badge

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Give Me A Chance


I am in a dark place which provides me so much comfort with a lot of nerves coiled around me. I do not have a name as yet but my mother caresses me each day and talks to me many a times. Sometimes, I feel very sad when I hear my father shout at my poor mother when he does not get his food in time.  My granny is also not very kind to mother and keeps on complaining most of the day that she is too lazy and does not work. Most of you think I cannot hear but on the contrary, I hear and feel everything as I grow each day!

Do you know the story of Abhimanyu, the great warrior, son of Arjun and Subhadra from the tale of ‘Mahabharata’? Like me, before he was born, he learnt about many strategies of war when his father recited the stories to his wife. One day, Arjun was narrating to Subhadhra the art of penetrating a ‘Chakravyhu  - a strategy of entering the enemy-labyrinth . Abhimanyu heard this with rapt attention but unfortunately his mother fell asleep when Arjun was narrating the final part of exiting from the Chakravyhu. During the war of Mahabharata he was killed on the thirteenth day of the war as he entered a Chakravyhu laid by Kauravas (the enemies) but could not come out as he could not learn from his father when his mother fell asleep,while telling this.

I am telling this story, as even the recent medical facts prove that a lot of learning happens when the children have not entered the world. I often hear my father and grandma planning to take mom to the doctor to find out whether I am a boy or a girl. They are very apprehensive that I could be a girl and in that case they would force mom to abort me. My heart sinks and I feel very scared. My grandma wants to see a grandson and has even said that she would present mom a gold necklace if I was a boy. Sad, isn’t it!  She keeps fasts during the Navratras (Nine pious days in Hindu calendar) and celebrates Durga Ashtmi twice  a year and also worships  Laxmi the goddess of wealth on Diwali but does not want to welcome me into this world!

Every year lots of children like me do not see the world! Please promise that you will tell my father and grandma to look after mom and love me as the future of mankind depends on maintaining the balance of sex ratio. Every year more than 500000 baby girls are killed even before they are born due to the evil practices of dowry and gender preference in some communities.

One need not look far to see what the girls can achieve whether conquering the space, holding high positions in government or corporate world. They make world a better place with their compassion and empathy. It is said that as god could not be everywhere, he created mothers.

Justice Radhakrishnan of Supreme Court  stated: “Indian society’s discrimination against the female child still exists owing to various reasons, which has its roots in the social behavior and prejudices, and due to the evils of the dowry system, which still prevails despite its prohibition under the Dowry Prohibition Act. The decline in the female child ratio leads to an irresistible conclusion that the practice of eliminating female foetus by pre-natal diagnostic techniques is widely prevalent. Complaints are many of the medical professionals performing sex selective abortion. The provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, are also being consciously violated and misused.”

Do not forget what the great scientist Albert Einstein had to say about women,

 Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity
PS: Image Kind Courtesy Google

(This is an autobiography of an unborn girl in her own words. There are numerous organizations that work for emancipation of girls and their upliftment like CRY and many more )- My post for "ISB iDiya for IndiChange"; http://www.isb.edu/idiya/

66 comments:

  1. Good post. Yes, she does deserve a chance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome to my blog, Tomichan! Thanks a lot for liking!

      Delete
  2. Very poignant story of an unborn soul, narrated in your phenomenal style !

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am touched.. I am sure the neglected babies are crying for help.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very beautifully said.. touching indeed!
    I am sure the neglected baby girls need our help..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope people get wiser as girl child is the biggest gift to mankind!

      Delete
  5. Rahul, this is so poignant - and so sadly true!

    Please accept my applause for approaching this sensitive topic!

    But you always thrill with your writing :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ny sincere thanks for those words Vidya! This situation is a sad one and needs to be addressed!

      Delete
  6. A different but effective way of communicating your thoughts Rahul. Poignant post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sad how even the educated and young couples think this way. And the quote in the end is true.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not know why people do not see a girl as an asset which cannot be compared with anything in this world Saru!

      Delete
  8. First I thought that literacy will stop this practice of killing the girl child! But I know an IT couple who were compelled to terminate a second girl in the family by the elders. They did it.

    Very good topic and you have expressed your anguish very well, Rahulji!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was heartbreaking and educated people doing this makes it even something more deplorable! I hope people realize their folly Sandhya!

      Delete
  9. Nice topic to pick for this contest--all the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Indu and this topic needs redressal earliest!

      Delete
  10. touching,...
    and yes..she does deserve a chance....!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jeina for those words! Girls deserve the best!

      Delete
  11. I am glad that you wrote on this topic. Being aware is very important; and blogs are right interface.

    It doesn't matter if you are learned or not, whether you are city bred or not; there are shocking stories arising from unconventional sources. Its about being sensitive and treating the same. She deserves a chance; good one Rahul

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A huge thanks for those very kind and supportive words!

      Delete
  12. Ѕо all that people who need to put the brakes οn proρerty,
    plus cautious retaіleг orders, of cоurse, the trader 247 rank second at 2 R.
    I аlso beliеve that it's a bit about what the heck out of ten. To buy Lexapro, Prozac and Paxil, known" to sell.

    Look into my webpage - trading 247 scam

    ReplyDelete
  13. This was a truly heartbreaking tale, so well penned with great honesty and delicacy of a difficult situation. I sincerely hope and pray things can improve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true and thanks for those words, Sam! It is disturbing indeed!

