The saga of episodes…

to be continued…
An exploratory study on the impact of the Hindi Tele-serial
Balika Vadhu
on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

A dissertation submitted by
Dhanya Thomas

Under the guidance of

Dr. Fr. Maria Charles

A partial fulfilment of the course requirements for the studies of

Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism
Under
Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism
and Communication

On
April 25, 2009

NISCORT
A-2, Sector 1
Vaishali, Ghaziabad
U.P 201012
 Contents

Page no.

Foreword 3
Introduction 4
Chapter 1 5
1.1 Slums and their issues
1.2 Profile of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi
1.3 Research methodology

Chapter 2 13
2.1 Role of television in development
2.2 Impact of television on socio-cultural life of people
2.3 Recent trends in the Hindi Tele-film industry
2.4 Plot and show synopsis- Balika Vadhu: Kacchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte
2.5 Popularity of Balika Vadhu- TRP rates and reviews
2.6 Relevance of Balika Vadhu in the context of child marriage

Chapter 3 20
3.1 Survey results and analysis and interpretation of data
3.2 Impact of Balika Vadhu on the inhabitants of JJ Colony
3.3 Case study

Chapter 4 30
4.1 Findings
4.2 Critical evaluation and suggestions
Conclusion 33
Appendix 1 34
Appendix 2 36
Endnotes 37
Bibliography 38

2
 Foreword

Today television has become the most important part of people’s life as one cannot even
imagine a household without a TV set. While news and current affairs programmes cater
to the elite group, Tele-serials and entertainment programmes attract the common masses.
It is quite surprising to know that even the marginalized group such as slum dwellers also
are tremendously inspired by television. This finding led me to do a research on the topic
‘Impact of Hindi Tele-serial Balika Vadhu on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar,
New Delhi’

Writing a paper on a subject like this which is highly flexible would not have been an easy
task unless I had not received tremendous help, support and suggestions from my guide
Fr. Maria Charles. He was always there with me in finishing this project successfully. He
not only gave me the freedom to carry out the research on my terms but also corrected my
ideas and helped me to think beyond the confined area of my topic.

I am thankful to Fr. John Edappilly, the Dean of Studies for giving the foundation of this
dissertation paper and also for his constant support and encouragement.

I extend my sincere thanks to all the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi for
their co-operation, especially to those who took the pain to respond to the questions given
in the schedule.

My heartfelt thanks to Sr. Ashrita Kerketta who introduced me to the Colony inhabitants
and also to NADA India Foundation for providing me with the information regarding the
slums in Delhi.

This paper is dedicated to the millions of slum dwellers in India who are deprived of the
basic amenities of life and are kept away from the so called civilized society.

3
Introduction
India’s population is a paradox: while India enjoys one of the largest and most balanced
demographics in terms of age (54 per cent of the population is below 25 years of age), it is
one of the most persistently imbalanced in terms of income inequality. The rising income
gap is creating an urban-rural divide. A quarter of India’s population lives below the
poverty line. Almost 70 per cent of Indians still reside in rural areas, although in recent
decades migration to larger cities has led to a dramatic increase in the country’s urban
population. By 2025, the percentage of urban population will be 40 per cent.1
India is home to around 18 per cent of the world’s population, but accounts for only 2.42
per cent of the total world area; the emergence of megacities is inevitable. By 2025, there
will be more than 13 urban agglomerations of more than 10 million people.
India’s population has been labelled the ‘demographic dividend’, and the working age
population is unlikely to peak before 2016; which is a massive opportunity that India
cannot afford to miss. But to avoid a ‘demographic liability’, India must grow by 8 to 10
per cent per year to provide jobs for the expanding working-age population. Urbanization
is one of the key drivers of the next phase of growth of the country. Urban workers are
more productive for a variety of reasons – higher value-added occupations, technical skills
and network effects in production and consumption. But rapid urbanization can lead to
mega-slums and challenges to quality of life and social harmony, as well as environmental
impacts. In the short to medium term, social unrest could become a major issue if the
growing inequalities in access to basic needs are not addressed. Socio-economic
imbalances can feed a vicious circle of despair if disadvantage is transmitted across
generations.2
The story of the slumming of Indian cities is set among those urbanities living on
pavements or in jhuggis or shanties, running or working in squalid and risky shops,
godown and factories, going to schools that do not teach and hospitals that do not treat
and they came to be known as slum-walas.3 They are deprived of the basic amenities of
life.
The slum and slum expansion, a consequence of both national and global forces, has
increasingly become a one of the major challenges for India.
There are many theoretical explanations for why the poor stay poor. But these do not fully
explain the slumming of Indian cities. This is mainly because urban poverty and slums are
only largely and not entirely coterminous.

4
 Chapter 1
1.1 Slums and their issues
Urban centres in India are more differentiated in terms of the socio-economic, politico-
cultural and other indicators of development than any other areas. At the top, there are
farm houses and high income group localities characterised by well-developed urban
infrastructures like wide roads, street lights, water and sanitation facilities, lawns, well-
developed green belt, parks, play grounds and provisions for individual security and right
to privacy. At the other extreme of it are the ‘slums’, ‘jhuggi-jhoparis’ clusters and
colonies of shanty structures. These are inhabited by those people who were forced to
migrate from the rural areas to these urban centres in search of livelihood but could not
afford proper housing due to high rent and high costs of land. They occupy
environmentally incompatible and degraded areas. Slums are residential areas of the least
choice, dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, poor ventilation, lack of basic
amenities like drinking water, light and toilet facilities, etc. These areas are overcrowded
having narrow street pattern prone to serious hazards from fire. Moreover, most of the
slum population works in low paid, high risk-prone, unorganised sectors of the urban
economy. Consequently, they are the undernourished, prone to different types of diseases
and illness and can ill afford to give proper education to their children. The poverty makes
them vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy and
ultimately social exclusion.
Living and working in slum conditions itself contribute to poverty. Resources of time and
money that could me spent more productively are spent on gaining access to basic
services. Expenses on health are higher because of poor environment and expenses on
education are often dead investments or at best provide little value for money.4
And bulldozers and removal vans cause serious economic reversal.
The slum areas are called by different names in different regions like Chawls in Mumbai;
Basthis Katra and Jhuggi Jhopdis in Delhi; Basthis in Kolkata; Abadis and Shats in
Kanpur and Cheris in Chennai, etc. Every slum has certain similarities like dilapidated
structures, congested sanitation and poor supply of drinking water. Many scholars have
studied the problems pertaining to the growth of slums and slum dwellers.5
To be able to improve the quality of life of slum dwellers it is necessary to define what a
slum is or more precisely who slum dwellers are. According to UN-HABITAT a slum

