Shoojit Sircar’s Comment on Joint Families Stirs Up Twitter Storm

Sircar’s ‘umbrella statement’ on the ‘family umbrella’ did not go down well with netizens.

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s ‘umbrella statement’ on the ‘family umbrella’ has stirred up a storm on Twitter.

All may not agree, but we must move back to our old way of living like joint families.. This may be the only solution/Medicine to curb all mental insecurities, loneliness and most important depression. Family umbrella secures our Mind.

— Shoojit Sircar (@ShoojitSircar) March 5, 2019

On Tuesday, Sircar tweeted saying that “we must move back to our old way of living like joint families” because it may be the only solution to curb mental insecurities, loneliness, and depression. “Family umbrella secures our Mind,” Sircar wrote.

Sircar’s tweet led to a divided house among netizens, but most people pointed out the filmmaker’s misplaced assumptions about gender dynamics in joint families and mental health.

‘Only a Man Could Ever Say This’: Netizens Lash Out at Sircar

Many on Twitter lashed out at Sircar for his ‘uninformed’ opinion on the gendered division of labour in joint families.

Only a man could ever say this!

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) March 7, 2019

For those who haven’t given a thought to the gender dynamics that operate within the family — which, in many ways, is the microcosm of a patriarchal society — here’s some explanation:

The very reason joint families started collapsing was because women were made the work horses 24/7, 365 days.. One way of getting back the joint families is if men are ready to share the household chores along with the women.

— Sathish M (@SathishMMuthu) March 5, 2019

Overselling the joint family systemAbuse with in the family, treating the women members poorly, autocratic decision making by the elders, looking at the samajh rather than the family. All of this happens with in the JFS. So no. We MUST not. People may do so. Must is overkill.

— Sba Garga (@reader_giggles) March 5, 2019

Concept of joint family is good but it’s not necessarily a fair concept for the daughter in-law.She is expected to do housework 24/7 without any appreciation.This can only work if elders in the family r matured,understanding also willing to accept the change which is very tough.

— Aparna Kaul (@aparna216) March 5, 2019

Hope you make a film on how modern women don't want this structure at all and how feminism preaches family/marriage as oppressive structure of patriarchy meant to oppress women.

— Deepika Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) March 6, 2019

Clearly, Sircar, in his generalised view, overlooked this aspect of living in joint families.

‘Joint Family System is Not a Magic Cure,’ Say Netizens

Sircar also presented some misplaced assumptions about mental health in his tweet, according to netizens. Many on Twitter recounted their own experience of living in joint families or knowing people who do.

I come from joint family. It has its own problems and privacy issues (which leads to secrecy about smaller things) and unhealthy comparison and competitions amongst the members.

— Constant Rambler (@ajitjagtap) March 5, 2019

The joint family system is not a magic cure. Have seen mentally ill members suffer more in such families.

— Adite Banerjie (@adite) March 5, 2019

Oh no very bad idea. Have lived in a Tamil Iyer joint family and it nearly destroyed me. I was depressed bcoz of that. U can’t have any individuality.

— Ramah Balaji (@BalajiRamah) March 5, 2019

Joint family by itself won't work till you have people around who understand and support you.. Whom you are not afraid to share your insecurities. I have seen and been in situations where you feel very alone instead of a house full of people.

— Harshita Pathak (@HashSimply) March 5, 2019

“Please sit in my clinic for a day and listen to the oppression and emotional turmoil a lot of women suffer due to this ‘family umbrella’,” wrote Parul Tank, a consultant psychiatrist and therapist.

Please sit in my clinic for a day and listen to the oppression and emotional turmoil a lot of women suffer due to this 'family umbrella'

— parul tank (@TankParul) March 6, 2019

Should Sircar Be Given the Benefit of Doubt?

On Thursday, Sircar posted a follow-up comment after significant social media backlash, saying that he was arguing for a more “progressive like minded family... standing by each other... or a community (sic).”

Of course you are right.. i meant a progressive like minded family .. standing by each other.. or a community:)

— Shoojit Sircar (@ShoojitSircar) March 7, 2019

One cannot deny that when one is suffering from mental illnesses, family support is often crucial, as a Twitter user pointed out.

@ShoojitSircar I understand what you're saying. Family support is critical. But would you suggest that a person with cardiac problems should be left only to the care of supportive family? Mental illness is as life threatening and can't be tackled with emotion/goodwill alone

— Adite Banerjie (@adite) March 7, 2019

However, Sircar’s initial argument was based on the assumption that all families offer a conducive and supportive environment.

Is this argument not based on the assumption that all families have conducive environment?

— Rahul Singh (@rvssingh2010) March 6, 2019

Another netizen pointed out that “what works for one, might not work for another” and Sircar’s generalised statement might “hamper the already weak mental health awareness.”

What works for one, might not work for another. Such generalised statements hamper the already weak mental health awareness!

— The Retrospective Procrastinator (@SuchiSmile) March 6, 2019

However, should Sircar, considering that his first tweet was prefaced with the words “All may not agree”, be given the benefit of doubt?

Was his comment no more than an ‘unpopular opinion’, a thought-turned-tweet that simply merited more reflection before reaching the interwebs?

The jury is still out on that!