I don't think anyone blames Gopi for fleeing the house at that time. Like you said, it was natural and anyone would have done the same, but I am surprised that she kept this up for eight years. So when was she planning on telling Vidya about her father? After the girl grew up? 😕 Wouldn't Vidya have harbored resentment against her mother by that time? The secret came out only because of the kids. Otherwise, Vidya would have grown into an adult not knowing who her father was, and she definitely would have resented her mother when she found out the truth as an adult. So yeah, Gopi's actions when she ran away were natural, but her actions after Vidya's birth were selfish and benefited herself, not her daughter. So in a way, I can see why viewers would resent Gopi crying "meri beti" when she herself separated the girl from her father for eight years. So are the CVs trying to send the message that a father and child can be separated, but it's a heinous crime to separate mother and child?
It's high time India gave importance to both husband and wife, mother and father. It is often portrayed in serials that the husband is greater than the wife, and the mother is greater than the father. This is totally wrong. Both husband-wife are equally important. Likewise, both mother-father are equally important in a child's life.
I actually doubt that Vidya would be resenting her mother. In fact if she comes to know the reasons of her mother abandoning her family, I think she might be sad, but she will become her mother's support. By the time she becomes a grown person, she would also know if her mother is a caring and responsible one. So the whole blame of Gopi being the killer of Meera will not be accepted by Vidya.
All said and done, Gopi should have informed the modis, but if today's reaction is any indication, it wouldn't have been any better 7 years ago. They would have snatched away Vidya from Gopi saying Gopi is an irresponsible mother!!! So I think I understand Gopi's reasons for not informing modis any time sooner