It's been a long time since I posted something - feels like ages. It is because of this reason, I thought that it would be good idea to participate again the "April A to Z Challenge". I have done it before and I completed it only once. I know this does not looks very promising. But still - I am back with this. Here are the themes/posts I have choosen before (I have 2 blogs and a website)):
Coming back to the theme for this year. For 2021, I would be sharing "Our Favorite Children Books"
I tried a similar theme in 2015, but did not complete. This time, I would try to do it a little differently. I would seek my kiddos help - they are their books. So, I would post about 26 books that the kiddos love. Sounds pretty simple? Well, I am going to find out very soon. I cannot promise that it's going to be in alphabetical order.
I would have to really look in all the cupboards and collect their books so that they can have a look and decide which one's they like the most.
Honestly, every book they read - it becomes their new favorite. So, I am pretty sure they would find it really difficult to choose just 26 books.
Fingers crossed. Wish me luck.
Yes, I am trying to participate on my other blog too - Hop on to read about their themes:
Learned and Shared - well, it's a little professional blog, so I am not posting a theme reveal post there, but I would try and put up as many posts over there too. Follow the link if you are interested in technical stuff...
With all this on plate, April 2021 is going to be one busy busy month. Wish me luck readers!
Are you participating in April A to Z Challenge? Have you chosen a theme? Remember, theme is absolutely not required! Do let me know in comments section. I would love to read about as many as I could.
The school my elder son goes to allows birthday gifts
to be distributed in schools but only story books or small useful educational
materials. This hardcover is among the gifts he received from his friends on
their birthday.
“Fairy Tales for Early Readers – ‘Golden Goose
& Other Stories’” is a collection of three fairytales. I would not lie and
say that the kiddos love it. Actually, they have only read the first story yet
(the book stays with us for almost an year I think!), but yes he did like it. The
stories in the same order are:
The Golden Goose
Peter and the Wolf
The Red Shoes
As mentioned on the back page, the book has one
big picture on each page along with short sentences written in required big
enough font. There are also few phonic/sight words on the picture to help kids
learn and understand – pictures speak better than words. Also, each story is
followed by a small activity wherein the child needs to match the words with
their pictures – surprisingly, children learn them very fast.
Similar sets of books are always available with
almost all publishers dealing in children books. The best idea I think is to go
over a counter, have a look around, turn a few pages and get one or two.
There would be hardly any child – boy or girl who
is not fascinated by firemen and fire-engines. All children have a fireman and a fire engine in
their toy collection at least once in their childhood. Thus, I knew this is
going to be a gem in my kiddo’s collection the moment I saw it.
Here is the blurb I made:
Fireman Sam: The Famous Fireman is the story of a
fireman Sam who aspires to be a popular celebrity. But there is one hurdle in
his way. What’s the hurdle and what would he do?
What I like the most about this book is the
ability to read in two ways as mentioned on the cover as “read aloud, read
along, read alone”. Yes, one page has a little detailed story while the
adjacent page has its summary in maximum two to three lines. This amazing
feature is missing from the kindle edition – from what I saw in the preview.
This book was among the 4-5 books kiddo remembered by heart. He would tell the story with lights turned off when I did not read owing to the fact we got late for sleep and had to get up on time next morning. Now, the fun part: Lifelines have learned that the
back cover of the books have list of other books in same series. Every time
they like a book, they look at the back cover, find out which one’s they have
and have thus made a huge wish list from the rest.
While it’s a great book, there is another story
the kids love to read, listen and watch – “Mater the Fireman”. It’s one of
Mater’s tall tales based on the episode where Mater the firefighter rescues
Lightening from fire. I am going to share more on this in another post. Stay
tuned.
Britannica Early Discovery is a collection of six
little hardcovered books I picked up from a book stall once set up in my office
premises. Below are the books which are there in our box:
Early Discovery Words
Early Discovery Colours
Early Discovery Just For fun
Early Discovery Shapes
Early Discovery Sounds
Early Discovery Numbers
The kiddo was in playgroup when we got it and I think
we started with Colours – which he was already comfortable with at that time. We
gradually moved to Sounds – fun to play with kids and Shapes. Numbers, Just For
Fun and Words then followed the suite.
