The saga of episodes…

to be continued…

An exploratory study on the impact of the Hindi Tele-serial

Balika Vadhu

on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

A dissertation submitted by

Dhanya Thomas

Under the guidance of

Dr. Fr. Maria Charles

A partial fulfilment of the course requirements for the studies of

Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism

Under

Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism

and Communication

On

April 25, 2009

NISCORT A-2, Sector 1

Vaishali, Ghaziabad U.P 201012

Contents

Page no.

Foreword 3

Introduction 4

Chapter 1 5

1.1 Slums and their issues

1.2 Profile of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

1.3 Research methodology

Chapter 2 13

2.1 Role of television in development

2.2 Impact of television on socio-cultural life of people

2.3 Recent trends in the Hindi Tele-film industry

2.4 Plot and show synopsis- Balika Vadhu: Kacchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte

2.5 Popularity of Balika Vadhu- TRP rates and reviews

2.6 Relevance of Balika Vadhu in the context of child marriage

Chapter 3 20

3.1 Survey results and analysis and interpretation of data

3.2 Impact of Balika Vadhu on the inhabitants of JJ Colony

3.3 Case study

Chapter 4 30

4.1 Findings

4.2 Critical evaluation and suggestions

Conclusion 33

Appendix 1 34

Appendix 2 36

Endnotes 37

Bibliography 38

2

Foreword

Today television has become the most important part of people’s life as one cannot even

imagine a household without a TV set. While news and current affairs programmes cater

to the elite group, Tele-serials and entertainment programmes attract the common masses.

It is quite surprising to know that even the marginalized group such as slum dwellers also

are tremendously inspired by television. This finding led me to do a research on the topic

‘Impact of Hindi Tele-serial Balika Vadhu on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar,

New Delhi’

Writing a paper on a subject like this which is highly flexible would not have been an easy

task unless I had not received tremendous help, support and suggestions from my guide

Fr. Maria Charles. He was always there with me in finishing this project successfully. He

not only gave me the freedom to carry out the research on my terms but also corrected my

ideas and helped me to think beyond the confined area of my topic.

I am thankful to Fr. John Edappilly, the Dean of Studies for giving the foundation of this

dissertation paper and also for his constant support and encouragement.

I extend my sincere thanks to all the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

for their co-operation, especially to those who took the pain to respond to the questions

given in the schedule.

My heartfelt thanks to Sr. Ashrita Kerketta who introduced me to the Colony inhabitants

and also to NADA India Foundation for providing me with the information regarding the

slums in Delhi.

This paper is dedicated to the millions of slum dwellers in India who are deprived of the

basic amenities of life and are kept away from the so called civilized society.

3

Introduction

India’s population is a paradox: while India enjoys one of the largest and most balanced

demographics in terms of age (54 per cent of the population is below 25 years of age), it is

one of the most persistently imbalanced in terms of income inequality. The rising income

gap is creating an urban-rural divide. A quarter of India’s population lives below the

poverty line. Almost 70 per cent of Indians still reside in rural areas, although in recent

decades migration to larger cities has led to a dramatic increase in the country’s urban

population. By 2025, the percentage of urban population will be 40 per cent.1

India is home to around 18 per cent of the world’s population, but accounts for only 2.42

per cent of the total world area; the emergence of megacities is inevitable. By 2025, there

will be more than 13 urban agglomerations of more than 10 million people.

India’s population has been labelled the ‘demographic dividend’, and the working age

population is unlikely to peak before 2016; which is a massive opportunity that India

cannot afford to miss. But to avoid a ‘demographic liability’, India must grow by 8 to 10

per cent per year to provide jobs for the expanding working-age population. Urbanization

is one of the key drivers of the next phase of growth of the country. Urban workers are

more productive for a variety of reasons – higher value-added occupations, technical skills

and network effects in production and consumption. But rapid urbanization can lead to

mega-slums and challenges to quality of life and social harmony, as well as environmental

impacts. In the short to medium term, social unrest could become a major issue if the

growing inequalities in access to basic needs are not addressed. Socio-economic

imbalances can feed a vicious circle of despair if disadvantage is transmitted across

generations.2

The story of the slumming of Indian cities is set among those urbanities living on

pavements or in jhuggis or shanties, running or working in squalid and risky shops,

godown and factories, going to schools that do not teach and hospitals that do not treat

and they came to be known as slum-walas.3 They are deprived of the basic amenities of

life.

The slum and slum expansion, a consequence of both national and global forces, has

increasingly become a one of the major challenges for India.

There are many theoretical explanations for why the poor stay poor. But these do not fully

explain the slumming of Indian cities. This is mainly because urban poverty and slums are

only largely and not entirely coterminous.

4

Chapter 1

1.1 Slums and their issues

Urban centres in India are more differentiated in terms of the socio-economic, politico-

cultural and other indicators of development than any other areas. At the top, there are

farm houses and high income group localities characterised by well-developed urban

infrastructures like wide roads, street lights, water and sanitation facilities, lawns, well-

developed green belt, parks, play grounds and provisions for individual security and right

to privacy. At the other extreme of it are the ‘slums’, ‘jhuggi-jhoparis’ clusters and

colonies of shanty structures. These are inhabited by those people who were forced to

migrate from the rural areas to these urban centres in search of livelihood but could not

afford proper housing due to high rent and high costs of land. They occupy

environmentally incompatible and degraded areas. Slums are residential areas of the least

choice, dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, poor ventilation, lack of basic

amenities like drinking water, light and toilet facilities, etc. These areas are overcrowded

having narrow street pattern prone to serious hazards from fire. Moreover, most of the

slum population works in low paid, high risk-prone, unorganised sectors of the urban

economy. Consequently, they are the undernourished, prone to different types of diseases

and illness and can ill afford to give proper education to their children. The poverty makes

them vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy and

ultimately social exclusion.

Living and working in slum conditions itself contribute to poverty. Resources of time and

money that could me spent more productively are spent on gaining access to basic

services. Expenses on health are higher because of poor environment and expenses on

education are often dead investments or at best provide little value for money.4

And bulldozers and removal vans cause serious economic reversal.