5
household is a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the
following conditions (UN-HABITAT, 2003):
 Security of tenure
 Structural quality/durability of dwellings
 Sufficient-living area, not overcrowded
 Access to improved water and sanitation facilities6
According to a survey conducted in 2006, 22 per cent of Indian urban population lives in
slums as against 32 per cent for the whole world population; most, if not all of these
people earn under the urban poverty line. Data from a study by National Institute of Urban
Affairs (NIUA) reported that among the poorest cities were Calcutta (89 per cent below
the poverty line), Bangalore (73 per cent) and Indore (68 per cent). More disturbingly,
there was a gender divide in the distribution of urban poor in the slums: NIUA reported
that 68 per cent of this group consisted of women. Also notable is the fact that 6 million of
this population is in the age group 0-6. 7
The slum dwellers: dominant discourse vs. practice: ‘myth’ vs. ‘reality’ (a study done
in Delhi in 2002)
Despite all the contradictions, the slum dwellers have proved that they should not be
stereotyped on the basis of their living conditions and disparities. Below follows a
comparison between the dominant discourses, exemplified through certain stereotype
images and concepts, and the empirical ‘reality’ (column one and two in the table). Third
column indicates the great diversity in livelihoods found among the sample of slum
dwellers (N= 200 heads of households). Such diversity is underscored by other studies
referred to below. 8
Table: Stereotype image: Discourse, practice and diversity among migrant slum
dwellers (N=200)
Stereotype images of Empirical evidence of Empirical variation in
slum dweller by urban livelihoods among the livelihoods (diversity)
elite (dominant average slum dweller
discourse) (practice)
Illiterate 84 per cent literate 16 per cent illiterate; 33
per cent completed
matriculation; 23 per cent
with higher education
Low status and backward More than 80 per cent 16 percent low caste

6
 middle or high caste (scheduled); while 40 per
cent are high caste
Unemployed 96 per cent employed- Only 4 per cent
mainly in private business unemployed; 15 per cent
are daily wage labourers

Poor Average income about Rs Relatively even income

3000 per month – more distribution; although 1/3
than twice that of official below Rs 2000 per month;
poverty line; 65 per cent and 16 per cent above Rs
between Rs 2000 and 3000 5000; one person earning
Rs 16 000 per month
House-less Majority possess a one- or Almost 30 per cent has
two-room brick house three rooms or more; while
(pucca) 40 has only one room; 22
per cent live in mud house
(kuccha); 23 per cent
rented
Asset-less Majority possess TV, A few possess phone and
radio, fan, bicycle refrigerator, but many have
few consumer assets
Stealing our jobs Majority work in informal Only 9 per cent work in
private business – many government business
self-employed
entrepreneurs
Burden on society due to Income of household is Solution to social services
low income well above consumption such as water, electricity,
level, hence, likely net education and health are
contributors to societal mostly private or
saving/economic growth communal

The past initiatives to relocate slum dwellers were generally not successful. First, the
numbers of such schemes were limited and reached only a minor share of the population.
Secondly, the government seldom delivered housing schemes with a standard of services
and infrastructure as required by the settlers. Third, since job opportunities were small in

7
the new neighbourhoods in the outskirts of the city, many later chose to leave, and moved
back to the slums of the city centre.
In 2001, the Government and NGOs formulated the slum resettlement plan for 60,000
people. The Draft National Slum Policy of 2001 initiated a newer level of understanding
of the issue of urban slums- that slums are an integral part of urban areas and contribute
significantly to their economy both through their labour market contributions and informal
production activities. Rather than looking at slums as ‘problem areas’ which need
‘corrective action’, local bodies should recognize the contribution made by slums and
make sufficient provision for them to have access to affordable land, housing sites and
services. It was carried out with popular participation and partnerships with NGOs that
had been involved in the recent Mumbai Urban Transport Project. The resettled families
had a mixed response. On the one hand they were happy to have secure tenure and access
to basic services but on the other hand the resettlement location offered fewer employment
opportunities and led to increased travel costs for quite a few. 9
It is widely accepted that inequitable land distribution is a major factor in the emergence
of slums. If too many sprawling farm houses are allowed to come up in the city for a few,
then too many others will have to huddle in huts on some tiny piece of land because there
is only so much urban land to go around. If fancy cyber parks used by a few are developed
in the middle of the cities on land suitable for local commercial use, then shops needed by
many others will come up on roadsides. If a few industrial houses are allowed to occupy
larger sites in the city, many other small factories needing propinquity to ancillary
establishments will come up in residential areas. The end result will be and is the
slumming of Indian cities.
The urban history of India is so complex that its development cannot easily be reduced to
stereotype descriptions, urban planning, and practices. By the local government accepting
to take responsibility for slum upgrading, more positive attitudes are likely to emerge
since the aim would now be to build on whatever capacity the slum dwellers have and
what local resources are available.

1.2 Profile of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

JJ Colony, Anand Vihar which was established in 1985 is inhabited by 5600 people who
live in 800 dwellings. The inhabitants of the Colony comprises of rickshaw pullers, daily
labourers, hawkers and roadside vendors. Only a very few people of this Colony get the

8
opportunity to go for higher studies. Some of them do low level jobs in government
offices as well as private sector. The average income of one family is Rs. 2,500 a month.
The water supply is provided by public taps; approximately 20 households share one tap.
585 households have electricity meters, 200 households have illegal connection and 15
have no connection at all. The area has one fair price shop and 30 private shops.
60 per cent of the households have ration cards. 10
Nearest primary and secondary schools are three kilometres away and 45 per cent of the
children never attending school. Most of the children who go to school drop out after
Standard 5 and all of them quit the school by the time they reach Standard 10.
The area faces several environmental problems. Tree wood has been used as fuel for
traditional Chula and the area has an open sewer. In addition to this, 80 per cent uses open
air for toilet. Water borne diseases are major problem and the area has only one doctor and
nine midwives to turn up. Poverty, sub-human conditions, poor quality of life and lack of
medical facilities result in high mortality and birth rate patterns in the Colony. Drug and
alcohol abuse in the slum has led to 50 cases of domestic violence. The nearest police
station is two kilometres away.
The households have access to media. 500 have cable Television and 50 have radio.
Cinema and Tele-serials are the most popular forms of entertainment. It is followed by
social group gathering, sports (especially cricket) and games. NGOs are active in this area
and specialize in community radio, health and education.
The inhabitants are keen to know about the recent happenings in India and some men are
interested in politics also.
Rapid urbanization and distorted development patterns have brought about migration of
rural population to urban settings in search of food and job. Prevailing high disparity
between rich and poor has forced this migrant population to settle in the small groups in
the unauthorised colonies called JJ Colonies. Today 35 per cent of the Delhi population
lives in these kinds of unauthorised clusters. Civic bodies are not able to provide required
basic amenities as they are settled in an area which is labelled as ‘unauthorised’ by the
government.
1.3 Research methodology
Problem
Tele-serials have become the integral part of Indian life. It has become the most powerful
and popular mode of entertainment. With a population close to 400 million individual
viewers, and a bouquet of channels offering unlimited and formula-tested Tele-serials, a

