Serial ‘Hawli’ or Unity ?

It was in the 80’s as I remember; the streets of Bangalore were literally empty for about an hour every Sunday. This happened for almost over a year. Reason: The new television serial, RAMAYAN.

Television programs were in a formative stage in India and ‘Ramayan’ came in as a big break for all. The whole country was glued to the television, at home doing whatever, and still watching. At street corners some big shops, were benevolent enough to put on, their TV for the public; passers by would cluster around it. At least another half hour before and after the serial, conversations went on about Ramayana itself.

Young, old, my friends in the Christian and Muslim communities, all watched the program. Indeed Ramanand Sagar sometimes referred to as Ramayan Sagar, the producer did something unique, in that he had unified the whole country for a while !

Here is what the Sunday Times, London had to say:

"….. In the last 50 years, there has been no other example of national integration where the whole nation came to a stand still kneeling before the television sets …."

Another occasion Indians unify is where there are cricket matches. Nowadays there are ‘dime a dozen’ but some of the very important matches draws up the attention of the whole country.

Of late I found the TV serials are taking up prime time of people at homes. In a way, it is just ‘in the way’ for some of us !

Friends and relatives are gobbled up by the television serials, at specific times. and as a result a visitor at this time is really unwelcome.

These serial ‘addicts’ are of several types, commonly;

1. The polite type who keep looking at the clock or watch,
2. The little bold type who actually turn on the TV, watch and try to make a conversation
3. And the frank opinionated, ‘don’t care types’, who tell you “please excuse, me, we will do this some other time”, (now kindly leave!). I have been shooed out very politely from a place or two.

The storywriters, producers and the rest of the team, must be complimented as they are able to draw a common thread and get the rapt attention of so many people. I am truly amazed that in our land of diverse beliefs, we are all truly united !