The slum areas are called by different names in different regions like Chawls in Mumbai;

Basthis Katra and Jhuggi Jhopdis in Delhi; Basthis in Kolkata; Abadis and Shats in

Kanpur and Cheris in Chennai, etc. Every slum has certain similarities like dilapidated

structures, congested sanitation and poor supply of drinking water. Many scholars have

studied the problems pertaining to the growth of slums and slum dwellers.5

To be able to improve the quality of life of slum dwellers it is necessary to define what a

slum is or more precisely who slum dwellers are. According to UN-HABITAT a slum

5

household is a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the

following conditions (UN-HABITAT, 2003):

Security of tenure

Structural quality/durability of dwellings

Sufficient-living area, not overcrowded

Access to improved water and sanitation facilities6

According to a survey conducted in 2006, 22 per cent of Indian urban population lives in

slums as against 32 per cent for the whole world population; most, if not all of these

people earn under the urban poverty line. Data from a study by National Institute of Urban

Affairs (NIUA) reported that among the poorest cities were Calcutta (89 per cent below

the poverty line), Bangalore (73 per cent) and Indore (68 per cent). More disturbingly,

there was a gender divide in the distribution of urban poor in the slums: NIUA reported

that 68 per cent of this group consisted of women. Also notable is the fact that 6 million of

this population is in the age group 0-6. 7

The slum dwellers: dominant discourse vs. practice: ‘myth’ vs. ‘reality’ (a study

done in Delhi in 2002)

Despite all the contradictions, the slum dwellers have proved that they should not be

stereotyped on the basis of their living conditions and disparities. Below follows a

comparison between the dominant discourses, exemplified through certain stereotype

images and concepts, and the empirical ‘reality’ (column one and two in the table). Third

column indicates the great diversity in livelihoods found among the sample of slum

dwellers (N= 200 heads of households). Such diversity is underscored by other studies

referred to below. 8

Table: Stereotype image: Discourse, practice and diversity among migrant slum

dwellers (N=200)

Stereotype images of

slum dweller by urban

elite (dominant

discourse)

Empirical evidence of

livelihoods among the

average slum dweller

(practice)

Empirical variation in

livelihoods (diversity)

Illiterate 84 per cent literate 16 per cent illiterate; 33

per cent completed

matriculation; 23 per cent

with higher education

Low status and backward More than 80 per cent 16 percent low caste

6

middle or high caste (scheduled); while 40 per

cent are high caste

Unemployed 96 per cent employed-

mainly in private business

Only 4 per cent

unemployed; 15 per cent

are daily wage labourers

Poor Average income about Rs

3000 per month – more

than twice that of official

poverty line; 65 per cent

between Rs 2000 and 3000

Relatively even income

distribution; although 1/3

below Rs 2000 per month;

and 16 per cent above Rs

5000; one person earning

Rs 16 000 per month

House-less Majority possess a one- or

two-room brick house

(pucca)

Almost 30 per cent has

three rooms or more; while

40 has only one room; 22

per cent live in mud house

(kuccha); 23 per cent

rented

Asset-less Majority possess TV,

radio, fan, bicycle

A few possess phone and

refrigerator, but many have

few consumer assets

Stealing our jobs Majority work in informal

private business – many

self-employed

entrepreneurs

Only 9 per cent work in

government business

Burden on society due to

low income

Income of household is

well above consumption

level, hence, likely net

contributors to societal

saving/economic growth

Solution to social services

such as water, electricity,

education and health are

mostly private or

communal

The past initiatives to relocate slum dwellers were generally not successful. First, the

numbers of such schemes were limited and reached only a minor share of the population.

7

Secondly, the government seldom delivered housing schemes with a standard of services

and infrastructure as required by the settlers. Third, since job opportunities were small in

the new neighbourhoods in the outskirts of the city, many later chose to leave, and moved

back to the slums of the city centre.

In 2001, the Government and NGOs formulated the slum resettlement plan for 60,000

people. The Draft National Slum Policy of 2001 initiated a newer level of understanding

of the issue of urban slums- that slums are an integral part of urban areas and contribute

significantly to their economy both through their labour market contributions and informal

production activities. Rather than looking at slums as ‘problem areas’ which need

‘corrective action’, local bodies should recognize the contribution made by slums and

make sufficient provision for them to have access to affordable land, housing sites and

services. It was carried out with popular participation and partnerships with NGOs that

had been involved in the recent Mumbai Urban Transport Project. The resettled families

had a mixed response. On the one hand they were happy to have secure tenure and access

to basic services but on the other hand the resettlement location offered fewer

employment opportunities and led to increased travel costs for quite a few. 9

It is widely accepted that inequitable land distribution is a major factor in the emergence

of slums. If too many sprawling farm houses are allowed to come up in the city for a few,

then too many others will have to huddle in huts on some tiny piece of land because there

is only so much urban land to go around. If fancy cyber parks used by a few are developed

in the middle of the cities on land suitable for local commercial use, then shops needed by

many others will come up on roadsides. If a few industrial houses are allowed to occupy

larger sites in the city, many other small factories needing propinquity to ancillary

establishments will come up in residential areas. The end result will be and is the

slumming of Indian cities.

The urban history of India is so complex that its development cannot easily be reduced to

stereotype descriptions, urban planning, and practices. By the local government accepting

to take responsibility for slum upgrading, more positive attitudes are likely to emerge

since the aim would now be to build on whatever capacity the slum dwellers have and

what local resources are available.

1.2 Profile of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

JJ Colony, Anand Vihar which was established in 1985 is inhabited by 5600 people who

live in 800 dwellings. The inhabitants of the Colony comprises of rickshaw pullers, daily

8

labourers, hawkers and roadside vendors. Only a very few people of this Colony get the

opportunity to go for higher studies. Some of them do low level jobs in government

offices as well as private sector. The average income of one family is Rs. 2,500 a month.

The water supply is provided by public taps; approximately 20 households share one tap.

585 households have electricity meters, 200 households have illegal connection and 15

have no connection at all. The area has one fair price shop and 30 private shops.

60 per cent of the households have ration cards. 10

Nearest primary and secondary schools are three kilometres away and 45 per cent of the

children never attending school. Most of the children who go to school drop out after

Standard 5 and all of them quit the school by the time they reach Standard 10.

The area faces several environmental problems. Tree wood has been used as fuel for

traditional Chula and the area has an open sewer. In addition to this, 80 per cent uses open

air for toilet. Water borne diseases are major problem and the area has only one doctor

and nine midwives to turn up. Poverty, sub-human conditions, poor quality of life and

lack of medical facilities result in high mortality and birth rate patterns in the Colony.

Drug and alcohol abuse in the slum has led to 50 cases of domestic violence. The nearest

police station is two kilometres away.

The households have access to media. 500 have cable Television and 50 have radio.

Cinema and Tele-serials are the most popular forms of entertainment. It is followed by

social group gathering, sports (especially cricket) and games. NGOs are active in this area

and specialize in community radio, health and education.

The inhabitants are keen to know about the recent happenings in India and some men are

interested in politics also.

Rapid urbanization and distorted development patterns have brought about migration of

rural population to urban settings in search of food and job. Prevailing high disparity

between rich and poor has forced this migrant population to settle in the small groups in

the unauthorised colonies called JJ Colonies. Today 35 per cent of the Delhi population

lives in these kinds of unauthorised clusters. Civic bodies are not able to provide required

basic amenities as they are settled in an area which is labelled as ‘unauthorised’ by the

government.

1.3 Research methodology

Problem

Tele-serials have become the integral part of Indian life. It has become the most powerful

and popular mode of entertainment. With a population close to 400 million individual

9

viewers, and a bouquet of channels offering unlimited and formula-tested Tele-serials, a

study is carried out to find whether these Tele-serials are contributing to the social

awareness of the viewers.

How this problem has led to the research?