9
study is carried out to find whether these Tele-serials are contributing to the social
awareness of the viewers.
How this problem has led to the research?
Today people spend more time watching television than in the olden days. The increasing
number of television channels and tough competition among them gives viewers the
liberty of choice regarding their favourite programmes. Tele-serials have become the part
and parcel of people’s lives. While news and current affairs programmes are meant for the
so called intellectuals, Tele-serials target common man. These Tele-serials, which say the
story of day-to-day life in a fictional and glamorous way, attract the common masses.
While some of them are accused of destroying the Indian culture and ethics, some gives
out good messages. Tele-serial like Balika Vadhu deals with one of the major social evils
which still exist in India: child marriage. Since television is a medium which provides
infotainment to the people, this Tele-serial give awareness to the public and it serves a
dual purpose. Sometimes what the Government and NGOs cannot do will be achieved by
these Tele-serials. The sensitive portrayal of the common man’s life in a bold and
unconventional way makes a tremendous impact in the lives of the viewers.
Research Hypothesis
 People spend more time watching Tele-serials than any other TV programmes
 Most of the Tele-serials do not contribute to the development and education of
masses
 There are some Tele-serials which deal with the social issues and have a
tremendous impact on the common people.
Aims and Objectives of the Research
 To find out the changing trends in television viewing among the people in JJ
Colony
 To find out the effect of the Tele-serials among the respondents
 To find out whether the Tele-serials which deal with social issues are accepted by
them and whether they are yielding desired effects

Research design
Stratified random sampling method has to be adopted in which research population will be
divided on the basis of sex and age. A stratified sample is obtained by independently selecting
a separate simple random sample from each population stratum. A population can be divided into
different groups may be based on some characteristic or variable like income of education. Like

10
any body with ten years of education will be in group A, between 10 and 20 group B and between
20 and 30 group C. These groups are referred to as strata. You can then randomly select from each
stratum a given number of units which may be based on proportion like if group A has 100 persons
while group B has 50, and C has 30 you may decide you will take 10 per cent of each. So you end
up with 10 from group A, 5 from group B and 3 from group C. Schedules are used to collect
information. There are 20 questions which aim at understanding the television viewing
pattern of the respondents, the various aspects of the soap opera Balika Vadhu and also the
personal details of the respondents. There are both close-end and open-end questions
which are more exploratory in nature.
Population
500 people have television sets with cable connection. The sample population for study
will be 50 people.
Sampling strategy
Men : 15
Women : 20
Children (under the age of 15)
Boys : 7
Girls : 8
Data collection
Since majority of the slum dwellers are illiterate, interview schedules are to be used for
data collection.
Analysis and Interpretation of data
The collected data through schedules which is in a raw or ungrouped form comprising
accurate social facts are entered in Microsoft Excel 2003.
The next step was coding. The need for coding arises when the responses are not
expressed numerically or symbolically. Coding further facilitates the process of tabulation
of collected data, introduces uniformity and aids analysis and presentation of results. The
process by which numbers or symbols are assigned to response items in accordance with
their categories or classes to facilitate tabulation, summarization, & analysis of data is
called coding. A value has been given to each answer given by the respondent. E.g.:
responses to a particular question may be yes=1, no=2, can’t say=3.
Factors instrumental in the process of coding:
 Number of respondents
 Number of questions asked

11
  Number of statistical operations planned & complexity of study
After the coding and classification, the percentage of responses were obtained through
cross tabulation using a computer program called Launch STATS 2.0. Tabulation is the
process of summarizing classified or grouped data into some convenient & manageable
form. Generally it is in the form of a statistical table - arranged in rows and columns. Such
a statistical table makes it possible for the researcher to present a huge mass of data in a
detailed and yet simplistic and orderly form.

Once the tabulation is done, the result will be shown in charts and diagrams. Graphs are
used for many different reasons, and can be found all over. We see them in the
newspapers, magazines, and on television because they help us to communicate
information. Many different types of graphs exist, and each has something different about
it that makes it useful in a unique way. Some of the different types of graphs used in this
research paper are:

1. Line graph: It compares two variables. Each variable is plotted along an axis - a vertical
axis (Y) and a horizontal axis (X). They are good at showing specific values of data,
meaning that given one variable the other can easily be determined. They also
enable the reader to make predictions about the results of data not yet recorded.

2. Bar graph: A bar graph uses a horizontal or vertical rectangular bar that levels off
at the appropriate point to denote the value of the variable. There are many
characteristics of bar graphs that make them useful. They clearly show trends in
data, meaning that they show how one variable is affected as the other rises or
falls.

3. Pie chart: They are basically display percentages and are used to compare different
parts of the same whole. The circle of a pie graph represents 100%. Each portion
that takes up space within the circle stands for a part of that 100%. In this way, it is
possible to see how something is divided among different groups.

Chapter 2
2.1 Role of television in development
The developmental role of mass media is well established. Highlighting its contribution
Schramm says:
It is hardly possible to imagine national, economic and social development going on at its
present pace without some modern information multiplier, and indeed, without mass

12
communication, probably the great freedom movements and national stirrings of the last
few decades never would have come about at all (Schramm 1964:271). 11
Among the various mass media, the film and television are considered the most effective,
combining the audio and visual together. According to Gross, television has changed the
role of mass media by making non-face-to-face communication as practical and efficient
in many cases as face-to-face relation (Gross 1973:289).
When television was introduced in India, the Government of India aimed at achieving
specific objectives. There was a great debate as to whether a developing country like India
can afford the tremendous expenditure of television broadcasting. However, the
advantages outweighed the economic considerations and LPTs (Low Power Transmitters)
were installed for quick dissemination of information. The main objectives visualized by
the Government of India according to the advantages they would bring about to the
society are enumerated below:
a) To act as a catalyst for social change
b) To promote national integration
c) To stimulate scientific temper among the people
d) To disseminate the message of family planning as a means of population control
and family welfare
e) To stimulate greater agricultural production by providing essential information and
knowledge
f) To promote and help preservation of environmental ecological balance
g) To highlight the need of social welfare, measures including welfare of women,
children and less privileged
h) To promote interest in sports and games
i) To stimulate appreciation of our artistic and cultural heritage
j) Educating the masses
Communication through television is effective because of the following strong
capabilities:
a) Can be universalized
b) Can cross cultural bonds
c) Universal interest set up
d) Wider area covered
e) More participation of beneficiaries can be obtained

