Gram Chikitsalaya - Innocence And Craftiness At Play

Let us first understand what ‘Gram Chikitsalaya’ is not. It is not just another tried and tested ‘village/city formula' prescribed in a new bottle. Even if it walks familiar ground with a previous series by TVF, its heartfelt journey is least hindered by the shadow of ‘Panchayat’.

Its story has a familiar mix of innocence and craftiness at play, highlighting a broken set up and a condition no one wants to speak about. Thus serving as a wake-up call for action, to all those who genuinely want to make a difference.

This satirical and humorous series is not driven by any propaganda but a reality check that deserves your full attention and respect. The three- sided battle between an idealist doctor, a crumbling healthcare system and the skeptical patients is so real, only because it is.

‘Gram Chikitsalaya’ is also not just the tale of one rural village-in fact this heartwarming, hilarious and deeply human narrative explores the challenges and the struggles of most urban cities. So instead of comparisons, let us open our eyes, heart and soul to get to understand what this new social commentary, so beautifully portrayed from a clinical lens, is all about.

Initially it might seem like a drive along a familiar path, with the winds urging us to listen to a gratifying village tale with quirky characters, sharp wit and with just the right amount of chaos. At first, in this slow and stretched route, you might be tempted to dismiss it as derivative. But wait. Please, wait for it to shift its unexpected gears. For what then unfolds is something much deeper; much richer; much complex. When you watch a noble intent swiftly giving way to ignoble reality, you wonder how on earth people, who are forever engulfed in the fake fumes of their fogged minds, even continue to exist. But they do.

The village is aptly named Bhatkandi- the wanderlust. You may see only one man with itchy feet, straying from his familial responsibilities to gain spiritual enlightenment. But in reality, the whole village is led astray by a rural culture- a tradition where villagers prefer a local trusted quack without a degree, to a well- intentioned doctor.’

There is hope when you are introduced to a wealthy heir, out to cure the blind believers with science. There is further hope when you see his hot-blooded conviction in his noble mission. But when you see him running around like a headless chicken trying in vain to gain trust from the villagers while learning life lessons from a quack with a bustling practice, you wonder if that hope will ever materialize. And all the time, in the backdrop of what looms larger than life is a forlorn, inaccessible and non-functional 40 year old Primary Health Centre (PHC). The building simply stands there idle, vacant and unused- a silent reminder of neglected promises and forgotten development.

Somewhere between the LOL moments, the absurdity and the chaos, is a disturbing theme that is extremely relevant and powerful-a deeply rooted issue that is considered a taboo; a concern that is ignored but one that continues to persist, not only in villages but in many modern cities. It is through the doctor that not only the villagers but we the viewers also discover the cyclic history of DID- Dissociative Identity Disorder.

It takes courage to address the tragic reality of a neglected subject like Mental Health. Therefore, TVF- the creators of ‘The Viral Fever’ deserve full credit for effectively sparking awareness through an accessible, engaging and thought provoking format.

But wait. There are other healing lessons to be learnt when you visit this Primary Healthcare Centre. If the nurse here teaches us how important it is to let go of hatred, negativity and past traumas and finally accept facts, through the idealistic doctor’s determination to serve, we learn how difficult it is to fight a corrupt system alone. Especially in a place where time is still and nothing happens, it becomes an uphill task. When his ‘do-gooder’ act is first treated as a passing fancy and a source of entertainment, he realizes he has to ‘unlearn’ a few things and then start from scratch. But for that he needs to first interact with people on a grass root level and understand their plight.

Finally what we also learn is that basically people are good at heart. Even if the ‘idlers’ are keen on doing duty, it is the negative circumstances that prevent them from doing so. But if someone appeals to their conscience, they are ready to help out. But yes, in an era of quick commerce, where everything is delivered in minutes, it is heart wrenching to see a gold medalist doctor, waiting patiently for over a month, for his first patient to arrive!

What I also liked about the series is that the humor feels very organic-not forced or slapstick, but rooted in the characters and situations. It's that rare kind of comedy that makes you laugh and cry and hope. What is heartening though is that even with all the deep rooted resistance from the community, where a doctor’s patience relentlessly keeps getting tested, his hopeful quest for that elusive ‘first patient’ is finally realized. That’s precisely why this series becomes an inspiration for all ‘hopeless’ doctors and youngsters out there!

So even if the first season feels truncated, and the ending leaves you confused wanting more answers, don’t forget this is only the ending of a new beginning. Whatever is on display is also a work in progress- just like the protagonist Dr. Prabhat. Come to think of it, aren’t we all ‘works in progress’? Don’t we all have so much to learn (how to better ourselves); so much to unlearn (how to let go) and so much to earn (respect and goodwill). However, throughout this educational journey there’s just one thing to keep in mind. Our progress should be in going forward. Not moving backwards!