Today people spend more time watching television than in the olden days. The increasing

number of television channels and tough competition among them gives viewers the

liberty of choice regarding their favourite programmes. Tele-serials have become the part

and parcel of people’s lives. While news and current affairs programmes are meant for the

so called intellectuals, Tele-serials target common man. These Tele-serials, which say the

story of day-to-day life in a fictional and glamorous way, attract the common masses.

While some of them are accused of destroying the Indian culture and ethics, some gives

out good messages. Tele-serial like Balika Vadhu deals with one of the major social evils

which still exist in India: child marriage. Since television is a medium which provides

infotainment to the people, this Tele-serial give awareness to the public and it serves a

dual purpose. Sometimes what the Government and NGOs cannot do will be achieved by

these Tele-serials. The sensitive portrayal of the common man’s life in a bold and

unconventional way makes a tremendous impact in the lives of the viewers.

Research Hypothesis

People spend more time watching Tele-serials than any other TV programmes

Most of the Tele-serials do not contribute to the development and education of

masses

There are some Tele-serials which deal with the social issues and have a

tremendous impact on the common people.

Aims and Objectives of the Research

To find out the changing trends in television viewing among the people in JJ

Colony

To find out the effect of the Tele-serials among the respondents

To find out whether the Tele-serials which deal with social issues are accepted by

them and whether they are yielding desired effects

Research design

Stratified random sampling method has to be adopted in which research population will be

divided on the basis of sex and age. A stratified sample is obtained by independently selecting

a separate simple random sample from each population stratum. A population can be divided into

10

different groups may be based on some characteristic or variable like income of education. Like

any body with ten years of education will be in group A, between 10 and 20 group B and between

20 and 30 group C. These groups are referred to as strata. You can then randomly select from each

stratum a given number of units which may be based on proportion like if group A has 100

persons while group B has 50, and C has 30 you may decide you will take 10 per cent of each. So

you end up with 10 from group A, 5 from group B and 3 from group C. Schedules are used to

collect information. There are 20 questions which aim at understanding the television

viewing pattern of the respondents, the various aspects of the soap opera Balika Vadhu

and also the personal details of the respondents. There are both close-end and open-end

questions which are more exploratory in nature.

Population

500 people have television sets with cable connection. The sample population for study

will be 50 people.

Sampling strategy

Men : 15

Women : 20

Children (under the age of 15)

Boys : 7

Girls : 8

Data collection

Since majority of the slum dwellers are illiterate, interview schedules are to be used for

data collection.

Analysis and Interpretation of data

The collected data through schedules which is in a raw or ungrouped form comprising

accurate social facts are entered in Microsoft Excel 2003.

The next step was coding. The need for coding arises when the responses are not

expressed numerically or symbolically. Coding further facilitates the process of tabulation

of collected data, introduces uniformity and aids analysis and presentation of results. The

process by which numbers or symbols are assigned to response items in accordance with

their categories or classes to facilitate tabulation, summarization, & analysis of data is

called coding. A value has been given to each answer given by the respondent. E.g.:

responses to a particular question may be yes=1, no=2, can’t say=3.

Factors instrumental in the process of coding:

Number of respondents

11

Number of questions asked

Number of statistical operations planned & complexity of study

After the coding and classification, the percentage of responses were obtained through

cross tabulation using a computer program called Launch STATS 2.0. Tabulation is the

process of summarizing classified or grouped data into some convenient & manageable

form. Generally it is in the form of a statistical table - arranged in rows and columns. Such

a statistical table makes it possible for the researcher to present a huge mass of data in a

detailed and yet simplistic and orderly form.

Once the tabulation is done, the result will be shown in charts and diagrams. Graphs are

used for many different reasons, and can be found all over. We see them in the

newspapers, magazines, and on television because they help us to communicate

information. Many different types of graphs exist, and each has something different about

it that makes it useful in a unique way. Some of the different types of graphs used in this

research paper are:

1. Line graph: It compares two variables. Each variable is plotted along an axis - a vertical

axis (Y) and a horizontal axis (X). They are good at showing specific values of data,

meaning that given one variable the other can easily be determined. They also

enable the reader to make predictions about the results of data not yet recorded.

2. Bar graph: A bar graph uses a horizontal or vertical rectangular bar that levels off

at the appropriate point to denote the value of the variable. There are many

characteristics of bar graphs that make them useful. They clearly show trends in

data, meaning that they show how one variable is affected as the other rises or

falls.

3. Pie chart: They are basically display percentages and are used to compare different

parts of the same whole. The circle of a pie graph represents 100%. Each portion

that takes up space within the circle stands for a part of that 100%. In this way, it is

possible to see how something is divided among different groups.

Chapter 2

2.1 Role of television in development

The developmental role of mass media is well established. Highlighting its contribution

Schramm says:

12

It is hardly possible to imagine national, economic and social development going on at its

present pace without some modern information multiplier, and indeed, without mass

communication, probably the great freedom movements and national stirrings of the last

few decades never would have come about at all (Schramm 1964:271). 11

Among the various mass media, the film and television are considered the most effective,

combining the audio and visual together. According to Gross, television has changed the

role of mass media by making non-face-to-face communication as practical and efficient

in many cases as face-to-face relation (Gross 1973:289).

When television was introduced in India, the Government of India aimed at achieving

specific objectives. There was a great debate as to whether a developing country like India

can afford the tremendous expenditure of television broadcasting. However, the

advantages outweighed the economic considerations and LPTs (Low Power Transmitters)

were installed for quick dissemination of information. The main objectives visualized by

the Government of India according to the advantages they would bring about to the

society are enumerated below:

a) To act as a catalyst for social change

b) To promote national integration

c) To stimulate scientific temper among the people

d) To disseminate the message of family planning as a means of population control

and family welfare

e) To stimulate greater agricultural production by providing essential information and

knowledge

f) To promote and help preservation of environmental ecological balance

g) To highlight the need of social welfare, measures including welfare of women,

children and less privileged

h) To promote interest in sports and games

i) To stimulate appreciation of our artistic and cultural heritage

j) Educating the masses

Communication through television is effective because of the following strong

capabilities:

a) Can be universalized

b) Can cross cultural bonds

c) Universal interest set up

d) Wider area covered

13

e) More participation of beneficiaries can be obtained

Considering the above facts television can be considered as the best effective media of

communication for the development of the marginalized class.

Assuming that development is as Bordenave (1977) suggests: “a matter of changing

attitude, increasing productivity, improving the quality of the individual’s life (through

education, better health etc.)” 12

Modern technology brings life in its true colours instantaneously through pictures from

anywhere and everywhere into our living rooms. 13The reach, power and potential of

television today has not been surpassed by any other medium of transmission as yet.14

The task of media in development is two-fold:

To help remove illiteracy, fatalism, enlarge aspirations, increase and extend social

status

To lead to overall national progress and prosperity15

All other allied tasks are by-products of media inputs and media consumption. Despite

some ill effects of media, the more the media inputs and greater the media consumption

by the masses and increased will be the welfare of the nation and happiness of the people.