13
Considering the above facts television can be considered as the best effective media of
communication for the development of the marginalized class.
Assuming that development is as Bordenave (1977) suggests: “a matter of changing
attitude, increasing productivity, improving the quality of the individual’s life (through
education, better health etc.)” 12
Modern technology brings life in its true colours instantaneously through pictures from
13
anywhere and everywhere into our living rooms. The reach, power and potential of
television today has not been surpassed by any other medium of transmission as yet.14
The task of media in development is two-fold:
 To help remove illiteracy, fatalism, enlarge aspirations, increase and extend social
status
 To lead to overall national progress and prosperity15
All other allied tasks are by-products of media inputs and media consumption. Despite
some ill effects of media, the more the media inputs and greater the media consumption
by the masses and increased will be the welfare of the nation and happiness of the people.
Whatever may be the emerging scenario of the role of media on India’s overall
development, the reality is that the media are a fundamental need for all human being. The
development of human civilization is directly dependent on refinement and growth of
forms, mechanism and quality of the content of communication. Though there is an
astonishing variety and enormity of communication in the world today, a society generally
chooses and yokes only those media which fit in nation’s general environment, traditions
and culture. 16Any policy or culture and communication should, therefore, be built within
a paradigm which is both holistic and integrative so as to combine the local reality,
people’s aspirations, needs and desired areas of change.
Today media is guarded in a more fundamental way by Indian democratic culture that
respects freedom of thought and expression, and nurtures diversity. But with freedom
comes responsibility, media has to keep in mind this fact.
2.2 Impact of television on socio-cultural life of people
As one of the most powerful information disseminators, socializing agents and public
opinion moulders in the contemporary world; television has an important role in today’s
world. Television has a tremendous influence on the socio-cultural life of people. The
feature films, Tele-serials, documentaries etc are bound to create different types of
interactions among public. The actors, including hero, heroine and people taking side roles
in dramas and Tele-serials create definite educational impact on the public. A variety of

14
events within the dramas and pictures displaying ties of love, hatred and enmity also has
definite impact on the value system of the viewers.
Not all people are influenced by the exposure of this type of cultural material in everyday
life. And, they have their own judgement about what is good and bad for them and for the
society they consider ideal from their own point of view.
Another important impact of media on people is the behavioural changes due to the
constant exposure to violence. It is believed that repeated exposure to real-life and to
entertainment violence may alter cognitive, affective, and behavioural processes, possibly
leading to desensitization. The goal of the present study was to determine if there are
relationships between real-life and media violence exposure and desensitization as
reflected in related characteristics.17
Critics blame television for everything from obesity to the murder rate. While TV is easy
to criticize, and much of the criticism is justified, we also need to keep in mind that
television benefits society in many important ways.
It has been found that most viewers do not turn on television to watch a specific program.
They simply decide to "watch television" and then find a program that looks interesting.
This is least-objectionable-program (LOP) model of television viewing we introduced
earlier. We like to be entertained. We like excitement. We like to see handsome men and
sexy women. We like to vicariously (and safely) experience the experiences of other
people. We like to be drawn into fantasy worlds that we will probably never be able to
experience first hand.
Some television addicted people report: “We are so much habituated to see TV that we
invariably view it after the dinner and then only we get good sleep.” To some people,
television provides inspiration to lead a systematic and decent life. They show due
recognition, politeness and courtesy to strangers and visitors which is apparently learned
from television.18

2.3 Recent trends in Hindi Tele-film industry

From the first major television series Mahabharat and Ramayana in the late 1980's to
Hum Log, Rajni, Shanthi, Circus, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Banegi Apne Baath to K-dominated
serials , Indian television has been moving time and beyond. rona -dhona is the key factor
in today's Tele-serials along with nasty mothers in--law, conspiring daughters- in- laws,
irate bosses and love triangles and a Cinderella' God mother.

15
Tele-serials have served as a daily dose of entertainment. The serials showcased today
cover events and incidents in our life with a tinge of fantasy, after all no one really wears
Zari saris at home or apply loads of garish makeup even if you are a sethani. Indian Tele-
serials have provided viewers with a lot of anticipation towards watching the next episode
of their favourite serial. No one can forget how the sudden Mihir Virani caused a lot of
dismay and heart break to millions of viewers who insisted that he should be resurrected
from life!
Tele-serials have contributed immensely to the growth of Indian television in its entirety.
The Indian television industry is booming like never before generating a lot of
employment to technicians from make up artists to cameramen and upcoming actors from
small towns.
However, a lot of criticism is bringing meted out on these new age serials. The 'K- serials'
have been thrashed by critics as being very highly melodramatic, endorsing bigamous
marriages, mindless resurrections of favourite characters, filmy narratives,
unauthenticated medical information and well worked out miracles for the 'goody' bahus.
Nevertheless, Tele-serials serve as a staple diet for our daily dose of evening
entertainment. For some viewers, it may be entertaining and for the rest it's pile of thrash.
Meanwhile, shows like Balika Vadhu have paved way for a new trend. Instead of sticking
to the unrealistic stories in a very dramatic representation, the team dared to take up a
social evil which still exists in the modern society. With the success of Balika Vadhu,
many directors are attracted to the women-children issues as a number of Tele-serials are
coming up on social issues.
Many of the Indian Tele-serials are far from reality. Unlike the British soap operas which
have got realism as its key concept, Indian Tele-serials focus much on glamour. 19 Even
though a new trend has been set Tele-serials like by Balika Vadhu, there is a long way to
go for the Indian Tele-serial industry.

2.4 Plot and show synopsis- Balika Vadhu: Kacchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte
Balika Vadhu is a television serial, currently being broadcast on Colors from Viacom18 in
India. Set in rural Rajasthan, Balika Vadhu traces the arduous journey of an eight year old
child bride Anandi who was married to an equally young boy Jagdish from the brink of
childhood to womanhood. Her education is discontinued and she is sent off on a journey
to discover new customs and relationships. Amidst the joyous marriage ceremony and the
merriment of the relatives, Anandi’s teacher appears who tries to explain them the peril of

16
getting their children married at an immature age. But her protests are ignored and her
attempts to stop the marriage from taking place are failed as she is kidnapped by a
policeman. Meanwhile, Anandi gets to know from her friend that her marriage will not be
taking place because of her teacher. She starts crying, not because she is upset due to her
marriage being broken, but for the reason that she will have to give back the new clothes
and ornaments adorning her.
What follows is Anandi’s discovery of herself in an alien environment, among people who
are complete strangers for her. She wakes up in the morning to find herself in an
unfamiliar house, she looks around and starts crying and the way she says ‘Mujhe apni
asli maa ke paas jaana hai’ (I want to go home to my real mother), is deeply touching.
While her parents-in-law; Sumitra and Bhairav are extremely understanding and caring,
her husband’s grandmother (Dadisa) and father’s brother (Tauji) perfectly fit into the
picture of monsters-in-law. Dadisa, who is a troublesome woman, is irked when she sees
Anandi at play and orders her to cook food. She is supported by her parents-in-law who
treat her like their own daughter and stand by her. They also encourage her to continue her
studies.

Married at the tender age of eight, to an equally young Jagdish, she enters a new world
which is at once alienating and confusing. And torn away from the merriment of
childhood and her family, she has to accept and accustom herself to this new family of
strangers, new relationships and accept her roles as a friend, lover, wife and a mother as
she forges her way in the world.

