In wombs of sorrow, silent cries,
Where dreams are crushed and never rise
A cradle that wept, a lullaby stilled,
A future stolen, a promise unfulfilled
Daughters denied, their voices unheard,
Lost in shadows, like a fleeting bird
Vanishing cradles, empty and cold,
Tales of sorrow, too often told
A cradle missing, a mother’s pain,
A lullaby lost, never sung again
India’s daughters, fading away,
In empty cradles, where none will play
But hope still lingers, fierce and bright,
To break this darkness, to bring the light
For every girl, a right to be,
Not just a whisper in history
The birth of a child is meant to be a moment of joy, a celebration of life and new beginnings. Yet, for millions of girls in India, this moment is stolen before they can take their first breath. Female foeticide and infanticide are not relics of the past but ongoing tragedies, rooted in deep-seated gender biases and societal expectations.
Despite legal protections and awareness campaigns, the silent eradication of daughters persists, concealed within families, masquerading as economic necessity, and rationalized by outdated traditions. Attempts to illuminate this harsh reality and explore the historical, social, and legal dimensions that have allowed this practice to persist are very crucial.
We need to delve into the causes, economic burdens, societal norms, and systemic discrimination that drive families to make the unthinkable choice of ending the lives of their daughters. We also need to examine the effectiveness of laws meant to prevent these practices and the challenges faced in their enforcement.
Yet, amidst this darkness, there are stories of hope, of activists, survivors, and reformers who refuse to accept this reality and fight to give every girl a future. This time is not just about raising awareness; it is about igniting action. The war against India’s daughters is not just a women’s issue; it is a human rights crisis that affects the very foundation of our society. A nation that silences its daughters silences its own progress.
