Does Jyoti the serial advocate superstition?

Today's  episode made me think once again about something that's been @ the back of my mind for a long time - how modern and forward thinking really is Jyoti (I'm talking more about the serial, although the character herself has little to  write home about).

Today, when Asha &  Bhavri confronted Jyoti on keeping Roshni's illness secret from them and Jyoti denied doctor intervention,  they told her about this Seetala mandir where if one walks to the place barefoot, their wishes are granted.  Next few days, one would think, Roshni would somehow be miraculously cured.

I have nothing against religious sentiments, but there's one thing here that bothers me: here, doctors are  depicted as corrupt and  simplistic, coming up w/ recommendations made in a vacuum.  I mean which doctor will come up w/ a recommendation that forces his patient or her relatives to make life altering social adjustments, such as have babies out of wedlock/divorce & remarry....?  The docs Pankaj consulted were only too happy to do his bidding in tricking Jyoti into volunteering herself to Roshni, after another in Udaipur helped him kidnap her.

And now, after that 'world famous specialist' came up w/ that loony recommendation, which would be untenable in a real clinic, the solution  to Roshni's problem lies in Jyoti going barefoot to a mandir.  How original

And this is not the first time!  In the past too, Jyoti has preferred superstitious solutions to her problems over practical ones, like the time she told Sushma not to adopt out her baby but marry Brij instead, or when she disallowed Padma from selling her bangles to  fund Deepu's education (this was @ the start of the serial) or when she handed over her mangal sutra to Sudha after her  divorce.  A few days ago, when Kabir was out to a political speech & Jyoti got ill omens like diyas going out, she did her best to stop him, and Kabir pointed out to her that she's an educated girl, so how can she believe all this?  Even Dadi nowadays doesn't have such blind faith in such omens, but Jyoti does.

Since the serial communicates its views via its leads, this begs the question - is it trying to encourage its viewers to believe in superstitions?  As this serial draws to a close, it's worth evaluating whether it's messages have been for better or worse

Yes I think this serial seems to be stuck in superstition. For someone who is supposed to be 'forward thinking' and fighting for women's rights, Jyoti doesn't show any rational thinking. She is forever talking about "mangalsutr" and "maang". For crying out loud she has a husband who believes in equality of the sexes and is very liberal. Then why is she being portrayed as an uneducated, highly emotional fool.

I am very disappointed in the last few episodes of Jyoti. Instead of calmly exploring all the options to save her daughter, Jyoti has disintegrated into a sobbing, bickering, emotionally charged mess. I understand that people turn to the almighty in times of need. We all do. But, that shouldn't stop us from exploring other options. Why couldn't the writers show Kabir and Jyoti using their collective energies and brains to come up with alternative solutions. Does it take a "suddenly reformed" chotti maa to figure it out ? What crap ?

I am not sure if the producers think that if they show the main characters as being superstitious it will increase viewership. Why do they have to confuse being religious with being superstitious. Show the women charcters as being religious by all means but, please don't insult women who watch this serial by showing them as lacking brains.

Aiyyyyo Ramaaaaa...  that's all I can say for these kinda things they do for finding solutions. I thought Jyoti is someone who finds sensible solutions to problems but it seems like she is again getting the dumb image. Aiyyyyooooo..

Or should I singing yaaaaaayyy naaaaaaaaa  sick sick track that has been recently played in Jyoti for the sad events...And what the hell does she mean by "sahi waqt aane par sab ko bathayenge"  .. its not a good Diwali gift that someone reveals during a festive occasion. What is she waiting for? and why does she not take Asha's advice of having Sumer get some contacts... grrrrr...I thought that la la la singing Bhavri is going to give some punch dialogue but it ended up even more pathetic suggesting to go to pray barefoot ...urrrggghhh,,, wake up creatives...

I hope Jyo doesnt think that the family members would feel upset hearing the news. Well, the good ones already know. I very much doubt if Vikrant or CS would care at all for the baby's cancer. Probably RP would show some fake sympathy for the situation just to get the political touch. Other than that every other good family member (except Sumer and Raghuveer) now know the fact and its no big secret.

Not sure what CM has researched and found as remedy for Roshni but would be glad if this track gets some positive output. As if it wasnt enough seeing adults getting tortured, why torture this poor cute baby.  They could have used a simple curable disease for her if they really had to show the sorrow in Jyoti's life. Why cancer!!

Edited by sundara - 13 years ago

I agree with u lot aswell. But i really wanted jyoi tooget pregnant wiv kabir. wen is it going to happen its about tym anall.xxxxxxxxx😭😭😊

Obviously, I've always seen Jyoti advocate human rights, woman emancipation and family bonding but she disastrously reduces herself to an extremely low level when it comes to herself and turns into an instant doormat.

Being a doormat is one thing, but being superstitious something else totally, although w/ most of these mahaan characters, I've noticed one accompany the other.  But I'd think it's possible to let others walk all over you, while still not believing that if a diya goes out when you are doing a varan, your hubby's life is endangered, et al.  But the way Jyoti believes all this - she's no different from Padma or the average saas out there.  Which sadly doesn't reflect well on the serial itself.

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

Being a doormat is one thing, but being superstitious something else totally, although w/ most of these mahaan characters, I've noticed one accompany the other.  But I'd think it's possible to let others walk all over you, while still not believing that if a diya goes out when you are doing a varan, your hubby's life is endangered, et al.  But the way Jyoti believes all this - she's no different from Padma or the average saas out there.  Which sadly doesn't reflect well on the serial itself.

Originally posted by: SEPIDEHh

Every country has its own culture and I dont know it is right or wrong,if a diya goes out or falling thalis on the ground that I saw in some serials told abshagun hain or In Bandini a Glass of Milk falling on the ground and  Santu  refers that  is a bad omen sign,or many more.But I belive that God show us some sign to find the right way.

I heard about Sai Baba and his Miraclous works ,or Bernadet Sobiro who Saw Holly Mary in garbage place(Small village in southern France) in last 1890's .So many Christians belive that going there (I forget the name of that village) shows them the right way.

Jyoti's situation is so critical ,so going to that Mandir Barefoot that Asha told her may show her some sign to help find the best solution .

 

SEPIDEh, its all the matter of belief ...India has developed a lot...n u won't find such kinda people much here....for a diya blow of, puja's thalis falling on ground, milk splitting or the breaking of glass, r very common incidents happening in day-to-day life.... me too an Indian, from a religious family...but here too ma mom not at all beleive in all these stuffs........
..but ya i agree, if someone's daughter is in such situation then one might think of going barefoot to mandir/dargah to pray for the life of their children......
.....but me 2 find it quiet weird dat just by going barefoot, suddenly a solution(actually problem) came to u while one of the renowned doc wasn't able to find such way of treatment...