Saturday, September 6, 2008

The Girl Child

The very fact that the girl child has become a topic of discussion and debate, points to the fact that, this is something different to the other of the human species. The girls have always and everywhere been considered to be lesser of the two beings of the human species. Why this has come to be, is beyond our comprehension, but, the fact remains that, the girl has not only been considered as the lesser, but has always been really neglected also. It can not be imagined how this situation came into being but, the sadder and more shocking situation is when, in the 20th century we call ourselves highly civilized, cultured and educated and all else, the girl still finds it more and more difficult to subsist on this planet. This situation is a world wide phenomena, the difference being only in the degree of suppression of the girl. Even to-day we hear of crimes and ill treatment of women and that also in an advanced country like the United States. This being a world wide phenomena, it is increasingly disheartening to see it take the shape of a demon in India. It is true that, India is a third world country but, this is one country that has held women in high esteem and respect.
In a country like India with such an ancient civilization where it is believed that women were worshipped, such a sad situation having developed in the status of women is really shocking. Even our sacred books point to the fact that, Indians believed that, a country where women are not respected, can never prosper and progress. It is with this background that, it becomes absolutely shocking to note the rising crimes against women, and the deteriorating position of women in the Indian social scenario. Even now, when we see women in the outside world that earlier concept that women are mere chattels, labourers and child producing machines still persists to destroy the rising image of the women. When this is the status granted to women even to –day, it is no wonder that, India is continuously on the decline in most of its developmental aspects.
The girl child has always been derided, for, the very day of her birth in a family, is the day of the doom of the family, and so, automatically when this is the welcome accorded to her, what could be awaiting her for her to enjoy through life. When we neglect the girl, we are forgetting that, we are not neglecting the individual girl, but we are neglecting the very fountain of existence, and also all the finer aspects of life which in reality make this life worth living. Is there any doubt that, it is the women who give love, sacrifice and all happiness to main involves, and above all the girl gives the man service till she lives, and what a tragedy of life that, it is the same man who misuses her goodness and service. Should this not be matter of shame for man and his world. The very woman who gives man all that she has, in her role as a wife and a mother specially, should be so maltreated? This speaks volumes of man, and his character anc conduct.
Practically speaking also, let us understand that, by suppressing women, even mathematically, the world is at a loss of growth. A country’s progress is bound to be scuttled when half the population of girls and women are kept below average standards of existence. The girl is not allowed to be educated, she is not given any freedom of expression, action or thought and she continues to remain uncared for and a forlorn individual. It is shocking to realize that, the society who neglects the women, does not seem to realize that, an unhappy daughter, an unhappy wife and, an uncared for mother can never add to a family’s happiness and growth. It is certain that, if this half of the human population is considered as relevant to existence, the progress of the other half will automatically become doublefold. This is simple mathematics of progress which seem to be missed upon, by the other half. In this of course, there are vested interests involved at least now, at this stage of the growth of the girl in the 20th century.
Now when the male of the human species is so used to domination, they are sure to resent the rise of the other oppressed half, as, they can see their domination being brought to naught. So, what is happening to the girls now is that, though the awakening to their rights has come among women, they are finding it an uphill task to fight it out with the authority of men, who are naturally not liking the coming up of women. On the other hand the man, who always thought that he was the superior being, finds it rather taxing to adjust to the idea of women coming up to their standards.
In this scenario, the girl child has a doublefold war front to fight it out for herself-one being the older women who do not allow the girl to rise, as, they do not seem to understand the need for it, and the other is the male counterpart who have the fear of seeing her become an equal as, this will snatch away from the man his centuries old platform of domination from him. In reality, what the present situation is in India is also true about the whole world but of course it is not as bad as it is in India and this is because of lack of education among the girls.
The girl child who has till now been an object of disgust, hate and wrath should become an object of care and nurturing. This can happen only if and when both women and men develop an attitudinal change, and realize the fact that, the girl is also as much of a human being as the boy, with her own desires and aspirations and capacities. She should not be treated as a mere item of possession but taken as an equal partner in the country’s destiny. Only when this happens can a country take a true recourse to progress.
However, even to-day when the girls are being educated and taking up careers they still remain as second in the two-why? This is because we are not able to understand the fact that, men and women are two partners, with distinct qualities and capacities meant to supplement and complement each other rather than one being the first and the other being the second. Only if we could take in this basic issue this war of nerves of acquiring the first position by either, would stop forthwith. By now, it is amply clear that, even being financially independent does not make women more or even equal to men. The one thing that is to understand, why does the girl have to be an equal to the boy, she should have a position of her own in the family and the society, and the boy have his own. It would be best for us to remember that a girl is a girl and a boy is a boy, and never the two can be same. They do not have to be same or equal, they are just individuals with their own responsibilities, have their own impartiance and deserve same respect and love and adoration.
Only when we start realizing this fact, that, a girl is also as much of a human as a boy, with her own feelings and aspirations, we will be able to end this long standing struggle for the girl child. Why should there be any need for us to make such a fuss about the girl? She is also a human that is all that we have to remember, an that will end all the strife for her.

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