Whatever may be the emerging scenario of the role of media on India’s overall

development, the reality is that the media are a fundamental need for all human being. The

development of human civilization is directly dependent on refinement and growth of

forms, mechanism and quality of the content of communication. Though there is an

astonishing variety and enormity of communication in the world today, a society generally

chooses and yokes only those media which fit in nation’s general environment, traditions

and culture. 16Any policy or culture and communication should, therefore, be built within

a paradigm which is both holistic and integrative so as to combine the local reality,

people’s aspirations, needs and desired areas of change.

Today media is guarded in a more fundamental way by Indian democratic culture that

respects freedom of thought and expression, and nurtures diversity. But with freedom

comes responsibility, media has to keep in mind this fact.

2.2 Impact of television on socio-cultural life of people

As one of the most powerful information disseminators, socializing agents and public

opinion moulders in the contemporary world; television has an important role in today’s

world. Television has a tremendous influence on the socio-cultural life of people. The

feature films, Tele-serials, documentaries etc are bound to create different types of

interactions among public. The actors, including hero, heroine and people taking side

14

roles in dramas and Tele-serials create definite educational impact on the public. A variety

of events within the dramas and pictures displaying ties of love, hatred and enmity also

has definite impact on the value system of the viewers.

Not all people are influenced by the exposure of this type of cultural material in everyday

life. And, they have their own judgement about what is good and bad for them and for the

society they consider ideal from their own point of view.

Another important impact of media on people is the behavioural changes due to the

constant exposure to violence. It is believed that repeated exposure to real-life and to

entertainment violence may alter cognitive, affective, and behavioural processes, possibly

leading to desensitization. The goal of the present study was to determine if there are

relationships between real-life and media violence exposure and desensitization as

reflected in related characteristics.17

Critics blame television for everything from obesity to the murder rate. While TV is easy

to criticize, and much of the criticism is justified, we also need to keep in mind that

television benefits society in many important ways.

It has been found that most viewers do not turn on television to watch a specific program.

They simply decide to "watch television" and then find a program that looks interesting.

This is least-objectionable-program (LOP) model of television viewing we introduced

earlier. We like to be entertained. We like excitement. We like to see handsome men and

sexy women. We like to vicariously (and safely) experience the experiences of other

people. We like to be drawn into fantasy worlds that we will probably never be able to

experience first hand.

Some television addicted people report: “We are so much habituated to see TV that we

invariably view it after the dinner and then only we get good sleep.” To some people,

television provides inspiration to lead a systematic and decent life. They show due

recognition, politeness and courtesy to strangers and visitors which is apparently learned

from television.18

2.3 Recent trends in Hindi Tele-film industry

From the first major television series Mahabharat and Ramayana in the late 1980's to

Hum Log, Rajni, Shanthi, Circus, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Banegi Apne Baath to K-dominated

serials , Indian television has been moving time and beyond. rona -dhona is the key factor

in today's Tele-serials along with nasty mothers in--law, conspiring daughters- in- laws,

irate bosses and love triangles and a Cinderella' God mother.

15

Tele-serials have served as a daily dose of entertainment. The serials showcased today

cover events and incidents in our life with a tinge of fantasy, after all no one really wears

Zari saris at home or apply loads of garish makeup even if you are a sethani. Indian Tele-

serials have provided viewers with a lot of anticipation towards watching the next episode

of their favourite serial. No one can forget how the sudden Mihir Virani caused a lot of

dismay and heart break to millions of viewers who insisted that he should be resurrected

from life!

Tele-serials have contributed immensely to the growth of Indian television in its entirety.

The Indian television industry is booming like never before generating a lot of

employment to technicians from make up artists to cameramen and upcoming actors from

small towns.

However, a lot of criticism is bringing meted out on these new age serials. The 'K- serials'

have been thrashed by critics as being very highly melodramatic, endorsing bigamous

marriages, mindless resurrections of favourite characters, filmy narratives,

unauthenticated medical information and well worked out miracles for the 'goody' bahus.

Nevertheless, Tele-serials serve as a staple diet for our daily dose of evening

entertainment. For some viewers, it may be entertaining and for the rest it's pile of thrash.

Meanwhile, shows like Balika Vadhu have paved way for a new trend. Instead of sticking

to the unrealistic stories in a very dramatic representation, the team dared to take up a

social evil which still exists in the modern society. With the success of Balika Vadhu,

many directors are attracted to the women-children issues as a number of Tele-serials are

coming up on social issues.

Many of the Indian Tele-serials are far from reality. Unlike the British soap operas which

have got realism as its key concept, Indian Tele-serials focus much on glamour.19 Even

though a new trend has been set Tele-serials like by Balika Vadhu, there is a long way to

go for the Indian Tele-serial industry.

2.4 Plot and show synopsis- Balika Vadhu: Kacchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte

Balika Vadhu is a television serial, currently being broadcast on Colors from Viacom18 in

India. Set in rural Rajasthan, Balika Vadhu traces the arduous journey of an eight year old

child bride Anandi who was married to an equally young boy Jagdish from the brink of

childhood to womanhood. Her education is discontinued and she is sent off on a journey

to discover new customs and relationships. Amidst the joyous marriage ceremony and the

merriment of the relatives, Anandi’s teacher appears who tries to explain them the peril of

16

getting their children married at an immature age. But her protests are ignored and her

attempts to stop the marriage from taking place are failed as she is kidnapped by a

policeman. Meanwhile, Anandi gets to know from her friend that her marriage will not be

taking place because of her teacher. She starts crying, not because she is upset due to her

marriage being broken, but for the reason that she will have to give back the new clothes

and ornaments adorning her.

What follows is Anandi’s discovery of herself in an alien environment, among people who

are complete strangers for her. She wakes up in the morning to find herself in an

unfamiliar house, she looks around and starts crying and the way she says ‘Mujhe apni

asli maa ke paas jaana hai’ (I want to go home to my real mother), is deeply touching.

While her parents-in-law; Sumitra and Bhairav are extremely understanding and caring,

her husband’s grandmother (Dadisa) and father’s brother (Tauji) perfectly fit into the

picture of monsters-in-law. Dadisa, who is a troublesome woman, is irked when she sees

Anandi at play and orders her to cook food. She is supported by her parents-in-law who

treat her like their own daughter and stand by her. They also encourage her to continue her

studies.

Married at the tender age of eight, to an equally young Jagdish, she enters a new world

which is at once alienating and confusing. And torn away from the merriment of

childhood and her family, she has to accept and accustom herself to this new family of

strangers, new relationships and accept her roles as a friend, lover, wife and a mother as

she forges her way in the world.

Balika Vadhu very sensitively portrays the plight of children who are unwittingly forced

into marriage, in the name of tradition, and have to bear the repercussions for the rest of

their lives.

2.5 Popularity of Balika Vadhu- TRP rates and reviews

Balika Vadhu finds its place on the top in the Television Rating Point list with the TRP of

5.8. This Tele-serial has been widely acknowledged as one of the best shows on

television.