Balika Vadhu very sensitively portrays the plight of children who are unwittingly forced
into marriage, in the name of tradition, and have to bear the repercussions for the rest of
their lives.

2.5 Popularity of Balika Vadhu- TRP rates and reviews

Balika Vadhu finds its place on the top in the Television Rating Point list with the TRP of
5.8. This Tele-serial has been widely acknowledged as one of the best shows on television.
TRP rates of the popular Tele-serials as per March 19 2009.20
1. Sapna Babul Ka..Bidaai (Star Plus) 6.3 TRP
2. Balika Vadhu (Colors) :5.8TRP
3. Jai Shri Krishna (Colors) : 3.04 TRP
4. Indian Idol 4 (Sony) : 3.00 TRP

17
 5. Saath Phere (Zee TV) : 2.80 TRP
6. Kasamh Se (Zee TV) : 2.74 TRP
7. Banoo Main Teri Dulhaan (Zee TV) : 2.71 TRP
8. Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (Star Plus) : 2.65 TRP
9. Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat (Star Plus): 2.62 TRP
10. Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki (Star Plus) : 2.49 TRP
Most of the reviews say that Balika Vadhu was not aimed to eradicate the very practice by
condemning and criticizing it, instead the intent was for the people to see the
consequences of it. In Rajasthan, where child marriage still occurs, the audience gets to
see the results in a very justified and clear manner. Be it a little girl being expected to get
all worldly and mature at a pre-teen age, the way she copes with pressures of living in a
different house with people she doesn’t even know. Their huge expectations of managing
the entire household-cooking, cleaning, taking care of everyone in the family and
behaving according to them are supposed to be met. We see how women are still being
treated as objects that have to abandon their lives, family and friends (without having any
say) to fulfill the responsibilities they have been passed on.
Balika Vadhu does not put everything regarding child marriage in just black and white. If
on one hand there are elements of a rigid and unchanging society (in the form of Anandi’s
daadi-sa and Basant tauji), there are also characters like Anandi’s father and mother in-
law, who understand the problems created by child marriage. They want things to change
but are not courageous enough to go against society. The very interesting and strong
woman who dares to go against the norms and do what’s best for her is played by Gahna,
Anandi’s new tayji.

2.6 Relevance of Balika Vadhu in the context of child marriage

The practice of child marriage started 4000 years ago in India. Many things changed
through the course of time like discrimination based on one’s caste, women emancipation,
economic and social growth of our country, among others. But there are things that even
4000 years of time hasn’t been able to eradicate. Sadly, child marriage is one of the social
vices that till date exist in our country.
It is difficult to ascertain and determine the origin of the custom of child marriage. The
rigid system of physical segregation by sex, by restricting women’s mobility and
activities, the strong influence of patriarchal family system, effectively prevents their

18
engaging in extra-familial forms of economic activity and income generation outside of
the home can be said to be the major reasons for child marriage. 21
According to a report by UNICEF (2005), almost 50 per cent of women, aged 20-24 are
married by 18 years in India. Parents encourage the marriage of their daughters to relieve
themselves of a financial burden and assuming that they would lead a happy and
comfortable life after marriage. State wise comparison of the data on under age marriages
shows quite clearly that the worst on this parameter are the Hindi-speaking states. In
Rajasthan, for instance, roughly one in 18 people below the legal age of marriage are
already married. In Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana, the
ratio varies between 1 in 27 and 1 in 37. 22
Starting with Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the early 19th century, many social reformers have
tried to end the practice of child marriage. But it continues in large swathes of rural India.
As a new Tele-serial, Balika Vadhu revisits the issue and it is received a welcome response
from the audience.
Set in rural Rajasthan, the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu is a story of child bride Anandi, who is
married off to an equally young boy Jagdish. The girl is torn away from the joys of
childhood and estranged from her parents, to be bound by her in-laws' customs.
Normally, in (other) serials, people are scheming and plotting against each other, but in
Balika Vadhu everyone is correct in their own light. The characters are very well etched
out and they have given a lot of attention to details.
Written and scripted by Purnendu Shekhar, Balika Vadhu has a message at the end of
every episode to discourage the practice of child marriage across the country.

Chapter 3
3.1 Survey results and analysis and interpretation of data
Diagram showing the age of the respondents
60
52
50

40

30
30

20 16

10

19 2
0
Be low 15 15-35 35-55 Above 55
The study was conducted on 50 people. As the bar chart shows, 30 per cent among them
are below the age of 15, 52 per cent between the age of 15 to 35, 16 per cent between the
age of 35 to 55 and 2 per cent is above 55.

Pie chart showing the gender of the respondents

44
56

Male
Female

Among the 50 people interviewed, 44 per cent are male and 56 per cent are female.

Diagram showing the educational qualification of the respondents

36 40
18

4 2

Uneducated Preliminary High school Higher Graduation

20 Secondary
As per the diagram, 18 per cent of the respondents are uneducated. 36 per cent has got
preliminary education, 40 per cent high school and 4 per cent Higher secondary. 2 per cent
of the respondents are graduated.

Bar diagram showing employment of the respondents

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Unemployed Employed S elf-employed

The above given bar diagram shows the employment of the respondents. 60 per cent of the
respondents are unemployed and 38 per cent are employed while 2 per cent are self-
employed.
Table showing marital status of the respondents
Married 38.0 %
Unmarried 62.0 %
Total 100%

Among the 5060respondents, 38 per cent are married and 62 per cent are unmarried.

50 50
Chart showing the time spend on TV by the respondents per day
40

30
26
20 20

10
4
0
21
Less than one 1-2 hours 2-3 hours More than 3
hour hours
The chart given above shows the time spend on watching television by the respondents.
According to the findings, 4 per cent of the respondents watch television for less than one
hour per day, 20 per cent 1 to 2 hours, 26 per cent 2 to 3 hours and 50 per cent more than
3 hours. This shows that the majority of the respondents spend more than three hours a
day in watching television.

Chart showing the type of programmes watched by the respondents often

90
80 78
70
60
50
40
30
20
10 8 8
6
0 0
The News &chart
above given Films
shows Tele-serials
that 78 per cent of the Reality shows watch
respondents Cartoons
Tele-films often, 8
Current Affairs
per cent films, 6 per cent reality shows and another 8 per cent cartoons. The chart also
shows that none of the respondents watch news and current affairs.
Diagrammatic representation of the number of Tele-serials watched by the
respondents per day

34
35

28
30

25 22

20
16

15

10

5 22
0
Le ss than 3 3 4 More than 4
It shows that 16 per cent of the respondents watch less than three Tele-serials a day while
22 per cent watches three, 28 per cent 4 and 34 per cent more than 4. This shows that a
majority of the respondents watch more than four Tele-serials a day.

