Sir,
We may claim to have been heading towards gender discrimination-free society but by and large ours is a gender-sensitive society. It is quite evident from the fact that female infanticide – a social evil is still prevalent in some parts of the country. Major reason that leads to this deeply engrossed evil is greed for male child. The preference for male child or son is deep rooted in our mind-set in almost all stratas of society irrespective of educated or uneducated, rural or urban. The preference for male child in our society reached to an alarming extent of inhuman cruelty of “Bhrunhatya” or female infanticide thereby leading to cause a steep decline in male, female ratio. As a result of the growing social disorder, Government had to enact a law to impose a ban on PNDT test to ascertain sex of child in womb. Gender discrimination manifesto even in our culture and heritage. If one analyses critically its existence is reflected through blessings of the elders to newly wedded women. Last year I happened to go through a news item which has a relevance to the issue under reference. The news reports that local administration in Yamunanagar (Haryana floated a noble idea of modified blessings to newly wedded women. It has been suggested to extend modified blessings of “Santanvati Bhava” instead of “Puttarvati Bhava”- aged old blessings to newly wedded women. The blessings of “Santanvati Bhava” convey a message irrespective of preference for male or female child thereby to have equal preference for girl child. But on the other hand, our old and prevalent blessings of ”Puttarvati Bhava” to newly wedded women by elders convey preference for son or male child. The newly suggested and modified blessings of “Santanvati Bhava” advocate an innovative idea of providing equality for girl child in our gender-susceptible society.
Yours etc…
Lokinder Singh Ravi
85, Chhanni Rama, Jammu
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