Joint family in today’s age? Lekin, Kuch rishton ko bachaane ke liye doori ikhtiar karna parhta hai – said the voice of reason.
Do you agree?
When the word mother in-law sends shivers down your spine, when you can’t tolerate interference on life decisions; from bringing up your children to when to eat out on a week night – is joint family living creating wider rifts in our social structure or strengthening bonds?
To Live Or Not To Live Together
Prem Gali has picked up on the finest sensitivities in our daily living dynamics and made us question the fundamentals upon which many households run today. One moment, Faiza Iftikhar makes you feel she’s all for the system, as dada single-handedly defends Joya and tells Hamza, ladki apne mian se badtameezi nahi kare gi tau kisse karey gi? We feel he is the epitome of the perfect in-law one would want, who means & acts well – his love overshadowing his over protectiveness, his affection winning hearts as he shares the family album with Joya – and you feel, joint family systems feel like they were meant to be.
But then, we have Shirin breathing down Joya’s neck – dominating, over-protective and downright controlling. Why would you make your daamaad change his job? Why would you, and should you even have the right to tell your daughter not to have children? Why? Are you not overstepping the line? Seems a joint family system is not the perfect formula right?
And then we have the children – Joya and Hamza, perfectly well-mannered adults who respect their elders, suddenly turn against them in a matter of a few episodes. Did the elders bring it upon themselves due to their interfering, over bearing natures? Where do we draw the line between caring and suffocating? Between controlling and protecting?
Saving Your Relationships By Moving Away
But Faiza Iftikhar doesn’t leave it at that, as she tells her viewers through the Khwaja Sira community; Hamza’s neighbour remarks that, they have never experienced the bond of family living, so they can’t give much advice there, however: Insaan door reh ke rishte bacha le …
Is this a lesson to all of us who have the luxury of living together yet snub it, or make it go horrible wrong because we do not respect each others boundaries?
Hamza & Joya’s latest dilemma is the lack of freedom to argue and fight like a normal married couple, let alone, share intimate moments – a pursuit they seemed to have given up on – tau baahir ja ke larh lo, quips Hamza’s neighbour – matlab…alag ho keh reh lo!
Leaving a joint family is easier said than done for many. One lives together for emotional, financial and family support – sometimes because tradition demands it. But how can we solve this continuous onslaught of interference from both sides of the family? The interference takes its toll on a couple’s relationship and, if things get any worse, it can cause them to grow apart, or split. Misunderstandings between a husband and wife because of in-law (well meaning or sadistic) interference should be a thing of the past.
Is Prem Gali going to give us solutions in coming episodes?
When Faiza Iftikhar has taken a stand on Jahez, transgenders, and talaaq – families who are watching Prem Gali with great anticipation – families who might be facing similar joint family issues, might be looking towards the drama for answers. if you’re one of them, you know that although the issues are small, the fallout is anything but … how do we resolve this one?
For now, we are stuck at a crossroads – however, Hamza & Joya might give us some ‘joint’ answers to this one, or, will they hold on to the misery in their lives?
