a second, and then comes to us "yeah, but, that's an extreme example; our generalization falls down; how many Pratigyaz we find these days who will stand for scripted Right even if that might shake her married life. That's because I am not seeking a social message in MKAP. Same with SS's misdeeds, its exaggerated! So I wait and try to think what might happen in next episode that will excite me as long as the character is developed enough and engaging.

SS & K have more interesting back-story and motivation than Pratigya, since SS/K must go outside the bounds of morality to fulfill their needs. It makes me curious to find how K & SS carry with them the possibility of redemption; whether or not that actually happens in the course of the story, it makes for better drama. Again that's because I am not seeking any messages. Simply put!

To each their own, quite obviously!