Table showing the basis of evaluation of Tele-serials by the respondents

Actors 6.0 %
Story 66.0 %
Message 24.0 %
Presentation 4.0 %

The table shows that 66 per cent of the respondents evaluate Tele-serials on the basis of
story while 24 per cent on message, 6 per cent on actors and 4 per cent on presentation.
This clearly shows the preferences of the viewers while watching a programme.
Nowadays people have become more sensible so that they make their choices according to
the story and message instead of actors and presentation.

Table showing the reasons for watching Tele-serials

Entertainment 60.0 %
Pass time 4.0 %
Infotainment 36.0 %
Total 100%
Social issues
The above given table shows that 4% 60 per cent of the respondents watch Tele-serials for
Epics
entertainment, 4 per cent for Comedy
pass time and 36 per10%
cent for infotainment.
2%

Diagram showing the type of Tele-serials which the respondents are interested in

family stories
84% 23
The pie diagram shows that 84 per cent of the respondents are interested in family stories
while 10 per cent are interested in Epics, 4 per cent in social issues and 2 per cent in Tele-
serials related to social issues.
Table showing the number of Tele-serials giving good message
1 52.0 %
2 40.0 %
3 4.0 %
More than 3 4.0 %
Total 100%

52 per cent of the respondents say that only one Tele-serial gives good message. 40 per
cent are of the opinion that two gives good message while 4 per cent says three and
another 4 per cent says more than more than three.

Diagram showing the favourite Tele-serial of the respondents

60 56

50

40

28
30

20 16

10

0
Bidaai Balika Vadhu Any other

24
Findings show that 56 per cent of the respondents’ favourite Tele-serial is Balika Vadhu
while 16 per cent likes Bidaai the most. 28 per cent opted for serials other than these two.

Table showing whether Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials or not
Yes 78.0 %
No 22.0 %
Total 100%

78 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials
while 22 per cent does not find any difference between Balika Vadhu and other serials.

Table showing whether Balika Vadhu gives a strong social message

Yes 100.0 %
Total 100%

The study says that 100 per cent of the respondents are of the opinion that the Tele-serial
Balika Vadhu is giving a strong social message.
Diagram showing the favourite aspect of Balika Vadhu

70
62
60

50

40
32
30

20

10 6

0
S tory S ocial message Actors

62 per cent of the respondents find the social message given by Balika Vadhu as the best
aspect while 32 per cent likes the story and 6 per cent the actors the best.
8

92

Pie diagram showing whether child marriage is wrong or not

Yes
No

25
While 92 per cent of the respondents believe that child marriage is wrong, 8 per cent think
that there is nothing wrong in child marriage.

Diagram showing the relevance of Balika Vadhu in today’s society

100
90 88
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
6 6
0
Ye s No Can't say

88 per cent of the respondents say that the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu is relevant in today’s
society while 6 per cent does not agree to that. Another 6 per cent has no opinion on this
80 76
issue.
70

60
Diagram showing whether Balika Vadhu deals with issue of child marriage or not
50

40

30
18
20

10 6

0 26
De als with the Doe sn't de al Can't say
issue with the issue
76 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu deals with the issue of child
marriage. 18 per cent feels that the Tele- serial is simply sensationalizing the issue rather
than dealing with the issue. 6 per cent has no say on this question.

Table showing whether there is a need for more serials like Balika Vadhu
Yes 98.0 %
No 2.0 %
Total 100%

98 per cent of the respondents are of the opinion that there should be more Tele-serials
like Balika Vadhu, while 2 per cent does not agree with that.

3.2 Impact of Balika Vadhu on the inhabitants of JJ Colony

The study shows that the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu has an impact on the inhabitants of JJ
Colony as a majority of the respondents say that there should be more Tele-serials like
Balika Vadhu. The respondents also realized the importance of such Tele-serials in the
modern society where such social evils still exist. The respondents were very much able to
distinguish between the Tele-serials which have got baseless stories and dramatic
presentation and those which give a message to the society.
The study also reveals the role and importance of entertainment programmes which deals
with the social issues as they can have a tremendous impact on the slum dwellers mainly
because of the reach of the medium and the powerful message it gives out to the public.
The study also shows that the respondents spend least time for watching news and current
affairs programmes. So the entertainment programmes are the ones which connect them to

27
the outside world. Even though the matter they provide is exaggerated, the inhabitants are
receiving goo message from at least some of them.
Balika Vadhu is a highly appreciable effort in this regard. The characters of Anandi,
Jagadish, Phooli bring to life the changes and the responsibilities that children are gifted
with their marriage. The way they have been shown to adapt themselves and adjust in the
society is touching. These innocent, tender souls without any knowledge about the way
things work in a patriarchal, oppressive and unchanging society are made to grow up at an
incredibly young age.
Balika Vadhu makes us think and gives us plenty and plenty of reasons to bring about a
much needed change in the Indian society. It can also be said as a revolution by the
entertainment media against a social evil.

3.3 Case study

Cases of child marriages have been reported from JJ Colony, Anand Vihar. One among
them is Sushila, a 22 year old fragile young girl. She is the mother of two children aged
four and one year old respectively. She got married at the age of 15 when she was
studying in Class 10. She was married to a factory worker in Punjab. The boy was only 17
years old when they got married. She says that it was mainly because of the pressure from
her family members that she had to discontinue her studies and get married.
She has got various health problems because of the early motherhood. Today she realizes
that what her parents have done was wrong and strongly feels that Balika Vadhu is her
story. She has determined to give education to her children.
Her mother says that she did not want her daughter to get married at a very tender age, but
she never had a word at home. Her in-laws do not like girl child and considers her as a
burden. Sushila did not know the seriousness of getting married when she was asked
forcefully to do that.
There are many more cases reported like this of child marriage. In most of the cases, the
girls or boys who are the victims are unaware of the fact.
It is a fact that child marriages still take place in states like West Bengal and also in the
metros like Delhi. If not at a very tender age, a lot of children are married before 18.
Unfortunately child-marriage still exists in the underbelly of our Indian society. As it is,
the girl-child is looked down upon, and to top it off she is married off at a very tender age.
To come to think of it, the government wanted to reduce the legal age of marriage!

28
Child Marriage is not an issue which was practiced only in the 1800’s and died thereafter;
it’s a modern day social evil. It is a baneful practice which has limited the social space of,
and has also contributed greatly to the deterioration of the status of women in India.
For girls, adolescent marriage is perhaps child labour in its worse form. It is a violation of
human and child rights as defined in numerous conventions to which India is a signatory.
When children are forced to marry, it has strong negative inter-generational effects,
passing on poverty, malnutrition, and illiteracy. Even from an economic perspective, the
loss in human capital is enormous. A host of development issues would be cured by
ending the practice. Needless to say, this social evil needs to be eradicated as soon as
possible. These little girls are entering a dark future, and we as citizens are leading them
into the gloom.

