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It’s common knowledge that the
idealism inspiring the founding fathers of the 51-year-old Indian nation
has disappeared without trace. As the Persian saying goes, Neys naabood,
("Is not; was not; never has been!")
Materialism reigns supreme. Money is all that matters.
Even if the area concerns human health. Adulterators of food (remember the
cooking oil scam!) are not brought to book although they purvey disease
and death.
Perhaps the worst case scenario of greed in the Indian
(and specially the Hindus and the Sikhs) is dowry. A boy means
"income" and no one cares that it is unearned. A girl means
"outgo" and therefore loss. Desperate remedies are called for to
eradicate the cause. Better take pre-emptive action. Feticide (sex
selective abortion) becomes the answer. Modern science has come to the
rescue of the Hindus and the Sikhs unwilling to father a daughter.
Since 1981, Amritsar has been the seed farm of female feticide.
In report after report the horrors of a female embryo being denied the
right to life is highlighted. Laws have been passed but even the
registrations of clinics offering gender determination services have no
longer taken place on the ground.
As of 1991, the figures for gender ratio were:
| District |
Male |
Female |
| Amritsar |
1000 |
861 |
| Faridkot |
1000 |
863 |
| Bhatinda |
1000 |
865 |
As there is no attempt at stopping this heinous
practice, the situation must be much worse in 1999. According to
calculations there should be some 3 crore (30 million) more females than
there currently are in India. That translates to three crore feticides
with a few dowry deaths thrown in for good measure. In most of the other
countries of the world, and specially in the western countries, there are
more women than men.
The consumer durable sales boom is accounted for by
areas such as Punjab. If in these show cases of development mass murder is
occurring to prevent female birth it’s time to sit up, take notice and
do something.
How does this tally with the much vaunted claims of the
hoary civilization of the Hindus and the spiritual qualities of the Sikh
religion? We have seen no mention of this problem in any manifesto
published by a political party whether Hindu or Sikh.
The Akalis and the Hindu League (which is a good title for the Parivaar,
also known as the RSS / BJP / VHP / Bajrang Dal / Shiv Sena), should note
that female feticide and dowry deaths are not a phenomenon to be found
among the Muslims and the Christians. How does his fact tally with the
image portrayed by the Parivaar of the bloodthirsty Muslims versus the
meek and mild Hindu?
An article in the Dawn (published in The Asian Age on
12/5/99) pointed out that there are more Indian doctors per thousand
Americans than there are per thousand Indians. This does not show
"spiritual" or "social" or nationalistic or community
concern. It demonstrates a greed for money. Also that working conditions
are terrible for professionals functioning in India at government hospital
level.
The Hindu League leaders and their counterparts in the
other political parties are only after power. The reason why the Hindu
League are considered the greater evil is because they are unabashed in
their hatred for Muslims, Christians, women and Dalits. Perhaps it is time
to work for a cultural regeneration where the present value system can be
examined in detail and worked out afresh.
The district of Amritsar, Bhatinda and Faridkot are the
most prosperous in the country. The houses are no longer mud and dirt but
brick and cement. The apparel is from manmade fiber. The consumer durable
sales boom is accounted for by areas such as the Punjab. If in these show
cases of development mass murder is occurring to prevent female birth it
is time to sit up and take notice and do something.
Compared to female feticide the death by war and by
internal strife, by terrorists and by militants are just an insignificant
figure. Besides statistics there is the trauma and suffering of the
mother. In the August 28th issue of The Asian Age there is the harrowing
story of a poor woman who has undergone seven abortions in a row (because
all the fetuses were female) and is a physical and psychological wreck as
a result. How can people who indulge in such activities consider their
society and their own self civilized?
Learn more about
Female Feticide or Sex Selective Abortion.
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