As a child I hated my name. In fact I still do. Maybe it had something to do with the Pakistani singer Reshma Singh (lambi judaai) - and I always wanted a name I wouldn't be sharing with anyone else. I'd actually rechristened myself Eesha (Esha Deol was non-existent then) - but of course, the name died its natural death.
Though the idea of rechristening myself actually stemmed from my cousin Trupti, who changed her name to Pooja (eew - perhaps because she looked like Pooja Bhatt!) - her fate resembled mine. After marriage she changed her name to match her husband's - Neha and Nitin!
Another friend Lakshmi was in the same dilemma and she became Anita.
But I remember some strange names in school - Premal, Balasundari, Nikunj, Kamal (thats a boy!) and Sambamoorthy to name a few. The last one was Sambaa to one and all.
And now of course there are the Debi Prasads and the ChandraBhushans now in office! and not to mention the three Rohits we had in a team of 15! My daughter has 3 friends called Dhruv, 3 Aryans, few Diyas and some Omkars! God... give us some nice new names.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A grim “issue”
This piece has nothing to do with “the objective of rustic kids” – but it has a lot to do with our up-bringing as rustic kids. I pride myself on being an “equalist” – not “feminist” as most people would believe. In spite of this, I am biased towards the girl child and feel very strongly towards women rights. But the reasons are not few.
Since last few weeks, realms of newsprint have been spent on female foeticide and girl children being abandoned in gutters and dustbins. Gutters?? How worse can it get?
I have an appeal to make to all the parents who have girl children and don’t want them – please give them up for adoption – contact your nearest police station, or adoption agency, or even the media – they can help you put up the girls for adoption. And there are hundreds of couples waiting their turn to adopt, because they have none of their own.
On one hand we have women excelling in all the fields in India, on other hand we have villages in remote Rajasthan/Haryana where polygamy for women is common because the number of women are now so few, that each male member of the family is not able to find a bride for himself. Women are known to have been “married” to the whole male clan of a family.
How is all this linked to our up-bringing, we may say? It does… there are boys who’ve been given more opportunities in their childhood, on the mere achievement of being born a male. Or even, better food, better schools, better gifts. I know of instances where the girls have been made to study in vernacular medium or municipal schools, but the boys attend the good English schools.
Let us, as mothers bridge this gap between our children, and educate others to do the same. Let us teach our young boys that they need to respect other women – just as they would their own mother.
Since last few weeks, realms of newsprint have been spent on female foeticide and girl children being abandoned in gutters and dustbins. Gutters?? How worse can it get?
I have an appeal to make to all the parents who have girl children and don’t want them – please give them up for adoption – contact your nearest police station, or adoption agency, or even the media – they can help you put up the girls for adoption. And there are hundreds of couples waiting their turn to adopt, because they have none of their own.
On one hand we have women excelling in all the fields in India, on other hand we have villages in remote Rajasthan/Haryana where polygamy for women is common because the number of women are now so few, that each male member of the family is not able to find a bride for himself. Women are known to have been “married” to the whole male clan of a family.
How is all this linked to our up-bringing, we may say? It does… there are boys who’ve been given more opportunities in their childhood, on the mere achievement of being born a male. Or even, better food, better schools, better gifts. I know of instances where the girls have been made to study in vernacular medium or municipal schools, but the boys attend the good English schools.
Let us, as mothers bridge this gap between our children, and educate others to do the same. Let us teach our young boys that they need to respect other women – just as they would their own mother.
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