Life’s about choices. It’s these choices that define us.
Making a big decision is scary.
But you know, what’s even scarier?
Regret!
Today, I’m saving us from lifelong ignominy.
I’m letting the 2 Ps – Pride and Purse define my life.
So, you will have to go, little girl. But don’t worry, it’ll be quick.
PS : “Pride” refers to pride of having a male child which is lost with the birth of girl child. Also, some clans (upper castes and tribes) would rather murder female infants than give them to a rival group even in marriage. “Purse” refers to the dowry as girls are seen as an economic burden.
My theme for this year’s Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is Crime Stories in 55 Words.
Today’s story, I is for Infanticide…
You can check out my A-Z posts thus far by clicking on a highlighted letter!
48 Responses
O_O
Geez…
Certainly one of the most inhumane acts that continues till this day 🙁
It’s a crime.
Nooo!! Cruel people! Such an inhuman act!
Its one of the most terrible practices still alive in India and makes me cringe in shame and disgust! How little if the girl child valued? Its sad and your poignant reminder of how it is superb Shilpa.
Theme: Peregrination Chronicles (travel)
I is for innovation or Jugaad which we Indians are very famous for #atozchallenge
I’ve never ever understood the logic behind this practice. I mean, if we have no girls, we cannot have women. A women gives birth. Scary, unnecessary and illogical minds behind the origin of this terrible deed.
A Painful reminder of what is still prevalent in our world. Killing of a child requires more than a little cold-heartedness 🙁
We have had a woman becoming the President (the highest ranked citizen) of the very same country where these practices still exist… isn’t it ironical???? It really saddens me to see such injustice.
What’s worse, there are people who even justify this using some ludicrous logic of their own. Horrible!
Of course the most inhumane being and I realise this practice is there in all sections of society.
Eeee. As a mother to two lovely daughters who are now lovely grown women, I just got the creeps when I read this story.
Heart wrenching and thought provoking Shilpa. I wish the Pride and the Purse vanish from this earth forever.
Truly Yours Roma
This is a good theme to write on the prejudice that plague us. It’s profound and tragic at the same time. We need to let go of this fear.
I’m so sorry and sad to hear – all life is precious. The thinking behind this practice is – well, I’m not sure I can think of an appropriate word .. 🙁 🙁 🙁
The two evils that is so much part of our society, true pride and purse must go only then we can we be truly free …
I think it’s better such people kill their female child before she is born. They would only give her a life of misery anyway.
This thought is deeply rooted in the minds of people, society is just an excuse. It will change gradually when people will use their intelligence to know it’s negative impact on society. Very nicely written Shilpa!
Its heartbreaking.
And worst is its still prevailing in the society
A Peice Of My Life
I just loved the way you wrote this one. Even today I get to read news about bodies of baby girls found in random places. It’s sickening.
Oh my! how cruel!
Believe In Fairy Stories: Theme – Folklore & Fairy Tales
Oh this hurts so bad 🙁
Well that escalated quickly – I was nodding along about the part about regretting not acting and then the twist! Love it
Debbie
What a sad sad thing to do. I still shudder to think how a mother can bring herself to kill her own daughter.. 🙁
A sad reality of our country which is wrong by all means. Never understood this and wonder if this will ever change in our society.
Again, how much damage these two unjustified Ps have done in so many families… not necessarily uneducated or lower economic strata families either 🙁
You’re so good at this. You capture emotion and scare me in so little words.
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
This was indeed heart-breaking! How, I wonder how is someone capable of doing this?
This just pains. 🙁
It’s too scary to think about infanticide, and the cruel people who even think about it. It’s too crazy to know that even after so many leaps and bounds in the field of knowledge and science, we still have people who think in such a backward way!
I had gooseflesh, Shilpa, reading this. And I feel ashamed to think that this practice is so rife.
Well done!
Oh gosh! this was such a sad one Shilpa 🙁
Heartbreaking but it’s a sad reality.
I have never understood this logic and never will. I love how you’ve worded the story, Shilpa. Your entires series of stories have been brilliant!
This is just too sad! Boils my blood everytime I read about such incidents.
A food for thought post . Well written
Sad to think how many times baby girls have been lost.