The books are full of colorful pictures to make
the child understand the concepts along with a small question or a to do task
on almost each page.
The second last page includes a ‘Glossary’ of key
words introduced in the book along with their description.
Hold on, there is more. The last page has a few
fun ways to learn the concept. The fun ways give an idea to the parents on how
can they incorporate the learning in day to day life without actually making
the child realize.
I would not say that’s this is among the favorite book
of kiddos, but yes, they do enjoy reading them occasionally. Thus, although it
costed a bit, but was all the worth.
There is a famous proverb which states – “"All
work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". I am sure I need not get into explaining
the meaning of this one. The same goes for reading books for pleasure too. As
parents, we tend to buy books which embark some learning into them all through attractive
pictures, simple relatable stories etc.
This is one book I brought for my kids where in
they can just have fun. Plus I have a bonus! Keep then away from the idiot box.
Wait, there is more. Parents would be parents. Or I should rather say books
would be books. “Storybook Collection (Disney Junior) by Walt Disney Company”
is a collection of four episodes aired on Disney Junior channel which the children
can remain glued all through the day. So when the kiddo saw it in a bookstore
and asked if we could buy it, I could not say no.
Coming to the book and its contents. The four
stories as displayed on the cover page – Kids would be able to recognize them easily
if they watch the channel, are from Mickey Mouse Club House, Jungle Junction
and Special Agent Oso. The adaption of cartoon characters in pictures as well
as text is bright and easy to understand.
It’s an all-time favorite of my both 4 and the 7-year-old
son. They just want to read all of them whenever the book is picked up and I
have a hard time convincing them to read one per night.
The Adventures of CAVEBOY came along with a book subscription
box called enchantico I enrolled in for my sons. This was probably the first
novel kind of book we read together. Here goes the blurb;
Meet Caveboy! Ooga booga!
Caveboy is just like any other boy . . . he loves playing
base-skull, running really fast, and especially whacking things with his club.
But when his club breaks, he will need to find a new one . . . which just might
lead him to a new friend. In this first book, Caveboy will find the perfect
club, meet his best friend, and learn to be brave!
Now, coming to the book, the kids enjoyed reading it
and we had the house full of OOGA BOOGA sounds for a few days. Books like this are
a good and fun way to introduce big books to children. We read one chapter a
day. I am not trying to force him to read for long duration as I want him to
develop his own interest. Also, we usually read at bedtime, so the sooner the book
closes, sooner we bid goodnight!
The font is big enough to keep children attracted along
with colorful pictures. I read a few reviews where people had issues with
gender biasing – the club of cave-girl being decorated with flowers and all.
Honestly, I did not even think about it until read those reviews. My kiddo even
liked the one which was covered with flowers and was worried that the flowers would
be spoiled while using it.
Bubbles Series is a collection of tiny little
picture books. Each book has a short story teaching good habits to the child.
The book also has a set of questions in the end. My sons love those questions
and makes it a point that I never skip them.
There are many different versions of series based
on same pattern, but I personally liked this one the best. Here is a video of
lifeline reading one from one of my previous
posts.
Aesop was a Greek story teller. It is believed that Aesop lived for many years as a slave and earned his freedom by narrating the famous fables. It is also said that he even went on to serve as advisor to a king.
A Fable is a short story which generally has animals as characters and convey a moral.
The stories about animals and foolish humans told by Aesop are how referred as Aesop’s Fables. We all have grown up listening to little stories about animals and fairies many of which belong to the collection of Aesop’s Fables.
I think this was one of the earliest books I got for my son. He could not even understand what I read, but he thoroughly enjoyed the pictures of animals displayed along. Gradually, as he started catching up, this book became one of his favorites and I have lost the count of re-reading each story.
This series is a fine collection of 13 stories titled in the picture below.
