A GIRL CHILD
Prof. Hazara Singh
I am a girl child, an endangered gender
Hailed willy-nilly by some on my birth
As Lakshmi, legendary goddess of wealth
So often was disposed of after I was born
As priestly sermons kept presenting me
A mere piece of property, held as trust
Used to be married off early in childhood
To shift the onus of protection to others
Some parents did not mind even selling me
Or offered me to a temple to appease gods.
Progressive ideas and their gradual impact
Helped a lot to remove many a wicked bond
Right to equality revamped the lost dignity
Laws ensuring overall entitlement were made
Such equitable acts stirred the women power
But dowry demands and keen desire for sons
Diluted the effect of various welfare means
Earlier widows were burnt as customary rite
Now brides are burnt impelled by dowry greed
Even rigorous laws have failed to protect me.
Despite useful service science gives to man
It abets in denying me the right to be born
Earlier gender got known on being delivered
Now scanning tests show it even in the womb
Leading
to my destruction long before birth.