Jan 15, 2010 11:29 AM
7221 Views
(Updated Jan 16, 2010 09:59 AM)
The cat is finally out of the bag. If only knowing the past or the future could make present more peaceful and happy. Is the past a fad or a fact? Does it have a bearing on our present? Mere curiosity made me view Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka (RPJK), a reality TV series being aired daily that takes one into his/her past life through past life regression therapy.
An hour-long engrossing session in time machine is quite entertaining. It appears, past life tragedies reflect in present life. So, if there is pain in present life, it has connection to the past. And if no solution could be found, at least one could know what happened in the past that led to present pain. That must be some solace to those, who undergo in-camera regression.
It all began on December 7 2009 with actor Ravi Kishan compeering the show. Kishan (poor man’s Mithun Chakraborty and Bhojpuri cinema superstar) in near baritone voice interacts with the ‘patient’ willing to undergo regression. S/he is present with their relatives, family or friends. Kishan enquires from them their problem in present life and then hands them over to psychologist Dr Trupti Jayin. The show could do with be better host.
If Rajiv Khandelwal’s Sach Ka Saamna extracted bitter hidden truths from participants’ about their present life and astrologers predicts our future life, then Ravi Kishan’s RPJK dips into one’s past to know the dark painful secrets. Now, this is something of a novelty. One never knew one could travel in time machine except in science fiction. But this is happening in real time, in real life. Believe in it if you must but then everything is possible in this world. More so it seems like an additional chapter in TRP ratings. The more eyeballs, the merrier.
The question arises what if a person doesn’t have any problems in real life or despite them is not interested in finding their cause in the past. More importantly, what if one doesn’t believe in the concept of past life and rebirth? Will this be only fiction for the non-believers? Is regression only like a dream or an experience? It could be either good or bad. Dr Jayin takes the patient to the table, where s/he lies down and then is slowly taken into state of progressive relaxation. This is followed by meditation (alpha theta) by visualisation of light. And finally he is taken to the past life.
It is here the drama begins. Dr Jayin begins by asking questions about the colour of the ground. What is the shoe and clothes the patient is wearing. Details about the surroundings and the people around are known. Events happening centuries ago are unfolded via dramatic depiction. And then the crucial event is related that has caused present life pain. It may be a suicide or murder or drowning or any other tragedy that took place in the past birth. Dr Jayin keeps on prodding and probing. At last the crux of the problem is known. She then orders them to leave the problem there itself and don’t carry on with it in the present life. The patient finally returns to the present life.
Dr Jayin uses conscious meditative technique in this past-life regression. She tries to address the fears and problems of the patients through it. The patient comes out of the experience relieved. The past is behind and now has no bearing on the present. At least, the patient can bear with it now that s/he knows what was the root cause of the problem? The supposed cure is healing. The patient is happy or at least comes to terms with the present ailment. Kishen as a parting gesture provides the patient with a suraksha kawach (security shield) to safeguard him/her from future(!) mis-happenings.
The first episode of Swati Singh caught my interest. She was a sailor in past life and died in a tragic plane clash (1966) in which Dr Homi J Bhabha too was supposedly there and met with an end. The dramatic presentation is interesting and holds viewers’ interest. It is like an ongoing movie. One cannot find real bearings or identify with it. When the episode ends, so does the fact/fiction. It only seems another show arousing interest in the viewer. This could be real for those, who can benefit from it in any way.
Both celebrities (Shekhar Suman, Monica Bedi, Celina Jaitley, Sambhavna Seth, Eva Grover, Payal Rohatgi, Manvendra Singh Gohil, Ravi Kishan, et al) and commoners have been there and done that (undergone the experience). Their past was indeed resulted in a painful end. Now they KNOW (and even we know). It is all out in the open. It is an open secret. The viewer has had his/her eyeball worth of entertainment. Khallas! Show khatam, eyeballs hazam. Ha ha! Is it worth believing in? Past life, reincarnation (rebirth) and single birth are all individual concepts. Depends on what you believe in. To everyone their own. The show doesn’t make your jaw drop but is an extension to more reality fun.
It can throw up shockers too that you would rather not (like to) know. On a reality show that could be intruding on your privacy. Your life from then on will be an open book that will never be shut. So, are you ready for it? Is this superstition or science? Is this faith or fad? Is this fact or fiction? It is for you to decide (individually). It seems an extension to another form of entertainment. Another act of jugglery a magician performs. Today this, tomorrow something else. The (eye)ball(s) will keep on rolling. Three cheers to Indian TV Reality Shows.
