Diagnosing Unreason

We as a society cannot progress unless those in public life have the maturity to accept the risk of criticism and the society at large is ever vigilant about the opinion-makers and agenda-setters. Kiron-Sailaja's pregnancy was touched upon in this context, for which some wanted to crucify us. Let's see the issue afresh and see whether we were wrong or wronged.

Kiron is the Managing Director of Eenadu, the daily that's read by 1.30 crore people everyday. He is both an opinion-maker (Eenadu overdoes it, but let's not digress) and an agenda-setter. Such a lofty and privileged position demands that he demonstrates exemplary social responsibility and possesses a mindset that's in tune with the realities of the present.

What are the realities of the present times?
For decades now we have discussed at length the bane of population boom and have accepted that "small family" is a social responsibility. We have made legislations disallowing parents of more than two children contesting elections at panchayat level. Significantly, courts have ruled that the two-child norm is in our national interest.

The educated section of India has progressed even further, limiting themselves to just a child -- does not matter if the only child is a boy or a girl. I can immediately think of three of my friends who went for family planning ops after they had a girl in the first issue. All are economically capable of supporting at least two more children. Yes, the issue goes beyond economic status and involves the pressing need to put an end to gender discrimination by treating the girl child on par with the boy. Today, educated Indians detest a pregnancy spree to fulfill the desire of having a son. That's anachronistic and considered as sheer stupidity.

Do we respect a man who wants his forty-plus wife to conceive because a family is incomplete without a son? (because the family's property can never be bequeathed to the girl) What is the mindset of a man who does all kinds of religious rituals just to have a son? More importantly, has the father of two girls ever considered how his yearning for a son would impact his daughters? A 13-year-old girl is no kid. She can comprehend the goings on and draw her own inferences. Would not her parents' desperation for a son make her feel rejected and unwanted? If you disagree, find out yourself by talking to any girl of that age. Or better, let the publication conduct an essay or elocution contest for schoolgirls on the issue -- their voices would make us cringe and loathe ourselves.

It's very unfortunate that a chauvinist, steeped in outdated mindsets, heads an influential daily. What right will the paper has to take high moral ground when impoverished Lambadi tribals sell their girls, just to escape the tyranny of poverty and hoping against hope that the city biggies would ensure a better future for her? How can such narrow-minded people claim that their newspaper is the heart and soul of people when they themselves have no heart?

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