Curse of the mummyji

摘要

Tihar jail in Delhi has a special wing just for her. Young women fear and revere her; their husbands seem crushed by her embrace. On television she is a sari-clad battle-axe. Books about her offer advice including: "Run, she is trying to kill you." If you think the fearsome reputation of the Indian saas is exaggerated, glance at online discussion threads such as "I have a mother-in-law from hell". Tales abound of humiliation, intrusion, even death threats, amid battles over who controls family life. Or watch what was formerly India's most popular soap opera, the clunky title of which doubled as a plot summary: "Because the mother-in-law was once a daughter-in-law too" ("Kyunki Saas Bhi KabhiBahuThi").