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The disrobing of Raman Bhalla in today's episode is rife with interesting symbolism and irony. Beneath the titters of entertainment lurk discernible undercurrents of a suggestive commentary on the politics of vulnerability, exposure, and skewed gender dynamics in contemporary India.
Ironically, the story of Ishita narrow escape from being raped has overtones of the plot of the Mahabharata. Like Draupadi, Ishita was robbed of her dignity first by Pervmeet, and then by the entire household that ganged up to chide and deride her. In both instances, Ishita was left to fend for herself, while her own in-laws blinded by their deluded love for the daughter's husband quickly disowned her, and her own husband, much like the Pandavas in the Mahabharata was a mute and helpless witness to Ishita's public dishonoring that caused her to lose her home, her honor and dignity, and left her in an extremely vulnerable situation.
With the pants fiasco, today the shoe was on the other foot. We had the odd sight of Raman leaving his pants at home, venturing out, much in the same manner as Ishita, vulnerable, undignified, and exposed. A case of "instant karma" perhaps? If you are unable to protect your own wife's honor and speak on her behalf, you certainly do not deserve to wear the pants in house! (Or outside the house for that matter).
The juxtaposition of the two "exposures" are interesting. Ishita was the victim of unwarranted attention of a lascivious relative who deliberately forced himself on her and put her in a helpless and vulnerable situation. Raman's vulnerability, on the other hand, is the result of his own negligence and absentmindedness. Ishita's vulnerability is a horrifying comment on the state of women in our nation; Raman's vulnerability, while laughable because it is self-inflicted, is also a salient and symbolic marker of on how exposed and lost Raman feels without Ishita in his life. While in a sense, despite her near escape from a traumatic situation, Ishita is still quite self-possessed, Raman is incomplete and unable to manage his day. Stripped of his Ishita in his life is akin to being without clothes.
Finally it is poignant that it was ultimately Ishita who pointed out the glaring wardrobe malfunction (it was more of a non-function than a malfunction, as there was not much there in the first place to malfunction) for Raman. She might well have said, "Sir, not only is your slip showing, but your show (of this self-assured, egotistical person) is slipping. Touche! It was a wonderful instance of poetic justice that worked.
Ironically, the story of Ishita narrow escape from being raped has overtones of the plot of the Mahabharata. Like Draupadi, Ishita was robbed of her dignity first by Pervmeet, and then by the entire household that ganged up to chide and deride her. In both instances, Ishita was left to fend for herself, while her own in-laws blinded by their deluded love for the daughter's husband quickly disowned her, and her own husband, much like the Pandavas in the Mahabharata was a mute and helpless witness to Ishita's public dishonoring that caused her to lose her home, her honor and dignity, and left her in an extremely vulnerable situation.
With the pants fiasco, today the shoe was on the other foot. We had the odd sight of Raman leaving his pants at home, venturing out, much in the same manner as Ishita, vulnerable, undignified, and exposed. A case of "instant karma" perhaps? If you are unable to protect your own wife's honor and speak on her behalf, you certainly do not deserve to wear the pants in house! (Or outside the house for that matter).
The juxtaposition of the two "exposures" are interesting. Ishita was the victim of unwarranted attention of a lascivious relative who deliberately forced himself on her and put her in a helpless and vulnerable situation. Raman's vulnerability, on the other hand, is the result of his own negligence and absentmindedness. Ishita's vulnerability is a horrifying comment on the state of women in our nation; Raman's vulnerability, while laughable because it is self-inflicted, is also a salient and symbolic marker of on how exposed and lost Raman feels without Ishita in his life. While in a sense, despite her near escape from a traumatic situation, Ishita is still quite self-possessed, Raman is incomplete and unable to manage his day. Stripped of his Ishita in his life is akin to being without clothes.
Finally it is poignant that it was ultimately Ishita who pointed out the glaring wardrobe malfunction (it was more of a non-function than a malfunction, as there was not much there in the first place to malfunction) for Raman. She might well have said, "Sir, not only is your slip showing, but your show (of this self-assured, egotistical person) is slipping. Touche! It was a wonderful instance of poetic justice that worked.