Chapter 4
4.1 Findings of the research
1. The study shows that 50 per cent of the respondents spend more than three hours
watching television a day while only 4 per cent spends less than one hour. This in
turn shows that the impact and each of this medium on the respondents.
2. Findings reveal that 78 per cent of the respondents watch Tele-serials very often.
At the same time, none of them watch news and current affairs programmes. This
clearly shows the area of interest of the respondents. Even though they spend
much time watching television, the entertainment programmes attract them instead
of news and current affairs. It is very clear from the findings that in order to reach
out to these people, entertainment programmes will be more effective than
informative programmes.
3. 34 per cent of the respondents watch more than four Tele-serials per day. This in
turn shows the importance of these kinds of programmes for them.
4. 66 per cent of the respondents evaluate the Tele-serials by the story while only 4
per cent evaluate them on the basis of presentation. This is one of the major
reasons why they are attracted to the Tele-serials which come out with a proper
story line and message rather than being carried away by the glamour and luxury
of sets.
5. 56 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu is their favourite Tele-serial.
This shows the impact of the message given by this Tele-serial on the inhabitants.

29
 6. 52 per cent of the respondents say that only one Tele-serial which gives a strong
social message while only 4 per cent say that there are more than three Tele-serials
which give a good message. This shows that most of the respondents can
distinguish between the baseless saas-bahu serials and sensible ones.
7. 62 per cent of the respondents like Balika Vadhu on the basis of the social message
it gives. This shows that the message that child marriage is wrong is reaching out
to the target audience.
8. 92 per cent of the respondents believe that child marriage is wrong. Despite having
16 per cent uneducated respondents, a good number of people oppose child
marriage. This again serves the purpose of Balika Vadhu.
9. 100 per cent of the respondents agree that Balika Vadhu gives a strong social
message. This proves that the respondents watch the Tele-serial not just for
entertainment but also because of the strong message it is trying to convey through
the story.
10. 98 per cent of the respondents believe that there is a need for more Tele- serials
like Balika Vadhu. This in turn shows that the people are social conscious and like
the entertainment programmes which conveys a strong message.

Reasons for the popularity of Balika Vadhu among the slum dwellers
The initial study on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi shows that the
Hindi Tele-serial Balika Vadhu has been viewed and appreciated by them without any age
or gender barrier. The main reasons for this trend are:
 It is one among the few Tele-serials which talks about the life of a common man
and his issues
 Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials in the style of presentation also.
Instead of showing the glamorous sets and costly costumes, it mainly focus on the
story development
 Instead of having so many twists and turns, Balika Vadhu tells the story in a very
simple way.
 Balika Vadhu deals with one of the most heinous practices which was there from
the ancient times and which is still prevailing in some parts of India- the child
marriage
 Most of the respondents/ inhabitants said that they are empowered and made
aware of the negative aspects and implications of child marriage.

30
  The inhabitants of JJ Colony, especially girls say that Balika Vadhu taught them
that child marriage is wrong and they will oppose if their parents try to marry
them off before the age of 18.
 There are cases of child marriages reported in JJ Colony. The victims of those
child marriages say that they are regretting for what have happened to them even
though it is without their proper knowledge.
 The parents say that Balika Vadhu helps them to think twice before marrying off
their children at a tender age.

4.2 Critical evaluation and suggestions

Media has highly glorified daily Hindi Tele-serials. Currently, each serial is shown three
times a day. Due its high publicity people are bound to watch them. For many, Hindi
serials have become daily chores. Daily Tele-serials seem very entertaining as they hit our
dreams and aspirations, but in reality they take the viewers far away from the real world.
Therefore, as a critical viewer, people should be able to draw a line between reality and
illusion.
This is applicable to all the Hindi Tele-serials. Even though Balika Vadhu is widely
acclaimed as a Tele-serial which deals with a social issue, sometimes they also caught
between the tyrannies of TRP rates. This Tele-serial managed to get 10 points TRP rate in
the month of March showing the death of the character Pratap, Sugna’s husband but at the
same time it has lost its credibility among the viewers to a certain extend.
The study results show that 18 per cent of the respondents say that Balika Vadhu is simply
sensationalizing the issue rather than dealing with the issue in a right sense. This in turn
shows that there are viewers who critically evaluate each and every episode.
Another popular criticism about Balika Vadhu is that it in some sense glorifies child
marriage. The story telling gives a misperception to the viewers regarding the issue. too
much of dealing with the issue may create some kind of confusion like this very often.
Balika Vadhu has been praised for its very sensitive portrayal of the plight faced by young
girls who are married off forcefully, in the name of some long dead tradition, and how the
rest of their lives are affected by it.
The high TRP rates show that the Tele-serial has been received very well in India; it has
enjoyed strong word of mouth as well as critics’ reviews. One of the various reasons for

31
the success of the show is its very bold and unconventional story line. The show has also
been praised for its taut direction, amazing art direction and true to life dialogues. As of
now it has become a program with the highest viewer ship status.
But for the last few weeks it is losing its magic. It is following the path of other Hindi
Tele-serials with enough rona-dhona in the show and the story seemed to be dragged
unnecessarily.
Balika Vadhu is an attempt in modern times to make the people aware of the prevailing
social evils in the society through a light manner. Though there are drawbacks, this
attempt is highly appreciable.

Conclusion
Tele-serials are a consistent set of values based on personal relationships, on one’s
responsibility for the maintenance of these relationships and the applicability of the family
model to structures. In serials, the passage of time also appears to reflect real time for the
viewers: in long-running soaps the characters age as the viewers do. Christine Geraghty
(1991, p. 11) notes that 'the longer they run the more impossible it seems to imagine them
ending.' 23
There are sometimes allusions to major topical events in the world outside the
programmes. Tele-serials have attempted to articulate social change through issues of
race, class and sexuality. In dealing with what are often perceived to be awkward issues
Tele-serials make good stories along the emotional lines of the characters. While it seeks
to accommodate change, it tries to do so on the basis of suppressing difference rather than
acknowledging and welcoming what it offers. Tele-serials use the dramatisation of social
issues to generate a greater sense of realism for the viewer. These are the main reasons
why the audience receive these Tele-serials irrespective of caste, creed, gender and age.
The study conducted on JJ Colony inhabitants also prove the same point. While news and
current affairs programmes are aliens to these section, the light and creative presentation
of Tele-serials catch their attention. So there is no doubt that we can make this genre of
television programme as a powerful tool to convey strong social message to the different
strata of people.
Most of the inhabitants watch Balika Vadhu every day. This shows that it is widely been
accepted by the people. Instead of watching merely for the pleasure or entertainment, they
are getting much information and awareness from this Tele- serial.

32
Tele- serials deal with the victory of old fashioned and traditional certainty over passing
fashions that assail them. Unlike a film, there is always a wide range of characters in a
Tele- serial (which means that no single character is indispensable). Moreover they offer
less concrete, more symbolic representations of more general living experiences which
viewers find recognizably true to life and they can associate themselves with it.
But at the same time, Indian Tele-serials are frequently derided by some critics for being
full of clichés and stereotypes, for having shoddy sets, for being badly acted, trivial,
predictable and so on. So even if there are changes happening, still Indian Tele-serials
have a long way to go in terms of theme and style of presentation.

