Let's talk about Vaidehi...

At the outset, let me say this. I dislike discussing mythology with respect to this show. (or any show that is not actually depicting mythology!). But since the woman of the moment seems to be Vaidehi, let's talk about her a little.

She was a woman of substance who controlled her destiny. I believe the same of Khushi.

Ahh woman... dukhti jugular per haath rakh diya!! you and I have had many conversations about this. Let's see if I can articulate my gyan, here it goes...

There are always two schools of thoughts on anything. History/mythology is always open to interpretation. It irks me to the core when mythology or any historical event is recreated. What even bothers me more is how the events are butchered to fit the needs of the present. Instead of recreating the story, what should be taken from history/mythology is the essence of the characters - their mindset, decisions and actions they took to overcome a situation. I don't know much about Sita or mythology other than what Wikipedia says but my stance on such things has always been the same - take inspiration from the characters and players but not from the circumstances. Instead of butchering Sita's story by recreating the same situation, use her conviction, her determination and decision making as an example because than you are paying tribute to the woman and not the circumstances. If you just recreate the situation, you are undermining her, that she only took certain decisions because the circumstances warranted her to, had she been in a different situation, she would have reacted otherwise. To me, this dilutes the basic core of one's personality. We react differently based on the circumstances BUT our thought process is what makes us take these decisions.
It doesn't matter what school of thought one belongs to, Sita - strong or weak, to each their own. The point is still the same - appreciate and give her credit for making decisions on her own. Do not reduce her to a mere puppet of circumstance.

Sometimes we get serious and these are the times when my own wit feeds on leftovers.

I really hope the show does not go the Vaidehi way, even thou she made her choices.

Hi Vidhya - liked your post .. u r right - just hope they dont make khushi an abla nari ... and whats more she gets pregnant ... ( but after todays epi I am v certain she is goign to be preg) I guess thats the whole idea of showing consumation ... just hope it doesnt turn out to be a dream... that will be too ekta for my liking ...

I dont know whether they can once for a life time show khushi's char as a strong individual who can take her own decision only for her sake..

One thing for sure... if she is left alone at altar .. (no wedding) then CVs should take khushi char to a different dimension where she b able 2 do something with her life..

but then how come it will relate to IPKKND.. ?

I know sita's story.. the best part of her till now is the last bit she willingly went to mother earth.. she refused to go back to Ram..

I can just wish for this strong attitude to next phase of Khushi ..come what may..


btw .. I am still in Arshi land..😳

There is no way your viewpoint of Vaidehi, beautiful as it is, poignant and accurate as it is is still shared by most of the men and most of the much more simple minded CVs and audience members out there.

This is a feministic read of the character/mythological figure, and is not a common viewpoint that is shared by most casual readers of the Ramayana. For most of the audience, Vaidehi, and even Sita, means sacrifice, and is am emblem of the pious, submissive woman who is both ruled by, and ultimately rejected by, her mate. The "mahan" aspect of this symbol for them is the fact that she never allowed what was clearly an injustice to color her own role as wife and mother. They applaud her for returning to the soil and not ruling as a queen because in doing so her sacrifice helps her family (sons), and her husband (Ram) rule and achieve greatness.

I am not saying that Vaidehi is not all that you have said. From the perspective of my reading, her very choices are choices that compel the "perfect" man/god Ram to reveal that when it comes to the feminine, he is as flawed as any of his followers. I like the idea that even the greatest man, the greatest ruler the world has ever seen is still not as pure, nor as noble, as his wife ultimately was. But I have a hard time respecting the story as it has been narrated

The issue for me as always been not a sense of relief that Ram knew of his wife's purity, but disbelief and anger that he allowed a flawed society, and kingly considerations to sway his judgement and reject her. She has to sacrifice what she should never have had to give up. I hate that--because the ultimate reward for her is appreciation for the sacrifice, not a redemption of it.

Khushi was "YOUR" Vaidehi at the start of the show, as Expelliarmus mentioned --she knew her choices were limited, and fought within their constraints, to do what she could for those she loved. She trusted her "Ram "and she trusted her family to make the right choices for her.

But the Khushi she is now is more of the "traditional" reading of Vaidehi--she is the sacrificial lamb. her purity will have to be questioned, and her man will have to make a choice for her, a flawed choice that serves him, and his family and his needs, but completely dismisses her own rights and her needs in the process.

He will leave her, and she will be rejected, and she will turn out to be pregnant, helpless, and alone. She will have to walk on coals of fire for a man who knows, KNOWS, she is innocent and chaste, and she will have to work to win him back, get entry back to the goddamn kingdom when she should have never have had to leave her kingdom all, in the first place.

Its the way most people read the Vaidehi story. Not you and me, not a lot of us. But most people. And, unfortunately, it looks like "most people" actually includes Gul Khan. Just pray she isnt a traditionalist, and wont make Khushi get swallowed by the earth at the end of it all. Sacrifice, indeed.

nice parallels... will come back to this later on, for now, I don't know if you know this already or have forgotten to mention in your post, but the show was supposed to be originally titled 'Vaidehi' too.. 😳 that actually drew my attention to your post..