The book also clearly mentions the moral each story intends to embark upon along with the meaning of few difficult words the child might be new with.
Now that the kiddo is grown up enough to read on his own, I am planning to take it out again and make him read by himself. I am sure he is going to enjoy it all over again.
Click on the image below to browse a few of the collections at amazon:
Here is a popular fable I have recited multiple times to my kids:
The Monkey and Crocodile
Once upon a time, there lived a monkey on a Jamun tree by a river. There was a crocodile in the river who became monkey’s friend.
The monkey used to share fruits from the tree with crocodile. Both played together and enjoyed the Janumns. One day the crocodile asked the if he could take a few fruits for his wife and children. The monkey said “Of course! Why not!”. And thus, he packed a lot of juicy jamuns for him.
The crocodile’s wife loved the jamuns. She had never tasted anything so sweet before. But she was not as kind and gentle as her husband and said, ‘If the jamuns are so tasty, imagine the taste of monkey who eats them every day!’
But the kind crocodile tried to explain to his wife that he could not possibly eat the monkey. ‘He is my best friend’, he said. But his greedy wife would not listen and to get her husband to do what she wanted she pretended to be ill. ‘I am dying and only a sweet monkey’s heart can cure me’, she cried to her husband. ‘If you love me you will get your friend the monkey and let me eat his heart.’
The poor crocodile did not to eat his friend. He tried to convince his wife, but she was adamant. At last he agreed to her and the next day when he went to meet the monkey, he told him that his wife loved his jamun’s and waned to invite him over dinner as a thank you gesture.
The monkey was very pleased but was sad too. Crocodile asked him why he was looking glum. The monkey said, “Dear friend, I cannot come as I don’t know swimming”. The crocodile said, ‘I’ll carry you on my back.’ The monkey happily agreed and jumped onto the crocodile’s back.
As the two friends were going in deep river, crocodile felt guilty and wanted to confess his bad doing to his friend. He told him has he has been tricked to come over as his wife wanted to eat him.
The monkey was frightened. Suddenly he had an idea! He said, “Crocodile dear, I would love to serve your wife, but the tastiest part of my body is my heart. But I have left that on the jamun tree. Shall we go back and get too for your wife?”.
The crocodile thought that when his wife would get to know that they did not get the tastiest part, she would get angrier. So, they turned and swam quickly to the jamun tree. The monkey jumped off his back and hopped high on the tree. He shouted, ‘I thought you were my friend. But you wanted to hurt me! Stupid crocodile, don’t you know that all our body parts always remain with us only? I will never trust you again or give you fruit from my tree. Go away and don’t come back again.’
The crocodile lost a friend also and the tasty fruits also. The monkey had saved himself because he had used his mind to think quickly.
Moral Of The Story
There are multiple morals which can be derived from this story. The one high-lighted in bold is my lifeline’s favorite:
·Staying calm, and thinking can help you get out any difficult situation.
·A quick wit can solve all problems.
·Presence of mind often saves us.
·Don’t underestimate yourself. There are bigger fools in this world.
·Quick thinking and intelligence can beat physical strength.
This year, I prepared my mind at the very last moment and decided to go for it again. Coming to the theme reveal, theme for this year would be my blog’s genre - BOOKS. I would pick one book from my kid’s bookshelf and post about it. Again, I cannot guarantee that it would be alphabetical, but yes, I do hope that they have 26 books to post about in that cupboard and those organizers. All of them would be picture books targeting the children under 6 to 7 years old. Also, most of them would be sharing a moral or message for the same age group – some are just for fun too! I would not promise but I would try to add a small moral story as-well. The stories might be from my memories of old is gold collection which have been passing from generations ever since I know.
Theme for this year is - “Books From My Children’s Bookshelf”. Fingers crossed!!!
Guess what, my other blog is also participating again. Do check out the theme reveal there – It’s again also related to books – Quotes. May be, both together are lucky again and hit the nail
Let the fun and learning begin.
Are you participating in A to Z Challenge 2019? Sign up's are open till 6-April.