      Delete
  14. Lovely post Rahul and very very true . One day there would be no girls around to date or marry and then these brutes will learn a lesson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Jaishree! What would this world be without fairer sex if it can exist in first place!!

      Delete
  15. Thank you Ashwini! Is'nt it bothersome to think on one hand woman is projected as a goddess and at the same time denied even existence:(

    ReplyDelete
  16. Excellent writing Rahul sir, very touching indeed!
    How some struggle to conceive and how badly they want a child and at the same time how many kill the baby for no mistake of its!

    All the best for the contest and I hope all these NGO working for such social causes are recognized and well supported!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Ramya! Indeed ironical that some are waiting to see the smile of a baby at home and others behaving like butchers to sacrifice the god send gift of nature!!

      Delete
  17. How true and a lot of food for thought for the sorry state of affairs we have in our country today. Many thanks for bringing her voice to us, I am sure it will only grow louder with bloggers like you who are willing to take up the cause. All the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is one thing which I have not understood as to why humans are so selfish ! I hope people learn to live with nature and thank almighty each day!

      Delete
  18. An excellent post.
    The problem is that we dont even look into our own backyard.
    I amtelling you from my experience..there are about three million children --mostly girls-- awaiting adoption in different orphages,but the Babudom/Politicians has created such hurdles that it is becoming impossible to adopt though these girls could get wonderful families who dont have children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mr Chowla for having taken time off to read this post! A lot of things would be differennt if those at helm of the affairs knew how to govern:(

      Delete
  19. I suppose there are still people who don't think of how the future would look without women around. There will be too many men and very less women. How sad that they turn blind eye to all this fact. It is mainly the women who are the culprit, and they are ones who instigate such acts to be performed on their own kind. I wonder when this craze to have a male child would end. As it is going through pregnancy is tough by itself, now to add more to the tension, this requirement of a boy has more impact on the mother, both physically and psychologically and also has the same effect on the child that is growing inside.
    Such people both men and women who support such ideas should be locked in jail and the keys thrown in the ocean.
    You have really written it so well. I didn't know the real story behind Abhimanyu, but thanks to your blog now I know it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rama, you have hit the nail on the head and expressed the trauma of an expectant mother well!How can a woman be her kind's own enemy when it comes to children!!It was a pleasure to share the story from Mahabharata:)

      Delete
  20. Very well put, I must say. Worshiping a thousand goddesses and killing girl child, raping and molesting women or killing them for honor goes hand in hand and I just can't understand this irony.

    Cheers to woman hood and fighting for our rights. We'll see the change, someday.

    I still have to write a post for Indi Change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Every crime against woman is a shame on humanity and takes us many steps backwards! I hope the younger generation will be able to usher a better world for the next generations to come!!Await to read your post, Akanksha:)

      Delete
  21. And kudos to everyone who is speaking up. Yes, why isn't more being done? Why are the educated and the unscrupulous getting away with killing girl foetuses? There are so many whys! Every time a girl is molested, raped and killed, we harm the society and harm ourselves in turn. But does anyone care?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree Rachna, and I too look forward to find answers to so many why?? We live in a world where we can only hope and make effort for things to change for better!

      Delete
  22. How I wish these people had even an iota of conscience!Thank you for writing this post. I wish to see a change someday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ria! This was the east I could do!!I too wish to see the things change!

      Delete
  23. So glad you're speaking up about this terrible practice. I once found a dead baby girl in China and it was a horrible horrible sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is the atrocity of the worst kind, Lady Fi!

      Delete
  24. A very beautiful post highlighting the pathetic conditions prevailing in our society these days notwithstanding the fact that Haryana people are forced to buy and bring brides from other States. If things remain the same it could become an all India phenomenon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks PN for liking the post but these incidents are heart breaking and we claim to live in a civilized democracy!!

      Delete
  25. indichange is good way to spread awareness. It is sad to know all women are not so lucky. While waiting for change to happen we the people should stand up against it when it is happening around us. Nice post btw :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish this awareness helps in changing the scenario that is more important, Kusum!

      Delete
  26. Such a lovely post! Thank you for writing this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A big thanks, Divya and hope things get better!

      Delete
  27. I loved the way you conveyed the meaning..only if the husbands and in laws could think of it for once, how many babies could be saved? I liked the last line :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Latha for those ever supportive comments! I hope better senses prevail before people make decisions which they regret at a later date!

      Delete
  28. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit :) I appreciate your comments!

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a poignant post, Rahul. It tugged my heart strings big time.

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a great post.;) And yes, I love the idea of relativity - it is all in our perception, which defies the laws of physics and time as well.;)
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks a lot Zuzana for this nice comment!

    ReplyDelete
  32. So thoughtfully written dear Rahul, it is so sad that a female child is considered unworthy of life in some cultures.
    This is heartfelt, so lovely that you have written this from the perspective of an unborn female child...she does deserve a chance all baby girls deserve a chance at life.
    xoxoxo ♡

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sad indeed , but we continue to hope for a better world:(

      Delete
  33. Very impactful post; especially because you have an an unborn child speaking.

    Love the Einstein quote!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you Divya! This was heartfelt!!Even an unborn girl knows the reality and the worth of the quote in the end:)

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a very thought provoking and timely post. It is really sad that even in this age many girls are killed even before they are born. Moreover is it not strange that women take the lead in this treachourous action?.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Ushaji! It is sad that even some women are the ones who propagate this menace:(

      Delete