Emotional Atyachar – Can a Reality show really affect your beliefs in Relationships ?

Emotional Atyachar - Reality TV Show on UTV BindassThe Theme of the Show:

The television show “Emotional Atyachar” aired on UTV Bindass, examines the presence of fidelity in affine relationships. A person (referred to as lead) gives the information about a suspected cheater. The suspected cheater is the targeted by the crew of the show emotional atyachar. The sting operation is carried out for a period of three consecutive days. The suspect is usually introduced to a good looking undercover agent. The agent is only directed to be friendly with the suspect. After monitoring the conduct of the suspect, the footage of the hidden cameras is shown to the lead or his girl-friend/ boy friend.

Was Raja Chaudhari episode plotted?

A couple of days back I saw the Raja Chaudhari Episode being telecast UTV Bindas prime time show ” Emotional Atyachar”, although the show was quite entertaining I thought the whole thing was plotted. Raja’s girl friend (Shradha) had approached the channel for conducting a loyalty test on him. The two had been in a living relation for about 8 months.

Raja, a philanderer had become sexually comfortable with both the under-cover agents, that were investigating the lead on behalf of the team of Emotional Atyachar . Throughout the episode it was observed that the girl expected her partner to be a cheater. When she caught him red handed in a hotel room, he had no guilt or remorse whatsoever. He was quiet most of the time. Then he shamelessly went outside the hotel room.

Moreover the episode had two under-cover agents both of them were projected to be room-mates. Raja ignoring these facts openly flirted with both of them. As if he wanted both of them to know his open-mindedness.

May be my observation is flawed but I truly felt that the whole episode was plotted.

Was the Channel Involved?

In serials like “Raaz Pechle Janam Ka” or “Emotional Atyachar” the issues raised are very sensitive therefore it’s difficult to comment on the credibility of these shows. It is quite possible that the channel carries on its investigation in a bonafide manner. However it may be said that some people may manipulate this platform to gain publicity and public attention.

Is the serial affecting our society?

I had a talk with a number of people about the show. Most of them opined that Emotional Atyachar was very interesting and entertaining. Some people feel that the scenes telecast in the serial outrage the modesty of women. If proved may be tried under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code. Whereas others believe that the channel effectively conceals the vulgar scenes.

Another issue that is time and again raised is “the show cheating the suspects by alluring them”. If the above statement is taken into consideration the show and the channel would be prosecuted under Section 415 of Indian Penal Code. The punishment for cheating is prescribed in Section 417 of I.P.C. i.e. 1 year imprisonment/ fine/ both.

Another Controversy

Recently MNS had also objected on the show. Interestingly it was not on grounds of conduct of participants but on the use of word Bombay instead of Mumbai by one of the female participants spying on her boy friend. However the channel denied any threats from MNS. It has announced on the show that the city must be referred as Mumbai from now on.

Conclusion

The program is still on a nascent stage and to comment on the credibility of the same would be too early.  The channel has the defence of showcasing the truth and therefore may not be tried for defamation. Moreover the undercover agents are directed by the organizers of the show not to induce the perpetrator in any sense. Till now the show is providing entertainment to the audience, relief to the innocent participants, punishment to the infidels and profits to the sponsors.  In such circumstances even if the show is entirely plotted won’t it be a kin to other fiction serials showcased on television?

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Forceful Sex by relatives – Do we Have Laws in India to Protect the Victims?

Orphans In Kabul

A few days back I read that a father had impregnated his 15 year old daughter. His wife was aware of his acts. But she couldn’t do anything to protect her daughter. She was continuously threatened by her husband. When questioned by the police she confessed that she said she supported him because she was financially incapable. She was convinced that this was the best way to protect her daughter’s future and family’s reputation. On knowing the truth the society could have abandoned the daughter and the family (which would have affected the future of her other children as well).

The sexual intercourse between close relatives is referred to as incest. Certain cultures and tribes support incest. In Andra Pradesh, Menarikam marriage takes place where maternal uncle is married to his niece or marriage between cross cousins take place. Marriage between cross cousins is also allowed in Muslims, Zoroastrians and Jews. But in most cases incest is not consensual. In India crime of incest is considered a taboo and is seldom discussed.

Unfortunately it is not the offender but the victim who suffers the wrath of the society in such matters. When a child is raped or abused by her/his father, brother, uncle or any other close relative, her/he is also forced to continue the relation. The abuser usually threatens the child and convinces him/her that silence is the only resort he/she is left with. The child is continuously harassed and sexually abused by the perpetrator. It affects the child mentally, physically and psychologically. The mental agony may result in deterioration of health or diet. It is difficult for these victims to trust others in future.

A study by Tata Institute of Social Sciences points out that one out of three girls and one out of 10 boys had been sexually abused as a child. Fifty per cent of child sexual abuse occurs at home. 15 per cent were used for masturbation mostly by male relatives when they were less than 10 years old. Seventy- five per cent of the abusers were adult family members.

In India we do not have any specific legislation regarding “incest” whereas in many developed countries like U.S.A, Britain and Germany incest is treated as offense. The present Indian Law is insufficient to prevent child abuse. We have no specific law on child abuse. The Indian Penal Code recognizes rape and sodomy as an offence but it doesn’t treat child abuse specifically. Anything less than rape comes under the ambit of “outraging the modesty of a woman”, which is vague and open to interpretation. Moreover Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) is a bailable offence and in many cases the accused may abscond easily. It only relates to women and therefore males cannot be protected under this section.

Although Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act deals with assault the punishment prescribed in it is only 6 months. Again Section 5 of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 prescribes punishment for seven years for inducement of child into prostitution but it does not address child abuse. The abuse of boys is usually overlooked. Only Section 377 talks about unnatural acts under which offences like sodomy may be charged.

Sexual abuse by relatives must not be spared. In most cases the family supports both the victim and the offender. If the perpetrator is acquitted, then the victim may be again subjected to the same violence. Regular workshops must be organized at schools to educate the children of their rights. Counselling must be provided to the victims. We generally deny the presence of incest in our society. This encourages the offender to commit such crimes. He is often convinced that the societal pressure would never let his victim reveal the truth. The weakness and inability of the society to react has always resulted in more of such crimes. We definitely need stringent laws in this regard. But we also need the help of students, teachers, parents, neighbours, police, judiciary, lawyers etc for implementing them.

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