Do you have a theme for the month? Check out other theme reveals as-well.
Visit A to Z Challenge to find more details.
I shared my views on one of the most heart-wrenching issue around women - Female Foeticide in my earlier post.
I came across this beautiful message from none other than Miss Universe 1994, Sushmita Sen.
(For the readers who do not want to or can not view the video, read the transcript below)
English Transcript:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It's been a strong and
beautiful night and you all have been very very patient. My name is Sushmita
Sen and I am a proud mother of two very beautiful, young ladies. One of who is
already, ready to be model. May I please... I am a little scared with her on
stage. Maa! Where is my maa? Every one, Ladies and gentlemen, please my mother.
I need to come back to a point where I can see you all. I believe
** ladies and gentlemen. I believe 'k duniya mein jo bhi hota hai kisi wajeh se
hota hai". It's not an accident. Every single human being in this room
tonight is here for a reason. And that reason is - that the age of the Aquarius
is on its way by December 2012. Have you heard of it? Oh no! You have'nt Haan!
Age of the Aquarius is when women will rise. It is the time when we will come
to the awareness of the female strength. It is not a coincidence then, that
tonight we have this wonderful platform.
God bless you Lilavati hospital, God bless you Manish Malhotra,
God bless you Lubna adams, Vipul Bhagat, Sangeeta, all beautiful ladies that
participated tonight who are also mums. Because when we do this, we create the
single most important awareness.
I have been blessed, to be born in a family. To a mum and a dad
who raised me just as a human being. They didn't differentiate between a girl
and a boy. So, I never grew up, like many of us blessed people realising that
this is what happens to the girl child in the smallest of districts of our
country.
We will no get into statistics. You know why? Because it is
depressing. We are not going to talk about the cruel things that happen to
them. Because we have to focus on stopping it. We have heard about the problem,
we know the problem.
But as Mother Teresa once told me, just a year before she passed
away. She changed my life I tell you that. I was 18 years old and I went and
met her in Kolkata. And, I told maa, that maa you know, I see so many babies.
There must have been 55 cribs in there. And they are all girls! They don't have
boys or do you have a separate room for boys. So she says no, we had only 4
boys and all have been adopted. These are only the girls.
And the reason she smiled about it. She said these are the lucky
ones. They didn't end up in dustbins. They ended up with a future. Where some
body, a loving home is going to recognise the fact that there is a reason why
the law of the nature says to you - I will not let you choose. When you become
pregnant, you will not know- you shouldn't. If it's a girl or a boy. That is
laws nature of keeping the balance between the nurturer and the provider. When
we kill the nurturer ladies and gentlemen, we create an imbalance. An imbalance
that we will be so sorry in generations to have done. Because life will stop to
exist the way we see it.
I made a promise that day that I am going to, Ok - let's clap.
I know, I just really, this is something very very close to my
heart. And I can't stop talking about it. Because I keep. Feeling, k 'Agar aap,
itni choti si baat agar aap samajh lete hain. K jab log duniya badalne chalte
hain...'
You can't change the world. Are you crazy? There are number of
people doing all numbers of things. How do you change the world?
Don't worry about it. The world will change on its own.
You change one life. You change one thought. You tell one father.
Today, truly you are a blessed man. Because not only do you have a girl, you
have the womb of the universe. She will then nurture life beyond. Right?
And so, with all of your blessings and all of my country that
despite being an Indian woman, You gave me the courage to be a single mother.
Everyday being asked about my Renne and Alisha.
You have given me as you should every girl child this
opportunity. Because god as my greatest truth I tell you, all of us here. Stood
on our own two feet, because we are capable and that no body can take away from
us.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are beautiful people and you have been
tremendous source of strength For me
my entire life. Tonight, take that strength home, change one opinion, one life.
I will do that with Renne and Alisha. You that with whoever you want.