Appendix 1
Tables showing the results of 20 questions asked in the survey (Base: 50)
Table 1: Age of the respondents
Below 15 30.0 %
15 -35 52.0 %
35-55 16.0 %
Above 55 2.0 %

Table 2: Gender of the respondents

Male 44.0 %
Female 56.0 %

Table 3: Educational qualification of the respondents

Uneducated 18.0 %
Preliminary 36.0 %
High school 40.0 %
Higher Secondary 4.0 %
Graduation 2.0 %

Table 4: Employment of the respondents

Unemployed 60.0 %
Employed 38.0 %
Self- employed 2.0 %

Table 5: Marital status of the respondents

Married 38.0 %
Unmarried 62.0 %

Table 6: Time spend on TV by the respondents

Less than one hour 4.0 %
1 to 2 hours 20.0 %
2 to 3 hours 26.0 %
More than 3 hours 50.0 %

Table 7: Type of programmes watched by the respondents often

News & Current Affairs 0%

33
Films 8.0 %
Tele-serials 78.0 %
Reality shows 6.0 %
Cartoons 8.0 %

Table 8: No. of Tele-serials watched by the respondents per day

Less than 3 16.0 %
3 22.0 %
4 28.0 %
More than 4 34.0 %

Table 9: Reasons for watching Tele-serials

Entertainment 60.0 %
Pass time 4.0 %
Infotainment 36.0 %

Table 10: Basis of evaluation of Tele-serials

Actors 6.0 %
Story 66.0 %
Message 24.0 %
Presentation 4.0 %

Table 11: Type of Tele-serials which the respondents are interested in

Epics 10.0 %
Family stories 84.0 %
Comedy 2.0 %
Social issues 4.0 %

Table 12: Favourite Tele-serial of the respondents

Bidaai 16.0 %
Balika Vadhu 56.0 %
Any other 28.0 %

Table 13: Number of Tele-serials giving message

1 52.0 %
2 40.0 %
3 4.0 %
More than 3 4.0 %

Table 14: Is Balika Vadhu different from other Tele-serials?

Yes 78.0 %
No 22.0 %

Table 15: Favourite aspect of Balika Vadhu

Story 32.0 %
Social message 62.0 %
Actors 6.0 %

Table 16: Is child marriage wrong?

Yes 92.0 %
No 8.0 %

Table 17: Relevance of Balika Vadhu in today’s society

34
Yes 88.0 %
No 6.0 %
Can't say 6.0 %

Table 18: Does Balika Vadhu deal with issue?

Deals with the issue 76.0 %
Doesn't deal with the issue 18.0 %
Can't say 6.0 %

Table 19: Is Balika Vadhu giving a message?

Yes 100.0 %

Table 20: Is there a need for more serials like Balika Vadhu?
Yes 98.0 %
No 2.0 %

Appendix 2

Study on the impact of Hindi Tele-serial

Balika Vadhu
on the inhabitants of JJ Colony, Anand Vihar, New Delhi

Questionnaire

1. To which age group do you belong?

Below 15 15-35 35-55 Above 55
2. To which gender category do you belong?
Male Female
3. What is your educational qualification?
Uneducated Preliminary High school Higher Secondary Graduation
4. What type of occupation you have?
Unemployed Employed Self -employed
5. What is your marital status?
Married Unmarried Divorced Widowed
6. How much time do you spend watching Television every day?
Less than 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours more than 3 hours
7. What type of programmes do you watch often?
News & Current affairs Films Tele-serials Reality shows Cartoon
8. How many Tele-serials do you watch in a day?
Less than 3 3 4 More than 4
9. Why do you watch Tele-serials regularly?
Entertainment Pass time Infotainment Any other
10. On what basis do you evaluate a Tele-serial?
Actors Story Message Presentation Any other
11. What type of Tele-serials you are interested in?
Epics Family stories Comedy Social issues Any other
12. Which is your favourite Tele-serial?
Bidaai Dulhan Balika Vadhu Kranti Any other
13. How many Tele-serials you watch give good message?
1 2 3 More than 3

35
 14. Do you think that Balika Vadhu is different from other Tele-serials?
Yes No Can’t say
15. Which aspect of Balika Vadhu you like the most?
Story Social message Actors Any other
16. Do you believe that child marriage is wrong?
Yes No Can’t say
17. In today’s society do Tele-serials like Balika Vadhu has any relevance?
Yes No Can’t say
18. Does Balika Vadhu deal with child marriage or simply sensationalising the issue?
Deals with the issue Doesn’t deal with the issue Can’t say
19. Does the Tele-serial Balika Vadhu give you a strong social message?
Yes No Can’t say
20. Do you think that there should be more serials like Balika Vadhu?
Yes No

Endnotes

36
1
India Year Book 2008, Compiled and edited by Research, Reference And Training Division, Ministry
Of Information And Broadcasting Government of India
2
India Economic Summit 2007
3
Slumming India: A Chronicle of Slums and their Saviours- Gita Dewan Verma
4
Paul Streeten: Human Development: The Debate about the Index, International Social Science Journal
5
Asha Kiran, Asha Seattle’s quarterly news letter, Volume 12, Issue 2, April 2006
6
UN HABITAT Report 2003
7
10th International Conference on Computers in urban Planning and Urban Management
8
Livelihoods and Collective Action among Slum Dwellers in a Mega-City (New Delhi) : IASCP
conference 2002 The Commons in the Age of Globalisation By Trond Vedeld and Abhay Siddham
9
The Draft National Slum Policy 2001
10
NADA India Foundation Report
11
Mass Media and Rural Development: Arbind K Sinha
12
Rural Development Through Community Television: Raja Pokharapurkar
13
Television and Indian Culture: V. Chandra
14
Mass Media and Society: Curran J and Gurevitch
15
Media and Development: M.R Dua and V.S Gupta, Ashok Gosain Publications, New Delhi
16
Mass Media and National Development by Wilbur Schramm
17
Jeanne B. Funk, Heidi Bechtoldt Baldacci, Tracie Pasold, Jennifer Baumgardner: Violence exposure
in real-life, video games, television, movies, and the internet: is there desensitization?,
18
Harshad R Trivedi: Mass Media and New Horizons
19
Soap Opera and Women’s Talk: Mary Ellen Brown
20
http://www.realbollywood.com
21
Child Marriage in India : Socio-legal and Human Rights Dimensions: Jaya Sagade
22
A Study on Child Marriage in India: Situational Analysis in Three States: Centre For Social Research
23
Geraghty, Christine: Sex, Race, and Class : The pressures for Change In Women and Soap opera: A
study of prime time soaps Polity Press UK
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