Satyamev Jayate: Some Home Truths

Keeping a date with TV programmes is beyond me. Often when I come across the announcements on TV, I think 'Hey I must see it', but in nine out of ten instances I end up missing them.

The same thing happened when Aamir Khan's much-hyped TV foray Satyamev Jayate went on air on May 6. Totally forgot about it - and even if I had remembered, locating channels like Star Plus or Doodarshan on my set top box would have been a problem. Haven't viewed Doordarshan for ages and have never been a serial-antakshari-game-show-crazy person to keep track on what goes on in Star Plus.

I was only reminded of it when I saw some effusive praises on Facebook, when I signed in on the same night. I checked out on Google and did come across a web link for the programme. I had no idea whether it was a soap opera, talk show or even a game show. Was curious to know what the programme was all about. A couple of reviews gave me a rough idea that the programme's first episode was about vanishing girl child.

The topic has been discussed ad nauseum in TV, newspapers and magazines, but the problem is such that no amount of coverage can be termed as overkill. Every census report throws up alarming drop in sex ratio and this triggers a rash of articles on newspapers and magazines, debates on TV, but the next census throws up even more shocking figures.

Aamir Khan approaches the problem in his classic understated way and keeps repeating the he does not intend to pillory anyone. Nothing new has been said in the programme, but still some instances like the plight of Parveen Khan, from Morena, Madhya Pradesh, will unsettle even the most hardened couch potatoes inured to grisliest form of violence.

The programme debunks the myth that it happens in remote villages and the role of doctors as willing conspirators. Also the consequences of female foeticide, namely villages without girls and the way women are treated in these villages. It somehow desists from broaching the topic of situational homosexuality - quite likely fallout in such skewed societies. Maybe a too taboo a topic for prime time TV.

The programme, however, misses out on one of the most important motivation for preference for sons in our society - the problem of dowry.

Though Aamir Khan’s star appeal may bring in the MTV-driven, Page 3 obsessed generation to think beyond Hrithik Roshan's nickname and Sunny Leone's bust size, but how effective is sending SMS 'Y' to some number or emails is open to debate. This will only give rise to clicktivism - send SMS or email and then forget about the issue - over to next Roadies episode.

The solution lies in giving exemplary punishment to doctors who assist in such operations, as rightly pointed out by an activist in the programme. And, of course a change in the society's well entrenched mindset of treating sons as 'budape ka sahara' (caregivers during old age). There is some change in the cities, but will take long time to percolate to villages.