I love you people. Thank
We should all look forward to doing more of this. Salam shukriya
I absolutely loved the part when she quoted Mother Teresa saying that these are the lucky ones with a smile. This is one of the biggest example of creating positive feelings from difficult situations. I am sure everyone would have had a sad feeling when they heard that all boys were adopted and only few girls got parents. But the simplicity with which the message was passed on is truly amazing.
I have already been a fan of this lady. The more I see and hear her, more I fall in love with her.
This post was to be written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year was 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
This is not a typical reflections post. I took a deep breath
and wrote this post which looks more like a letter to myself. Finally, rather
than hosting it on my own blog, I took a much deeper breath and sent it to A to Z
team so that I can share the lessons learnt.
Some time back, I attended a session conducted in my office about cervical cancer. The presenter, a doctor in some leading hospital shared her experience on the statistics. She told us that she lived for seven years in US and had only one patient for the disease during her stay. The girl was again an Indian. Back in her country she served in New Delhi Safdarjung hospital and every 10th woman woman who consults her is suffering with the deadly disease.
The above statistics although personal not only reveals the shocking and insightful need of awareness in the particular disease but at the same time, might have a deep and hidden truth about society - The Gynaecologist Fever. It's the reluctance to visit the gynaecologist.
Blame it on general mentality or popular beliefs - visiting a Gynaecologist is considered a taboo. The visit is generally linked to having sex - another taboo!
There are many other factors which leads to less than required or no visits to a Gynaecologist:
Sex taboo.
Reluctance to talk about private parts.
Uncomfortable check-ups - honestly, even after having two kids, I still feel a bit uncomfortable for a minute!
Linking Pap smear tests to loosing virginity - no doubt tampons are a failure in our country.
Myth that a visit to Gynaecologist implies some problem related to motherhood.
Awareness and right information is the only medicine for this fever. The sooner women realise that at the end it's their own body and they have to suffer because of negligence, sooner the cure would be available. We must understand that it's a normal visit to another doctor who is just pronounced differently.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
I honestly wonder what's the fuss about this simple term. So I went to Google and searched for the definition of Feminism.
Then, I modified my search and the mere search options that pop up when we type some words stopped me from hitting the enter key. The snapshots say it all.
Common belief about feminism is that it is about women trying to rule over men by hook or crook. Actually, feminism is all about gender equality and empowerment.
Are you against any ill practice towards women?
Have you ever felt sorry for a woman?
Do you think that women should know self defence?
Did you ever think that your mother deserves more respect as compared to your father?
Did you nodded or answered yes to any of the above?
Congratulations, you are a feminist. And trust me, you are do not exhibit any of the negative traits as popularly searched by other feminists who simple refuse to believe they are.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
Job description : Write the word "hello" on a paper with a pen.
I write "hello".
You write "hello".
She writes "hello".
He writes "hello".
I, you, she and he - all get paid to do the job. What should be the payment for everyone?
Ideally, It must be equal for all. Sadly, this is not the case in real world. Generally, females are at a loss. When an average of pay for same job is taken for different genders, the results vary in terms of percentage.
The situation is also dependent on the level of seniority. Starting levels are generally equally paid. The pay difference rises with changes of level, changes of marital status and changes of parenthood status. The fact that it's true can easily be judged by the percentage of females at higher executive positions in almost any field. The number although improving, continues to stand at very disappointing state.
The whole world is fighting for the equality of pay for equal work. I so wish the day when this would no longer be a figure comes soon.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
I think if we go and look at the history, Dowry was actually
not an evil practice. It was a means to distribute parent’s wealth equally
among all their children - sons and daughters. Dowry in the form of gifts,
wealth and property was given to the bride to maintain her own financial and
social independence.
With the time, human instinct took over and people started
taking undue advantages of the practice. Slowly, the things gifted to
the brideturned to the groom and his family. I am sure that the day when a groom or his
family demanded any sort of gift
from bride or her family must have been the starting point of converting it into present state.
Today, the moment a girl is born in the family, parents
starts saving for her marriage. The dowry system has been rooted so deeply that
many people end up being the victims unknowingly.