TRP rates of the popular Tele-serials as per March 19 2009.20

1. Sapna Babul Ka..Bidaai (Star Plus) 6.3 TRP

2. Balika Vadhu (Colors) :5.8TRP

3. Jai Shri Krishna (Colors) : 3.04 TRP

17

4. Indian Idol 4 (Sony) : 3.00 TRP

5. Saath Phere (Zee TV) : 2.80 TRP

6. Kasamh Se (Zee TV) : 2.74 TRP

7. Banoo Main Teri Dulhaan (Zee TV) : 2.71 TRP

8. Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (Star Plus) : 2.65 TRP

9. Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat (Star Plus): 2.62 TRP

10. Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki (Star Plus) : 2.49 TRP

Most of the reviews say that Balika Vadhu was not aimed to eradicate the very practice by

condemning and criticizing it, instead the intent was for the people to see the

consequences of it. In Rajasthan, where child marriage still occurs, the audience gets to

see the results in a very justified and clear manner. Be it a little girl being expected to get

all worldly and mature at a pre-teen age, the way she copes with pressures of living in a

different house with people she doesn’t even know. Their huge expectations of managing

the entire household-cooking, cleaning, taking care of everyone in the family and

behaving according to them are supposed to be met. We see how women are still being

treated as objects that have to abandon their lives, family and friends (without having any

say) to fulfill the responsibilities they have been passed on.

Balika Vadhu does not put everything regarding child marriage in just black and white. If

on one hand there are elements of a rigid and unchanging society (in the form of Anandi’s

daadi-sa and Basant tauji), there are also characters like Anandi’s father and mother in-

law, who understand the problems created by child marriage. They want things to change

but are not courageous enough to go against society. The very interesting and strong

woman who dares to go against the norms and do what’s best for her is played by Gahna,

Anandi’s new tayji.

2.6 Relevance of Balika Vadhu in the context of child marriage

The practice of child marriage started 4000 years ago in India. Many things changed

through the course of time like discrimination based on one’s caste, women emancipation,

economic and social growth of our country, among others. But there are things that even

4000 years of time hasn’t been able to eradicate. Sadly, child marriage is one of the social

vices that till date exist in our country.

It is difficult to ascertain and determine the origin of the custom of child marriage. The

rigid system of physical segregation by sex, by restricting women’s mobility and

activities, the strong influence of patriarchal family system, effectively prevents their

18

engaging in extra-familial forms of economic activity and income generation outside of

the home can be said to be the major reasons for child marriage. 21

According to a report by UNICEF (2005), almost 50 per cent of women, aged 20-24 are

married by 18 years in India. Parents encourage the marriage of their daughters to relieve

themselves of a financial burden and assuming that they would lead a happy and

comfortable life after marriage. State wise comparison of the data on under age marriages

shows quite clearly that the worst on this parameter are the Hindi-speaking states. In

Rajasthan, for instance, roughly one in 18 people below the legal age of marriage are

already married. In Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana, the

ratio varies between 1 in 27 and 1 in 37. 22

Starting with Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the early 19th century, many social reformers have

tried to end the practice of child marriage. But it continues in large swathes of rural India.

As a new Tele-serial, Balika Vadhu revisits the issue and it is received a welcome

response from the audience.

Set in rural Rajasthan, the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu is a story of child bride Anandi, who

is married off to an equally young boy Jagdish. The girl is torn away from the joys of

childhood and estranged from her parents, to be bound by her in-laws' customs.

Normally, in (other) serials, people are scheming and plotting against each other, but in

Balika Vadhu everyone is correct in their own light. The characters are very well etched

out and they have given a lot of attention to details.

Written and scripted by Purnendu Shekhar, Balika Vadhu has a message at the end of

every episode to discourage the practice of child marriage across the country.

Chapter 3

3.1 Survey results and analysis and interpretation of data

Diagram showing the age of the respondents

19

The study was conducted on 50 people. As the bar chart shows, 30 per cent among them

are below the age of 15, 52 per cent between the age of 15 to 35, 16 per cent between the

age of 35 to 55 and 2 per cent is above 55.

Pie chart showing the gender of the respondents

Among the 50 people interviewed, 44 per cent are male and 56 per cent are female.

Diagram showing the educational qualification of the respondents

20

As per the diagram, 18 per cent of the respondents are uneducated. 36 per cent has got

preliminary education, 40 per cent high school and 4 per cent Higher secondary. 2 per

cent of the respondents are graduated.

Bar diagram showing employment of the respondents

The above given bar diagram shows the employment of the respondents. 60 per cent of the

respondents are unemployed and 38 per cent are employed while 2 per cent are self-

employed.

Table showing marital status of the respondents

Married 38.0 %

Unmarried 62.0 %

Total 100%

Among the 50 respondents, 38 per cent are married and 62 per cent are unmarried.

Chart showing the time spend on TV by the respondents per day

21

The chart given above shows the time spend on watching television by the respondents.

According to the findings, 4 per cent of the respondents watch television for less than one

hour per day, 20 per cent 1 to 2 hours, 26 per cent 2 to 3 hours and 50 per cent more than

3 hours. This shows that the majority of the respondents spend more than three hours a

day in watching television.

Chart showing the type of programmes watched by the respondents often

The above given chart shows that 78 per cent of the respondents watch Tele-films often, 8

per cent films, 6 per cent reality shows and another 8 per cent cartoons. The chart also

shows that none of the respondents watch news and current affairs.

Diagrammatic representation of the number of Tele-serials watched by the

respondents per day

22

It shows that 16 per cent of the respondents watch less than three Tele-serials a day while

22 per cent watches three, 28 per cent 4 and 34 per cent more than 4. This shows that a

majority of the respondents watch more than four Tele-serials a day.

Table showing the basis of evaluation of Tele-serials by the respondents

Actors 6.0 %

Story 66.0 %

Message 24.0 %

Presentation 4.0 %

The table shows that 66 per cent of the respondents evaluate Tele-serials on the basis of

story while 24 per cent on message, 6 per cent on actors and 4 per cent on presentation.

This clearly shows the preferences of the viewers while watching a programme.

Nowadays people have become more sensible so that they make their choices according to

the story and message instead of actors and presentation.

Table showing the reasons for watching Tele-serials

Entertainment 60.0 %

Pass time 4.0 %

Infotainment 36.0 %

Total 100%

The above given table shows that 60 per cent of the respondents watch Tele-serials for

entertainment, 4 per cent for pass time and 36 per cent for infotainment.

Diagram showing the type of Tele-serials which the respondents are interested in

23

The pie diagram shows that 84 per cent of the respondents are interested in family stories

while 10 per cent are interested in Epics, 4 per cent in social issues and 2 per cent in Tele-

serials related to social issues.

Table showing the number of Tele-serials giving good message

1 52.0 %

2 40.0 %

3 4.0 %

More than 3 4.0 %

Total 100%

52 per cent of the respondents say that only one Tele-serial gives good message. 40 per

cent are of the opinion that two gives good message while 4 per cent says three and

another 4 per cent says more than more than three.

Diagram showing the favourite Tele-serial of the respondents

24

Findings show that 56 per cent of the respondents’ favourite Tele-serial is Balika Vadhu

while 16 per cent likes Bidaai the most. 28 per cent opted for serials other than these two.

