Riches and Bitches
At the risk of sounding like the gossips I condemn, can we leave the Mafatlals alone? They are being talked about to death, to the extent of getting sappy comments from the servant accused by Sheetal of stealing antiques. Its a vicious circle - MadhuriMafatlal, 70-something mother, accuses her son and socialite daughter-in-law Sheetal (left) of harassment and misappropriation of legacy, and daughter-in-law accusses servant.
Sheetal Mafatlal
(To confess, I was ready to believe the mother despite people calling Sheetal insecure and uncomfortable at parties. Something in her face puts me off, I don't know why; I don't know if I'm allowing myself to succumb to traditional prejudices against glamourous women but I could totally see her being a mercenary. Though she wears FABULOUS jewellery!In any case, she clearly married into a family she was too 'modern' for.)
People are claiming that Ajay Mafatlal, nee Aparna, changed her sex to lay claim as a son to the inheritance! How stupid! First of all, there is no such law in India anymore that only the sons may inherit property. If there is no will, it is equally divided between the spouse (if surviving) and all offspring. Of course, the person may choose to only divide his property as he deems fit. But changing sex in this case has nothing to do with inheriting property! Since it all belongs to the mother, she will leave it as she deems fit when she dies, hence rendering the father's will null and void. What brains some people have. Anything to feed the rumour mill. The above article was in seriously poor taste and I don't respect DNA as a paper now. Newspapers should be reporting facts, not comments and opinions of random persons.
I don't know whom to believe and I don't even know if it's worth my time ruminating on this. But people, can I bang some heads together like my grandfather used to for my fighting fois and get some sense into your skulls?
To the Mafatlals:
For a measly Rs. 1-2 crores in an empire that looks big (though it's probably worth far less than is portrayed, as is the case in these page 3 socialite circles), let your mother die in peace na! Its a matter of a few years! If anything, if she wins the case, or if it drags on forever, you will just have left a bitter taste in her mouth which will leave her even less inclined to leave anything to you!
The paparazzi is having a field day with the details of your scandal whether you choose to comment on it or not, talking about the fact that you and your mother won't even enter the kitchen at the same time. It will only have gone to the court (and hence become publuc property) because you were not able to resolve it at home or through internal mediation).
To the journalists:
Don't you have better news to cover like how our ministers are handling our coffers?
Did you not manage to uncover any files while you were in court about people who are in trouble for no fault of their own?
What you call 'uncovering the facts' is simply spreading useless and tasteless gossip. Servants statements and implications without evidence is not for you but the police and courts to infer. This problem won't be solved by public opinion, so why create it?
Why not do an exposé on the why the investigation is going slowly as in the article below? Daal mein evidently kuch kala hai, so stop trying to cover up by giving the public irrelevant details.
Of course given that they are a 'socialite' family, they probably have contacts in high places who can get them out of trouble or interminably drag on the court case.
Allegations upon allegations... sigh. I despise those who use their contacts to get them out of trouble that they may deserve to be in. Of course, a la page 3 the movie, I'm sure that you are forced to compromise your journalistic integrity because one of the characters in this drama is probbaly sleeping with your boss or the owner of the papers, and someone probably gave kickbacks to the commissioner so your story has been suppressed and you have to feed yourself/your family.
To the public:
Leave them alone! Their problems are of the type that occur in every family, even yours! Mother-in-law/daughter-in-law not getting along, the hazards of marrying into a family that doesn't have the same background/upbringing/lifestyle as you, money, blood, women. Do you wnat YOUR dirty linen washed in public?
I wonder if they have a term for this particular type of Schadenfreude... for a global society that is bent on keeping its dysfunctionality hidden from view (unless it earns oneself publicity and lots of money), it certainly has an unhealthy interest in the personal lives of others!
In an ideal world, it would be possible to uncover deceit neatly without upsetting the balance of relations (shaking the boat/whipping the cream/stirring the ocean - I'm thinking samudra manthan here!) too much!
The moral of this story is that everyon looks out for their own interests. We're just wasting newsprint and our time. This will not be what we remember on our deathbeds (except the Mafatlals on their deathbed, which they would whether this publicity was there or not).
So why bother?
People are claiming that Ajay Mafatlal, nee Aparna, changed her sex to lay claim as a son to the inheritance! How stupid! First of all, there is no such law in India anymore that only the sons may inherit property. If there is no will, it is equally divided between the spouse (if surviving) and all offspring. Of course, the person may choose to only divide his property as he deems fit. But changing sex in this case has nothing to do with inheriting property! Since it all belongs to the mother, she will leave it as she deems fit when she dies, hence rendering the father's will null and void. What brains some people have. Anything to feed the rumour mill. The above article was in seriously poor taste and I don't respect DNA as a paper now. Newspapers should be reporting facts, not comments and opinions of random persons.