Crown on her head,
Smile on her lips,
Frills in her dress,
Even when they went missing,
She was the princess of family.
They let her go,
High on hopes,
Hands in the prince,
To be the queen.
Throne, full of taunts,
Spiked with bruises,
She served the rule,
Paid the price.
Of not getting jewellery,
Of not getting dowry,
Of being a girl!
Right to education is one solution to this problem. But
then, the past has proved that even education is not enough to curb dowry. The
root cause is the mentality of society. Dowry is nowadays considered as a
matter of pride.
Some rich man gave a shining luxury car to his daughter.
Some richer man gifted a gold pendant to all guests in his daughter wedding.
There are some phrases which force people to show off more and more. At the
same time, incidents like these exert unbearable pressure on middle class and
poor families. They eventually end up spending all their hard earned money on
the weddings and some even borrow it as well.
Some guy refused to take any gift from the girl's family.
Some well settled family married it's son to a poor family and shared the
marriage expenses. Incidents like these are also heard these days, but are very
rare and soon forgotten. Time has come people start taking inspiration from
latter ones rather than getting pressurized from former ones.
A girl sent her barat back when she heard her to be father
in law demanding dowry. Incidents like this are very-very rare. I think they
are the one which are most powerful and motivational. We must try and
encourager such brave hearts to a life full of happiness rather than reminding
them about the negative consequences in society hence followed.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
She loved her toys, As did the boys. Her life was same, As all children. She loved the game, She played a wife, She enacted a mother, All in innocence. She was happy, Replacing her doll, She felt excited. Little did she knew, Expectations the act bear. Sea of tears, End of childhood, Forced womanhood, Unrealistic expectations, All that followed, The remorseful farewell.
Girls playing with their dolls and enacting to marry them is a common sight among all households. The scene is actually quite cute. But the society took it literally and started imitating it by marrying of kids who are equivalent to dolls themselves. While such kids include both boys and girls, the percentage of girls is on much higher side.
Why Child Marriage
1. Illiteracy
Lack of education results in non-awareness of the ill-effects child marriages cause to children's life. The girls with proper education even if married early are less likely to have motherhood in younger age thus reducing one of the major issue.
2. Poverty
Families which are financially stable generally marry their girls at a more adolescent age. The poor the family is, the more pressure they suffer to get their daughters married as soon as possible.
3. Human Trafficking
Many poor families in some areas actually sell off girls in the name of marriage for the exchange of money to support their families. Such girls have to face the gruesome effects of trafficking including mental and physical (sexual as well as non-sexual)tortures.
4. Gender Discrimination
In many cultures, girls are married at an early age to prevent their virginity. Another case of gender discrimination can be seen when the widowers irrespective of their age are remarried to younger girls.
5. Following traditions blindly
Some cultures follow the tradition of child marriages with baseless beliefs like adolescent and educated girls have diluted minds and they loose their capability of managing the family of they are unmarried for long.
It is needless to say that the impact of child marriage is harmful on both boys and girls. But then, the expectations and health - physical as well as mental impacts are more serious for the girls.
I believe that the only way to curb child marriages is through education. The more educated people are more they are aware about fatal consequences of such practices.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
While the Indian government is having a tough time controlling the population ever since, women in the country are facing yet another issue - The Responsibility of Birth Control. And yes, this topic is rarely talked about.
When it comes to taking on the responsibility of contraception, the proud men of house generally take a back seat. Surprisingly, science has also been in favour of male counterparts. Let's Take look at the most common contraceptive options available to women:
Pills
Sterilisation
IUD - Intrauterine Device popularly known as copper-T
There are other options aswell, but again mass of population is not aware about them.
And the options available for males - Condoms and Sterilisation.
Honestly speaking, I am yet to personally find a man who went under the knife and opted for sterilisation. Condoms - times are surely changing, but still for most couples, men try and avoid them as much as possible. Here are some statements I have heard my friends telling me they hear:
You won't get pregnant on the first time itself. (Mostly for first nights)
I would not come inside, you know my self control.