Table showing whether Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials or not

Yes 78.0 %

No 22.0 %

Total 100%

78 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials

while 22 per cent does not find any difference between Balika Vadhu and other serials.

Table showing whether Balika Vadhu gives a strong social message

Yes 100.0 %

Total 100%

The study says that 100 per cent of the respondents are of the opinion that the Tele-serial

Balika Vadhu is giving a strong social message.

Diagram showing the favourite aspect of Balika Vadhu

25

62 per cent of the respondents find the social message given by Balika Vadhu as the best

aspect while 32 per cent likes the story and 6 per cent the actors the best.

Pie diagram showing whether child marriage is wrong or not

While 92 per cent of the respondents believe that child marriage is wrong, 8 per cent think

that there is nothing wrong in child marriage.

Diagram showing the relevance of Balika Vadhu in today’s society

26

88 per cent of the respondents say that the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu is relevant in today’s

society while 6 per cent does not agree to that. Another 6 per cent has no opinion on this

issue.

Diagram showing whether Balika Vadhu deals with issue of child marriage or not

76 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu deals with the issue of child

marriage. 18 per cent feels that the Tele- serial is simply sensationalizing the issue rather

than dealing with the issue. 6 per cent has no say on this question.

Table showing whether there is a need for more serials like Balika

Vadhu

Yes 98.0 %

No 2.0 %

Total 100%

98 per cent of the respondents are of the opinion that there should be more Tele-serials

like Balika Vadhu, while 2 per cent does not agree with that.

3.2 Impact of Balika Vadhu on the inhabitants of JJ Colony

27

The study shows that the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu has an impact on the inhabitants of JJ

Colony as a majority of the respondents say that there should be more Tele-serials like

Balika Vadhu. The respondents also realized the importance of such Tele-serials in the

modern society where such social evils still exist. The respondents were very much able to

distinguish between the Tele-serials which have got baseless stories and dramatic

presentation and those which give a message to the society.

The study also reveals the role and importance of entertainment programmes which deals

with the social issues as they can have a tremendous impact on the slum dwellers mainly

because of the reach of the medium and the powerful message it gives out to the public.

The study also shows that the respondents spend least time for watching news and current

affairs programmes. So the entertainment programmes are the ones which connect them to

the outside world. Even though the matter they provide is exaggerated, the inhabitants are

receiving goo message from at least some of them.

Balika Vadhu is a highly appreciable effort in this regard. The characters of Anandi,

Jagadish, Phooli bring to life the changes and the responsibilities that children are gifted

with their marriage. The way they have been shown to adapt themselves and adjust in the

society is touching. These innocent, tender souls without any knowledge about the way

things work in a patriarchal, oppressive and unchanging society are made to grow up at an

incredibly young age.

Balika Vadhu makes us think and gives us plenty and plenty of reasons to bring about a

much needed change in the Indian society. It can also be said as a revolution by the

entertainment media against a social evil.

3.3 Case study

Cases of child marriages have been reported from JJ Colony, Anand Vihar. One among

them is Sushila, a 22 year old fragile young girl. She is the mother of two children aged

four and one year old respectively. She got married at the age of 15 when she was

studying in Class 10. She was married to a factory worker in Punjab. The boy was only 17

years old when they got married. She says that it was mainly because of the pressure from

her family members that she had to discontinue her studies and get married.

She has got various health problems because of the early motherhood. Today she realizes

that what her parents have done was wrong and strongly feels that Balika Vadhu is her

story. She has determined to give education to her children.

28

Her mother says that she did not want her daughter to get married at a very tender age, but

she never had a word at home. Her in-laws do not like girl child and considers her as a

burden. Sushila did not know the seriousness of getting married when she was asked

forcefully to do that.

There are many more cases reported like this of child marriage. In most of the cases, the

girls or boys who are the victims are unaware of the fact.

It is a fact that child marriages still take place in states like West Bengal and also in the

metros like Delhi. If not at a very tender age, a lot of children are married before 18.

Unfortunately child-marriage still exists in the underbelly of our Indian society. As it is,

the girl-child is looked down upon, and to top it off she is married off at a very tender age.

To come to think of it, the government wanted to reduce the legal age of marriage!

Child Marriage is not an issue which was practiced only in the 1800’s and died thereafter;

it’s a modern day social evil. It is a baneful practice which has limited the social space of,

and has also contributed greatly to the deterioration of the status of women in India.

For girls, adolescent marriage is perhaps child labour in its worse form. It is a violation of

human and child rights as defined in numerous conventions to which India is a signatory.

When children are forced to marry, it has strong negative inter-generational effects,

passing on poverty, malnutrition, and illiteracy. Even from an economic perspective, the

loss in human capital is enormous. A host of development issues would be cured by

ending the practice. Needless to say, this social evil needs to be eradicated as soon as

possible. These little girls are entering a dark future, and we as citizens are leading them

into the gloom.

Chapter 4

4.1 Findings of the research

1. The study shows that 50 per cent of the respondents spend more than three hours

watching television a day while only 4 per cent spends less than one hour. This in

turn shows that the impact and each of this medium on the respondents.

2. Findings reveal that 78 per cent of the respondents watch Tele-serials very often.

At the same time, none of them watch news and current affairs programmes. This

clearly shows the area of interest of the respondents. Even though they spend

much time watching television, the entertainment programmes attract them instead

of news and current affairs. It is very clear from the findings that in order to reach

29

out to these people, entertainment programmes will be more effective than

informative programmes.

3. 34 per cent of the respondents watch more than four Tele-serials per day. This in

turn shows the importance of these kinds of programmes for them.

4. 66 per cent of the respondents evaluate the Tele-serials by the story while only 4

per cent evaluate them on the basis of presentation. This is one of the major

reasons why they are attracted to the Tele-serials which come out with a proper

story line and message rather than being carried away by the glamour and luxury

of sets.

5. 56 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu is their favourite Tele-serial.

This shows the impact of the message given by this Tele-serial on the inhabitants.

6. 52 per cent of the respondents say that only one Tele-serial which gives a strong

social message while only 4 per cent say that there are more than three Tele-serials

which give a good message. This shows that most of the respondents can

distinguish between the baseless saas-bahu serials and sensible ones.

7. 62 per cent of the respondents like Balika Vadhu on the basis of the social message

it gives. This shows that the message that child marriage is wrong is reaching out

to the target audience.

8. 92 per cent of the respondents believe that child marriage is wrong. Despite having

16 per cent uneducated respondents, a good number of people oppose child

marriage. This again serves the purpose of Balika Vadhu.

9. 100 per cent of the respondents agree that Balika Vadhu gives a strong social

message. This proves that the respondents watch the Tele-serial not just for

entertainment but also because of the strong message it is trying to convey through

the story.

10. 98 per cent of the respondents believe that there is a need for more Tele- serials

like Balika Vadhu. This in turn shows that the people are social conscious and like

the entertainment programmes which conveys a strong message.

