Cultural Rethinking - Women

Women in India underwent a major and long needed change in their lives due to the various reform activities undertaken for the upliftment. They were finally able to emerge from the submissive roles assigned to them by society and emerge as free and independent individuals with their own distinct identity. The change in their social role and function  led to a greater participation of women in the public  sphere and the gradual weakening of the bonds that tied her down to home and family alone.

Women in Modern India have largely been influenced by the T.V Programs.
About a decade ago, we saw the emergence of Tulsi, Parvati and Kussum. Strong protagonists – but all of them set in more or less the same socio-cultural setting, grounded in traditions.

Cut to the present-day . The protagonist is stronger, and differentiated. She is no longer just about pacifying the mother-in-law, and mothering her growing-up children. She is aware, educated, has a mind of her own, and she speaks it too. She has the spunk, and many a time, she takes the lead in decision-making. To put it simply, she does not wait for someone to save her, she is fully capable of doing the saving. And in between all this, she has a heart too, and dotes on her family.

There is a Pratigya fighting against the issues in her own house – a decision maker in Allahabad; there are working or aspiring-to-work women in quite a few soaps – among them Kuch Toh Log Kahenge set in Lucknow and Afsar Bitiya with a Bihar backdrop. There also is a Hitler Didi, where the protagonist, living in Delhi, is the master of the house, and of course Balika Vadhu and Diya Aur Baati Hum (both set in Rajasthan), which propagate women’s empowerment in the rural and semi-urban areas.



Undoubtedly media, at an overall level, influences society and television has a huge role to play in that sense. While at some level, some shows and protagonists do play a role in sounding a wake-up call or instilling confidence, courage, and independence of thought, they thereby inspire other women.  It motivates other women to merge as educated, socially aware, competent "New Women" with a strong sense of their individuality and increasingly looking towards newer avenues for self expression.