The fun and enjoyment becomes half with this.
We can go for the emergency contraceptive this time!
It totally depends upon individual choice of couples that who wants to take up the responsibility, but the bitter truth is that generally it's transferred to the lady. I absolutely see no harm in that unless it causes any health problems to the woman, but the fact is that pregnancy involves two people and both must share the responsibility.
Many women end up taking the task because of course the consequences affect women on a much larger scale then men and after all it's their own body. At the same time, many men very irresponsibly skip it because the results would not affect them very much. It is this mentality which is the concern and need to be addressed.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
Every now and then, somewhere around the world, a tiny innocent life is taken brutally just because it's bearers discover that it's a girl. Female foeticide - the practice of aborting a girl child while it's still in mothers womb is illegal in almost every country.
Despite of being illegal, girls child is many times not let to take birth or killed immediately after birth or worse - left unwanted to its destiny.
I know the title of post is not pleasing enough to read, but then, it's the fact. Name it anything, killing, foeticide or anything - finally it is an abortion. There are times when aborting the child is definitely required, but there has to be a valid, rational or rather moral reason behind that. Not wanting that life just because it's a girl or boy and thus might lead to some changes in lifestyle is by no means acceptable.
Below are some lines which I think the little butterflies would have spoken if they were asked after being the unfortunate victim to ironical practice of Female Foeticide:
You cheered when I dropped,
The family celebrated when you announced,
The people judged when I formed,
The cheer turned in agony when you learned.
My blood would have been the same,
My first cry,
My first smile,
My first step,
My first word,
Except the gender,
All would have been same.
Only if, my eyes were opened,
If, I was allowed,
To form,
To arrive,
To grow...!
The major reason behind these killings right inside the womb is - Desire of a boy. People in our society have developed a culture where everyone thinks that a boy becomes the support system of parents in their old age while girls are a burden. The girls are considered a burden because of the dowry system and the fact that they move to their husband's place after marriage.
We need to open up our mind, eyes and ears with the changing times. People must understand that the situations have changed. Girls were not able to help very much earlier because:
1. Their marital places used to be far away and it took too long to send help because of poor modes of transport.
2. The modes of communications were almost nil- no phones. Thus, by the time need of help reached the daughters and they tried to help, it was generally too late.
3. Female members of home had limited access to finances.
All the above points stands void in present times. Considering the religious sentiments as-well, in our country India, a girl child or a daughter in law is termed an equivalent of Goddess Laxmi(Money). Thus killing her for the need to a son which ultimately drills down to financial reasons is something that stands unanswered and raised eyebrows.
While it's absolutely fine to call the boys "Kul Ka Deepak"(lamp of the family heritage), it's equally insulting to call the girls "Paraya Dhan"(someone else's money).
People need to keep the the ironical proverbs on Deepak in mind - "diya tale andhera", the lamps fail to lighten up the area below themselves.
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEM'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.
I know I am late! But still, I have to post this...
Come April and every blogger participating in April A to Z Challenge stands on his/toes. This is my second year to participating and like last year, I would leave no stone un-turned to complete the same. While choosing a theme is not mandatory, but believe me, it helps a lot. When one has a theme in mind, choosing the topic to write about becomes comparatively easy.
The theme of the challenge on my blog last year was - WOMEN IN A TO Z PROFESSIONS. It was a busy busy month for me and I lost the count of searches I made to find those women on the web.
This time, my theme is again inclined to Women. I am still shivering from inside on choosing the heavy topics I would need to write about. The theme for my April A to Z Challenge 2016 is "WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEM". With so much emphasis around women, there are still so many issues that persists in our society. Each day, I would pick an issue - social/health or may be something other and share my views on the same. Do I have my drafts ready? No! Well, at-least I have the topics ready for most of the letters except letter X and Z. Please drop in comments section if you have some topic on these letters. Wish me luck...!
Are you participating in the challenge this year? If yes, do have a theme in mind? Share it with the readers and give them a glimpse of your blog for the coming days. Read the theme for other participants - here.