Reasons for the popularity of Balika Vadhu among the slum dwellers

The initial study on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi shows that the

Hindi Tele-serial Balika Vadhu has been viewed and appreciated by them without any age

or gender barrier. The main reasons for this trend are:

30

It is one among the few Tele-serials which talks about the life of a common man

and his issues

Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials in the style of presentation also.

Instead of showing the glamorous sets and costly costumes, it mainly focus on the

story development

Instead of having so many twists and turns, Balika Vadhu tells the story in a very

simple way.

Balika Vadhu deals with one of the most heinous practices which was there from

the ancient times and which is still prevailing in some parts of India- the child

marriage

Most of the respondents/ inhabitants said that they are empowered and made

aware of the negative aspects and implications of child marriage.

The inhabitants of JJ Colony, especially girls say that Balika Vadhu taught them

that child marriage is wrong and they will oppose if their parents try to marry

them off before the age of 18.

There are cases of child marriages reported in JJ Colony. The victims of those

child marriages say that they are regretting for what have happened to them even

though it is without their proper knowledge.

The parents say that Balika Vadhu helps them to think twice before marrying off

their children at a tender age.

4.2 Critical evaluation and suggestions

Media has highly glorified daily Hindi Tele-serials. Currently, each serial is shown three

times a day. Due its high publicity people are bound to watch them. For many, Hindi

serials have become daily chores. Daily Tele-serials seem very entertaining as they hit our

dreams and aspirations, but in reality they take the viewers far away from the real world.

Therefore, as a critical viewer, people should be able to draw a line between reality and

illusion.

This is applicable to all the Hindi Tele-serials. Even though Balika Vadhu is widely

acclaimed as a Tele-serial which deals with a social issue, sometimes they also caught

between the tyrannies of TRP rates. This Tele-serial managed to get 10 points TRP rate in

31

the month of March showing the death of the character Pratap, Sugna’s husband but at the

same time it has lost its credibility among the viewers to a certain extend.

The study results show that 18 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu is simply

sensationalizing the issue rather than dealing with the issue in a right sense. This in turn

shows that there are viewers who critically evaluate each and every episode.

Another popular criticism about Balika Vadhu is that it in some sense glorifies child

marriage. The story telling gives a misperception to the viewers regarding the issue. too

1 India Year Book 2008, Compiled and edited by Research, Reference And Training

Division, Ministry Of Information And Broadcasting Government of India

2 India Economic Summit 2007

3 Slumming India: A Chronicle of Slums and their Saviours- Gita Dewan Verma4Paul Streeten: Human Development: The Debate about the Index, International Social

Science Journal

5 Asha Kiran, Asha Seattle’s quarterly news letter, Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2006

6 UN HABITAT Report 2003

7 10th International Conference on Computers in urban Planning and Urban Management

8 Livelihoods and Collective Action among Slum Dwellers in a Mega-City (New Delhi) :

IASCP conference 2002 The Commons in the Age of Globalisation By Trond Vedeld and

Abhay Siddham

9 The Draft National Slum Policy 2001

10 NADA India Foundation Report

11 Mass Media and Rural Development: Arbind K Sinha

12 Rural Development Through Community Television: Raja Pokharapurkar

13 Television and Indian Culture: V. Chandra

14 Mass Media and Society: Curran J and Gurevitch

15 Media and Development: M.R Dua and V.S Gupta, Ashok Gosain Publications, New

Delhi

16 Mass Media and National Development by Wilbur Schramm17 Jeanne B. Funk, Heidi Bechtoldt Baldacci, Tracie Pasold, Jennifer Baumgardner:

Violence exposure in real-life, video games, television, movies, and the internet: is there

desensitization?,

18 Harshad R Trivedi: Mass Media and New Horizons19 Soap Opera and Women’s Talk: Mary Ellen Brown

20 http://www.realbollywood.com

32

much of dealing with the issue may create some kind of confusion like this very often.

Balika Vadhu has been praised for its very sensitive portrayal of the plight faced by young

girls who are married off forcefully, in the name of some long dead tradition, and how the

rest of their lives are affected by it.

The high TRP rates show that the Tele-serial has been received very well in India; it has

enjoyed strong word of mouth as well as critics’ reviews. One of the various reasons for

the success of the show is its very bold and unconventional story line. The show has also

been praised for its taut direction, amazing art direction and true to life dialogues. As of

now it has become a program with the highest viewer ship status.

But for the last few weeks it is losing its magic. It is following the path of other Hindi

Tele-serials with enough rona-dhona in the show and the story seemed to be dragged

unnecessarily.

Balika Vadhu is an attempt in modern times to make the people aware of the prevailing

social evils in the society through a light manner. Though there are drawbacks, this

attempt is highly appreciable.

Conclusion

Tele-serials are a consistent set of values based on personal relationships, on one’s

responsibility for the maintenance of these relationships and the applicability of the family

model to structures. In serials, the passage of time also appears to reflect real time for the

viewers: in long-running soaps the characters age as the viewers do. Christine Geraghty

(1991, p. 11) notes that 'the longer they run the more impossible it seems to imagine them

ending.' 23

There are sometimes allusions to major topical events in the world outside the

programmes. Tele-serials have attempted to articulate social change through issues of

race, class and sexuality. In dealing with what are often perceived to be awkward issues

Tele-serials make good stories along the emotional lines of the characters. While it seeks

to accommodate change, it tries to do so on the basis of suppressing difference rather than

acknowledging and welcoming what it offers. Tele-serials use the dramatisation of social

21 Child Marriage in India : Socio-legal and Human Rights Dimensions: Jaya Sagade 22 A Study on Child Marriage in India: Situational Analysis in Three States: Centre For

Social Research

33

issues to generate a greater sense of realism for the viewer. These are the main reasons

why the audience receive these Tele-serials irrespective of caste, creed, gender and age.

The study conducted on JJ Colony inhabitants also prove the same point. While news and

current affairs programmes are aliens to these section, the light and creative presentation

of Tele-serials catch their attention. So there is no doubt that we can make this genre of

television programme as a powerful tool to convey strong social message to the different

strata of people.

23 Geraghty, Christine: Sex, Race, and Class : The pressures for Change In Women and

Soap opera: A study of prime time soaps Polity Press UK

Bibliography

1. India Year Book 2008, Compiled and edited by Research, Reference And Training

Division, Ministry Of Information And Broadcasting Government Of India, New

Delhi, 2008, p: 124-126

2. India Economic Summit 2007: A Global Risk Network and Confederation of

Indian Industry Briefing, Government of India, 2007,p: 19

3. Gita Dewan Verma, Slumming India: A Chronicle of Slums and their Saviours,

Penguin Publishers, New Delhi, 2002, p: xvii

4. Paul Streeten: Human Development: The Debate about the Index, International

Social Science Journal, No.143,1995, p.35

5. Social Science Journal No. 143,.Asha Kiran, Asha Seattle’s quarterly news letter,

Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2006, pp-25-37

6. UN HABITAT Report 2003, UN, p:12

7. 10th International Conference on Computers in urban Planning and Urban

Management, New Delhi, 2006, p:7

8. Livelihoods and Collective Action among Slum Dwellers in a Mega-City (New

Delhi) : IASCP Conference 2002 The Commons in the Age of Globalisation By

Trond Vedeld and Abhay Siddham, 2002, p: 8

9. The Draft National Slum Policy 2001, Government of India, 2001,p: 2-4

10. NADA India Foundation Report

11. Arbind K Sinha: Mass Media and Rural Development, Concept Publishing

Company, New Delhi, 1985, p: 7

12. Raja Pokharapurkar: Rural Development Through Community Television,

Concept Publishing Company, 1993, p: 16

34

Most of the inhabitants watch Balika Vadhu every day. This shows that it is widely been

accepted by the people. Instead of watching merely for the pleasure or entertainment, they

are getting much information and awareness from this Tele- serial.