I don't know whom to believe and I don't even know if it's worth my time ruminating on this. But people, can I bang some heads together like my grandfather used to for my fighting fois and get some sense into your skulls?
To the Mafatlals:
For a measly Rs. 1-2 crores in an empire that looks big (though it's probably worth far less than is portrayed, as is the case in these page 3 socialite circles), let your mother die in peace na! Its a matter of a few years! If anything, if she wins the case, or if it drags on forever, you will just have left a bitter taste in her mouth which will leave her even less inclined to leave anything to you!
The paparazzi is having a field day with the details of your scandal whether you choose to comment on it or not, talking about the fact that you and your mother won't even enter the kitchen at the same time. It will only have gone to the court (and hence become publuc property) because you were not able to resolve it at home or through internal mediation).
To the journalists:
Don't you have better news to cover like how our ministers are handling our coffers?
Did you not manage to uncover any files while you were in court about people who are in trouble for no fault of their own?
What you call 'uncovering the facts' is simply spreading useless and tasteless gossip. Servants statements and implications without evidence is not for you but the police and courts to infer. This problem won't be solved by public opinion, so why create it?
Why not do an exposé on the why the investigation is going slowly as in the article below? Daal mein evidently kuch kala hai, so stop trying to cover up by giving the public irrelevant details.
Of course given that they are a 'socialite' family, they probably have contacts in high places who can get them out of trouble or interminably drag on the court case.
Allegations upon allegations... sigh. I despise those who use their contacts to get them out of trouble that they may deserve to be in. Of course, a la page 3 the movie, I'm sure that you are forced to compromise your journalistic integrity because one of the characters in this drama is probbaly sleeping with your boss or the owner of the papers, and someone probably gave kickbacks to the commissioner so your story has been suppressed and you have to feed yourself/your family.
To the public:
Leave them alone! Their problems are of the type that occur in every family, even yours! Mother-in-law/daughter-in-law not getting along, the hazards of marrying into a family that doesn't have the same background/upbringing/lifestyle as you, money, blood, women. Do you wnat YOUR dirty linen washed in public?
I wonder if they have a term for this particular type of Schadenfreude... for a global society that is bent on keeping its dysfunctionality hidden from view (unless it earns oneself publicity and lots of money), it certainly has an unhealthy interest in the personal lives of others!
In an ideal world, it would be possible to uncover deceit neatly without upsetting the balance of relations (shaking the boat/whipping the cream/stirring the ocean - I'm thinking samudra manthan here!) too much!
The moral of this story is that everyon looks out for their own interests. We're just wasting newsprint and our time. This will not be what we remember on our deathbeds (except the Mafatlals on their deathbed, which they would whether this publicity was there or not).
So why bother?
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A blogger defending India's growing blogosphere!
posted by Princess Joya | 2:56 am
5 Comments:
I read your views on the Mafatlal clan, and I agree with you. The media has hyped the family's personal problems to the nth degree. The problem is with these Page 3 type bitches like Sheetal Bhagat who think they can get away with anything. I personally feel someone should write something super nasty about Page 3 nonsense, and make them all look like fools. These Page 3 types have not done squat to achieve anything, and are riding on the coat-tails of their families or hubbies. I live in New York and have my own business, and no to toot my own horn or anything, but Indian businesses should start opening their eyes to the realiies of better succession planning, and hiring qualified professionals rather than promoting members of their own family who feels its an entitlement to "inherit" their daddy's business.
you're right. it needs to be made clear. there is a lot of reserve and alot of assumptions within indian families... some things just aren't spoken about.
as to women, i dont really want to comment because the media only portrays that which is sensational. SO much news is controlled by corporations, as you, living in America, are aware.
Have you seen Page 3, the movie?
Yes, I have mixed opinions of those second thirs and fourth generation brats. Few accomplish anything meaningful to society.
wow... so i dont think ne other person who doesnt know the maftala family personally has ne rite to comment on the family issues... why does it need to be so public...leave poor mrs. mafatlal alone sheetal... u have ure versace gowns dont u..!??
i guess sheetal should leave her poor husband atulya.. and go lead her own life... she doesnt even realize the kind of trauma her lavish lifestlye has caused the family.. chartered planes...versace gowns..dianoor jewellery..caviar..and chanel bags..cant she sacrafice all this for her family..? just the way her sister did.. way to go poonam.
Sheetal is numero uno! She is the best.
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