Jama Taqseem is a new Pakistani drama airing on Hum TV. The drama is written by Sarwat Nazir and directed by Ali Hassan. On the surface level, it is the story of every household in Pakistan, but once you look deep, the show has made excellent commentary on the joint family system, the burdens of relationships in one’s life and how unrealistic expectations of the older generation end up destroying the younger lot.
Jama Taqseem is the story of a family consisting of three married brothers who live under one roof with their parents. This may look like a fairytale from the outside, but the monsters lurking inside are swept under the carpet. The drama has been able to teach a lot of lessons without becoming preachy, and it is a hit with the audience, although it was not properly promoted by the channel. Let us look at the biggest lessons Jama Taqseem has taught us:
Islamic Point Of View On Joint Families
Jama Taqseem is boldly taking on a topic that is mostly romanticised on our television. Most of our young adults grew up watching Hum Saath Saath Hain on television while their homes played The Lion King. Joint family systems are very common in Pakistan, and the elder generation always tries to put rose-tinted glasses on the younger generation to keep everyone under one roof. But it almost always ends up in resentment, abandonment, and concealed hatred. Islam is against this system, and every family is encouraged to live separately. Jama Taqseem is speaking about this openly with Laila’s friend, referring to how it is obligatory on a man to give a separate home and privacy to his wife.
Rigidity Of Older Generation
Jama Taqseem has shed light on the rigidity of the older generation. How they never let new ideas flow in and show resistance to change has been accurately portrayed in the show. From our common household to the corridors of power, Pakistan has a deep-rooted culture of older people know better. Thus, new ideas are suppressed and a fresh approach is disregarded. In the drama, Javed Sheikh and Beo Zafar have shown how our elders are not open to any change, even if the whole structure of the family gets destroyed.
Teenage Cousins Living Under One Roof
Jama Taqseem has boldly taken on a less-travelled road with this one. Pakistan tops the list for the most cousin marriages, with 61% marriages in the country happening within the families. Our drama films also have a plot where two cousins fall in love, thus the relationship is not at all sibling-like. In many households, harassment does happen, and it is brushed under the carpet. A girl’s reputation generally becomes he point of conflict, while boys are not even reprimanded for the heinous crimes they have committed. Sidra and Zeeshan’s track has exposed the reality of many families.
Shared Business – Blessing Or Curse?
Money is the root of conflicts amongst many families. Jama Taqseem has shown how a shared business, in most cases, becomes a curse rather than a blessing. The elder brother, Hameed, is insecure as he has invested a lot of money in the business, and he is scared to lose the lion’s share; thus, he is always busy in conspiracies. At the same time, the younger brother, Majeed, was always underconfident and thought that he had to listen to all the unreasonable demands of his father and brother, as he did not invest anything in the business. Proper shares for both sons could have saved the family from conflict, and it would have given them enough independence and dignity to live their lives with happiness.
Hidden Contempt Towards Girl Child
We are in the year 2025, but a male child is still preferred over a female child in our parts of the world. Jama Taqseem has shed light on this topic in a very non-preachy way. In a household that looks normal on the surface, misogyny runs deep. They preferred their male grandchild over their female grandchild. The son with two daughters is not respected in the office, while his wife tries to make up for being the mother of two girls by taking care of all the household chores. Majeed and Rashida act like sinners when they have not done anything wrong, while Nudrat walks like a queen because she has a son.
Household Chores
Jama Taqseem is a total winner on this topic. The drama has shown how it is considered a crime for men to help with household chores. Qais is insulted in front of everyone just because he helped his wife with laundry. Men don’t even go into the kitchen for basic chores when our religion has taught us to learn and do everything in the house, regardless of gender.
At the same time, Laila’s character shows that even if you come from an elite background, you should at least know the basics, like cooking and laundry. Living like a princess is not an ideal situation for anyone, as you may have to encounter different conditions in the future.
Social Parity in Marriage Matters
Adjustment is a part of marriage, but when you marry into a completely different social background, it becomes a war. Laila comes from a nuclear and liberal family, while Qais comes from a conservative background with a joint family at its core. Though they are both trying hard to reconcile these backgrounds, their families are not helping, and this in the end takes a toll on a new marriage.
Parents Shape The Path Ahead
Jama Taqseem has emphasized how parents pave the path of their children’s lives. Laila’s parents have given her freedom and she is able to objectively analyze situations and the world around her. Qais’s parents, on the other hand, promoted delusion in their children and they are all delusional about their realities. Similarly, Nudrat and Hameed promoted their son’s superiority complex and power in the household, thus, making him into the monster he has become today.
Importance Of Listening To Your Children
Life is tough, and being a parent multiplies the difficulties one is facing. From financial to social pressures, couples go through many difficulties, and at times they start ignoring their children’s voices. Jama Taqseem demonstrated how Rashida failed to heed her daughter’s pleas. Rashida is living a hard life, but ignoring your own child’s pain can lead them to painful consequences. Her daughter tried to inform her what she was going through but she ignored her pain. Listening to your children is very important, as parents are a child’s only line of defence against a cruel world.
Unrealistic Expectations From New Brides
Jama Taqseem is talking about how in-laws, despite knowing that their daughter-in-law comes from a different background, are trying to suppress her personality. They try to mould her according to their likes from the very first day, to the point where they are controlling what she can wear. They also want her to start cooking and cleaning for a large family, and do not even give her time to learn. Proper time should be given to a new family member after marriage, before bullying and criticizing them.
Which important lesson do you think Jama Taqseem is imparting? Share in comments!