Tele- serials deal with the victory of old fashioned and traditional certainty over passing

fashions that assail them. Unlike a film, there is always a wide range of characters in a

Tele- serial (which means that no single character is indispensable). Moreover they offer

less concrete, more symbolic representations of more general living experiences which

viewers find recognizably true to life and they can associate themselves with it.

13. V. Chandra, Television and Indian Culture. New Delhi: Indian Publishers

Distributors, 2000, p.1

14. Curran J, and Gurevitch, Mass Media and Society. London: Arnold, 1996, p. 131-

132

15. Wilbur Schramm: Mass Media and National Development, Standford University

press, California, USA, 1964, p: 42

16. M.R Dua and V.S Gupta: Media and Development, Ashok Gosain Publications,

New Delhi 1994 p.32

17. Jeanne B. Funk, Heidi Bechtoldt Baldacci, Tracie Pasold, Jennifer Baumgardner:

Violence exposure in real-life, video games, television, movies, and the internet: is

there desensitization?, USA, 2004, p:5

18. Harshad R Trivedi: Mass Media and New Horizons, Concept Publishing

Company, New Delhi,1991, p:93

19. Mary Ellen Brown: Soap Opera and Women’s Talk: The Pleasure of Resistance,

SAGE publications Inc., 1994, p: 63

20. http://www.realbollywood.com , 02-04-2009

21. Jaya Sagade: Child Marriage in India: Socio-legal and Human Rights Dimensions,

(New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2005, p: 257

22. A Study on Child Marriage in India: Situational Analysis in Three States: Centre

For Social Research, p:3

23. Geraghty, Christine: Sex, Race, and Class : The pressures for Change In Women

and Soap opera: A study of prime time soaps Polity Press UK, 1991, p:42

35

But at the same time, Indian Tele-serials are frequently derided by some critics for being

full of clichés and stereotypes, for having shoddy sets, for being badly acted, trivial,

predictable and so on. So even if there are changes happening, still Indian Tele-serials

have a long way to go in terms of theme and style of presentation.

Appendix 1

Tables showing the results of 20 questions asked in the survey (Base: 50)

Table 1: Age of the respondentsBelow 15 30.0 %15 -35 52.0 %35-55 16.0 %Above 55 2.0 %

Table 2: Gender of the respondentsMale 44.0 %Female 56.0 %

Table 3: Educational qualification of the respondentsUneducated 18.0 %Preliminary 36.0 %High school 40.0 %Higher Secondary 4.0 %Graduation 2.0 %

Table 4: Employment of the respondentsUnemployed 60.0 %Employed 38.0 %Self- employed 2.0 %

Table 5: Marital status of the respondentsMarried 38.0 %Unmarried 62.0 %

Table 6: Time spend on TV by the respondentsLess than one hour 4.0 %1 to 2 hours 20.0 %2 to 3 hours 26.0 %More than 3 hours 50.0 %

Table 7: Type of programmes watched by the respondents oftenNews & Current Affairs 0 %Films 8.0 %Tele-serials 78.0 %Reality shows 6.0 %Cartoons 8.0 %

Table 8: No. of Tele-serials watched by the respondents per dayLess than 3 16.0 %

36

3 22.0 %4 28.0 %More than 4 34.0 %

Table 9: Reasons for watching Tele-serialsEntertainment 60.0 %Pass time 4.0 %Infotainment 36.0 %

Table 10: Basis of evaluation of Tele-serialsActors 6.0 %Story 66.0 %Message 24.0 %Presentation 4.0 %

Table 11: Type of Tele-serials which the respondents are interested inEpics 10.0 %Family stories 84.0 %Comedy 2.0 %Social issues 4.0 %

Table 12: Favourite Tele-serial of the respondentsBidaai 16.0 %Balika Vadhu 56.0 %Any other 28.0 %

Table 13: Number of Tele-serials giving message1 52.0 %2 40.0 %3 4.0 %More than 3 4.0 %

Table 14: Is Balika Vadhu different from other Tele-serials?Yes 78.0 %No 22.0 %

Table 15: Favourite aspect of Balika VadhuStory 32.0 %Social message 62.0 %Actors 6.0 %

Table 16: Is child marriage wrong?Yes 92.0 %No 8.0 %

Table 17: Relevance of Balika Vadhu in today’s societyYes 88.0 %No 6.0 %Can't say 6.0 %

Table 18: Does Balika Vadhu deal with issue?Deals with the issue 76.0 %Doesn't deal with the issue 18.0 %

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Can't say 6.0 %

Table 19: Is Balika Vadhu giving a message?Yes 100.0 %

Table 20: Is there a need for more serials like Balika Vadhu?Yes 98.0 %No 2.0 %

Appendix 2

Study on the impact of Hindi Tele-serialBalika Vadhu

on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

Questionnaire

1. To which age group do you belong? Below 15 15-35 35-55 Above 552. To which gender category do you belong?

Male Female3. What is your educational qualification?

Uneducated Preliminary High school Higher Secondary Graduation 4. What type of occupation you have? Unemployed Employed Self -employed 5. What is your marital status?

Married Unmarried Divorced Widowed 6. How much time do you spend watching Television every day?

Less than 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours more than 3 hours 7. What type of programmes do you watch often?

News & Current affairs Films Tele-serials Reality shows Cartoon8. How many Tele-serials do you watch in a day?

Less than 3 3 4 More than 49. Why do you watch Tele-serials regularly?

Entertainment Pass time Infotainment Any other 10. On what basis do you evaluate a Tele-serial?

Actors Story Message Presentation Any other11. What type of Tele-serials you are interested in?

Epics Family stories Comedy Social issues Any other12. Which is your favourite Tele-serial?

Bidaai Dulhan Balika Vadhu Kranti Any other13. How many Tele-serials you watch give good message?

1 2 3 More than 314. Do you think that Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials?

Yes No Can’t say15. Which aspect of Balika Vadhu you like the most?

Story Social message Actors Any other 16. Do you believe that child marriage is wrong?

Yes No Can’t say17. In today’s society do Tele-serials like Balika Vadhu has any relevance?

Yes No Can’t say

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18. Does Balika Vadhu deal with child marriage or simply sensationalising the issue? Deals with the issue Doesn’t deal with the issue Can’t say

19. Does the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu give you a strong social message? Yes No Can’t say20. Do you think that there should be more serials like Balika Vadhu? Yes No

Endnotes

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