THE TIMES OF INDIA,that i was reading early hours one day and a serious thought flashed across my mind about the "girl child". Fighting mind battles with thoughts flowing in my mind made me put up this article in front ...Take a serious and near look and it and hope you all will agree with me to "save the girl child".
Numerous scientific studies being conducted worldwide today link a mother's diet to the sex of the child. These studies talk about high calorie diets that ‘boost’ chances of a baby boy; mete out advice for wannabe mums: cereals for a boy, diet for a girl!
Are we still obsessed with having a male child?
‘Putrarthe kriyathe varja’ is an ancient Sanskrit phrase that means: ‘we marry with the soul aim to have a son to keep the clan progressing’. These words are just as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.
They reflect the age-old desire, rather, obsession, for the male child not only in India but in the West too. Yes, astonishing as it may sound, an increasing number of studies are being conducted worldwide that advise mothers-to-be on diets and practices to be followed for a baby boy.The male-child syndrome Take a look at this. According to a study conducted at Britain's Oxford and Exeter Universities, a high calorie diet at the time of conception increases the chances of having a baby boy.
Another study ‘warns’ that the chances of giving birth to a baby girl are higher for mothers who are on a diet around the time of conception. Yet another one links mom’s aggressive temperament or for that matter the day of intercourse with the likelihood of conceiving a male child!
Coming to India, the fixation with a male child takes on a whole new meaning. From grandmothers, to mothers, nannies, and even religious gurus – just about anyone has some hot ‘tip’ to give to wannabe mums.
Do these measures provide any guarantees? Do they actually work? “There’s no guarantee
Is it an obsession? That brings us back to where we started: are we still obsessed with the male child? The answer to that is not hard to find. A glimpse at the census figures shows a dwindling sex ratio in the country. The number of girls for every 1,000 boys in India has fallen to 927 in 2001 from 962 in 1981. In some states the men have to look elsewhere for brides.
For what joy? In India, the reasons behind the deep-rooted desire to have a male child are two-fold: one, to further the clan, and two, societal pressure.
Where are we going wrong? Whether such practices cause harm will always remain a matter of debate, a constant tussle between the mind and the heart, the believers and non-believers. The question is: is the desire for a male child so deep-rooted that it’s still most venerated by all? The question becomes all the more consequential for countries such as India, where skewed sex ratios tell a darker story – female infanticide. There cannot be a worse plight for a nation where the Prime Minister himself has to come forward with an urge to save the girl child and Dr. Manmohan Singh recently did that calling it “national shame” for a country that’s riding high on economic prosperity.
THINK !!
I just came across something thats haunting n ruling my mind since a week or so by now.I happen to overhear a conversation of one helpless man ,or probably an ignorant man,who got his 16 yr old daughter marry. When on involving in the conversation,i happen to ask why he got her daughter so young at the age to be educated got married?Two straight answers without any doubt,firstly-she's intelligent and will wish to study which we cant afford.Secondly-our elders wish to see her marriage before they pass away ...further added that the daughters in-laws are ready to clear away all his debts..Later that night ,i unknowingly happen to see "baalika vadhu" on colors..I didnt knew to be glad or unhappy about it...It showed the helplessness of a father to get his daughter married to clear off his debts to an older man...It telecasted a true situations..The conversations ,the incidents,the words...just echoing in my mind and now its really hauting me...N my inner consious isn't taking a sigh as its wandering for the solution to slowly make this awareness amongst others regarding child marriages...Was planning for plays,across villages..something still so much hazily..want ur suggestions and valuable inputs...Kindly drop in how can this atleast begin to perish...!
