Indians generally have a very romantic view of life. Poetic turns of phrase are common and it seems everyone loves a good romantic story – preferably a true one.
And if, when someone’s just told you how they met their wife or the joyful thing their grandmother did, if you nod sagely and say ‘you Indians, so romantic…’
Well, everyone will smile and nod, and agree shyly, but rather enthusiastically.
It’s a charming trait – if you called people romantic in the UK they’d be fairly askance – and although the Irish love to believe they have a poetic soul, romance has been rather degraded to become something rubbishy and chocolate box-y.
But there is poetry and romance a plenty in this country. Witness my lovely colleague telling me about her weekend in the coffee country around Chikmaglur. She was describing how it was a little cold and wet (as it’s high altitude, and was a while back, near the start of the monsoon) – but she doesn’t tell me that, she says, ‘it was wonderful. We were truly sitting in the lap of nature’. And then she made that lovely head tilt and hand rotation movement which implies that’s all there is to say about that.
Sitting in the lap of nature? isn’t that the best phrase to describe a cold damp weekend in the mountains, with at least one whingy teenager that didn’t want to be climbing up a hill?
That is truly a poetic soul – in a deeply romantic country. India, you charm me.
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Hi Liz, Its about children taking off their pants, Children may think its “okay” to take off their pants. That is what disturbed me.
Maybe there are a lot of other ways to show “forgive and forget” concept-maybe tearing a shirt off would have been fine? 🙂
The channels I mentioned are in Hindi language. Some scenes of rape and sexual violence are shown before the watershed
You must be a very busy lady to not have time to watch TV 🙂 x
Actually, I don’t even OWN a TV. When you work in broadcast, gradually you stop watching it…
Hi Liz, Its about children taking off their pants, Children may think its “okay” to take off their pants. That is what disturbed me.
Maybe there are a lot of other ways to show “forgive and forget” concept-maybe tearing a shirt off would have been fine? 🙂
The channels I mentioned are in Hindi. Some scenes of rape and sexual violence is shown before the watershed
You must be a very busy lady to not have time to watch TV 🙂 x
Ah, yes I see now. Not a good thing to encourage I suppose. Well not at all, you’re right. I was thinking more of the theme than the consequences. Good point, well made!
It is very romantic Liz, we are singing and dancing to romantic Bollywood tunes and Happily Ever After movies. India has a lot of poets who write poems on the beauty of women comparing her face to the moon, black hair to the clouds, eyes to almonds, lips to rose petals, arms to silk, legs to that of a deer. About women’s multi tasking capabilities professionally and personally, for making the future of a nation (hands that rock the cradle, rule the world). Unfortunately the romance lasts only till the wedding day after which it is squashed with interfering in-laws, pressure to have children, dowry hassles, large joint families and relatives phew…I do not mean to be negative, but Bollywood and TV has influenced Indian society a lot, it is totally crap and so are the actors with poor humor and acting incapability, the sitcoms show women being ill-treated by in-laws and the whole story revolves around the tongue mutated woman who cannot utter a word in defense. I never saw this on East Enders or Coronation Street. When I was young I always thought I would be singing and dancing in the fields with my man, he would come riding on a white horse/merc and sweep me off my feet etc.. My mind was totally brainwashed! Even now women look for “perfectly chiseled macho jaw dropping chocolate boys” as seen on TV (I had a tough time explaining a white British man what chocolate boy meant 🙂 ) And the national awards on TV last month? We had top Bollywood stars dressed as women! We made a fool of ourselves by disrespecting our award ceremonies and “few” of our talented stars and singers while the Oscars are such a decent affair. The following are links of people’s comments
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/academy-awards-oscars-comparison-with-bollywood-awards/1/175879.html
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2805248&TPN=2
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/why-indian-awards-compare-poorly-with-oscars/234383-8-66.html
I have decided not to have a TV at home when I have children. There is no watermark for sitcoms and movies. To add to this, our advertisements are not censored. Last year a washing powder brand advertised this ad – http://www.campaignindia.in/Article/243302,forgive-people-urges-surf-excel-in-their-latest-tvc.aspx I would love to hear your say on this ad. x
Hello again,
Possibly, I’m missing something with that ad – as it just seems rather sweet to me. A tiny bit mawkish if anything, but sweet enough. Being the bigger person will get your good behaviour in return. Even bullies can be reformed. Friendships can be found everywhere. It all seems like a simple enough, sweet story. What is it that’s upsetting you.
And the watershed in the UK is for swearing mostly – and sex and violence. I don’t have a tv here (or in the UK now either), but what little TV I’ve seen hasn’t been particularly sexual or violent – is it and I’ve just missed it? x
Wow now that’s really charming!
I love poetry, I love writing something within me and something about nature and all. Sitting in the lap of nature, that’s really romantic with my very wide imagination and perception in life and romance.