When I was young…
- We were not allowed to say “Aiyoo” at home, as its a word with negative vibrations.
- We were not allowed to hit on our forehead, as it was considered inauspicious. Only people in a death affected house do that.
- We were not allowed to use abusive language or words anytime; especially, during the evening 6 pm, puja slot, as that is the time Goddess Lakshmi visits home. We were taught to say our prayers, practice our Carnatic Music lessons. Fighting or arguing during these times were strictly prohibited.
- Talking during meal times were a big no no. And watching TV was a bigger NO !!! The TV will be switched off during meal times, as Goddess Annapurani’s sacred visit was during those times.
Now, I am not criticizing that my elders followed some superstitions and some odd customs. All the things which we were taught had the strong underlying truth of positive vibes that should surround the home all the time.
The sad part is that the various TV channels which keep telecasting these stupid, silly serials, are killing the values and morals which were taught to us.
Now, the same elders are glued to the TV and keep watching all the abuses being shouted at each other, cursing each other, hitting on the forehead, crying – all the time !! All the values they taught us have lost the significance, when the TV serials shout hoarse on the all the negative vibes stuff.
Where is the justice in watching TV serials ??? Yes, they are bored, after fulfilling their responsibilities as parents or grand parents. Does that mean that all the lessons they taught us can now be flushed down the drain ???
There isn’t anything nice about any serial now a days. Isn’t there anyone around who can make a good serial and make the people to watch it too ???
I do agree, that there might be some good messages in the serials. After watching 100 episodes of abuses, curses, vengeance, killing, scheming, there is a possibility of 2 episodes of good things or people changing for the good. Is it worth it ???
Lighting the diya, which kills the darkness of ignorance is one wonderful lesson, I learnt as a kid. And I sincerely wish that this TV serial created darkness in the mind to be killed by the diya of knowledge !!!
oh my God! Uma, you wont believe me, but this is EXACTLY what Amma and I were talking about when she gave me lunch now..about my Patty watching these really horrible serials that seem be totally against the values she drilled into my mother as a kid!!!
My Patty is 86, ramrod straight, the most disciplined person I have EVER met, and she still is very agile managing all her jobs herself..till about 5 years ago, she would frown at us for even mentioning TV and now she watches it almost 24 by 7..my amma cant still believe it!
Oh yeah…how the elders have changed – actually given way to change their ideals for which the stood by !!! The TV and its horrid soaps have grown like a monster that needs to be thwarted to pieces by the future generations…
This is exactly what I say too
And I have heard it from some cousins/friends. Peopel who scolded and corrected us are now sitting in front of the TV watching horrible serious and not letting us have some peace. Really, I used ot hate it when my MIL was visiting because there never used ot be a moment of silence. Crying and abusive dialogues throughout the day from the TV! I used to go mad since I am someone who cherishes the quiet moments in my house.
They don’t care whether grandchildren have to study. They feel bored so they have to watch serials. Did someone tell me that they taught us to sacrifice for other’s good? Oh no, when it comes to soaps they come first, even studies of grandchildren can go take a walk!
The elders who were so strict with us are very flexible when it comes to TV serials. They light the lamp and pray according to the serial timings
Excuse the typos. Its a topic close to my heart
Oh God Shail, all these TV serials are so depressing…sigh…
Yes, I do agree on every point of yours, but these soaps are never going to end neither are the elders who are obsessed with it !!!
There you go. Don’t even allow me to begin. I can go on and on about this. When we were children, even if anyone called us ‘vaadi,’ I would be offended as I thought that was a ‘bad’ word but now, I cannot imagine. But I cannot bring myself to blame the older generation as they have seen it all and the only thing that remains is watching serials and at the same time recollecting their life of yore. The yester-years were busy for them and so in the hum-drum of daily life, they couldn’t sit down peacefully for say, ten minutes. But now they have time and a TV, so let them have some peace by idling away their time. After all, they have no deadlines and hurry.
Joy always,
Susan
Yes Susan, idling away the time is perfectly fine, but not at the cost of values that they taught us !!! I am certainly not against them watching TV – its the stupid serials that irritate me !!!
Thank god I dont have any Indian channels subscribed, and it was the same when i was a kid TV would be off while eating ..
Were our childhood times better Bikram ???
Mine was definitely.. I seldom watched TV , it was more of outdoors
Yes, even mine…we could play running and catching endlessly for days !!!
We did have our TV time, but just half an hour per week or so….
Uma maybe kids now don’t listen much to their grand parents and grand parents have ample time which they use for watching those stupid serials. My mom used to hate serials when she was working and now after her retirements she just doesn’t miss a single episode of the serials. They just catch their attention and look forward for the episodes as they leave the episode abruptly so people look forward to see the next episode.
I have one draft about these stupid serials. Will check if i can post it…
Don’t say about the background music….horrible….
Oh yeah…that horrible background music – my hand itches to mute the TV all time !!!
Yes, may be kids have changed – their ways and plays !!! Grand parents are free to watch TV – let them watch one or two serials Sari, but its only serials from morning till night !!! Sometimes its quite depressing !!!
Yeah…You should see my mom uma,where ever she goes she rushes home to see the serial,if at all she misses the start she is like oh oh i missed it……they don’t re-telecast etc…. And some women they cry watching serials….
Its quite sad the way they get attached to these serials instead of real people around !!!
Hmmm this afternoon only I was talking to my MIL who was saying that they are sitting with Arnav in balcony because otherwise he wud demand tio see CHotta Bheem. I said to her that u r right because If we switch on the TV we will keep watching it unnecessarily, learning nothing and achieving nothing….
Yes, its the black idiot box – nothing comes out of watching them !!!
Am glad Arnav stays out that TV mania !!!
My MIL cannot sleep until the TV is playing in the background
I want to be a serial killer! 
ha ha ha…you be that !!! At least somewhere there will be a change
Thank God for small mercies… we don’t watch a SINGLE tele-serial at home!!
Ahhh …I love watching these serials and being all sarcastic about them afterwards …on a more serious note they make no sense at all…with bejewelled women kneading aata and every person conspiring against every other person …and TV was meant to de-stress ??
Hi Uma, I read your post and also the comments. Yes you are correct many old people are addicted to TV .I also know many people ,who sit in front of the TV all the time. But Uma, we cannot generalise..See, I am 76 years old.I was in active service before I retired.I now have all the time in the world, I too like you , feel that all these teleserials are only a waste of time.I am addicted to computer.I write, I play games like Scrabble and mind jolt games and also read a lot.I know many friends of my age who hate to watch these silly serials. I hope you will give it a thought..
Thank you Usha Menon, for visiting my space and esp for your comments
I am so glad that you spend your time more effectively and out of this teleserial saga. Your kind of people are very few, if I am not wrong.
But majority of the people, not only older generation, but many in the younger generation too are addicted to the serials and waste much of their time in front of the TV, only to get depressed more. And this is exactly what I want them to avoid, as the lessons they taught us were completely different !!!
Thanks again for your presence here…