Why Baby Boy

Centuries are taking their turns but one thing which is seriously consistent in the Indian Society is still the wish for a boy in the family. It is not like there is no change at all in the mindsets of the people but the question is why the change is taking so much time and why the change is not reaching to every portion of the society.

When I was in my graduation, one of my friend's brother became a father of a baby girl. When my friend came back after seeing her, we asked him for the sweets and he said his relatives asked him not to take sweets to the college since it's a baby girl and not boy. That was year 2003. And my friend is from Delhi. It's disappointing that both the factors, 21st century and Metro like Delhi, in this case, couldn't de-motivate such biases. Here, the nice-to-know-thing is that my friend and his brother and bro's wife were absolutely satisfied and happy.

A similar thing happened 4 years later, in 2007. One more of friend became a father of a baby girl and when we were at there place, his wife was telling her experience with the relatives back at home. "Congratulations. I wish it could be a boy... anyways congrats... oh she is so sweet.. you remember pushpa, mrs gupta's daughter in law ?? She gave a grandson to mrs gupta.. (lol)."

So does that mean that change has already reached the younger generation and we will see the altogether transformed and revamped society in another 10-15 years??? But before that, we must say that we can't generalize this theory. Still there are young people who are there inside their mental blocks.

I really want to put forward this question and try to counter-questions the possible views.

Q# what is so good about boys and why people prefer a boy over a girl??

View# 1. Boy will carry the family name. A girl will be married and go.
View# 2. Boy will be a bread winner for the family and will take care of the parents.
View# 3. Marriage is a costly affair for girl's parents.

Counter view #1. That is absolutely wrong and absurd. This is just a point of view and nothing more. What do we mean by family name??? Actually, family name and wish for a son are two inter dependent concepts. Also, there are 2 fundamentals, rigidly carved in people's mind.
1. Our family name should continue.
2. Only man/husband's family name should be given to the child.

Now again, I would say, it is a point of view and nothing else. Let me again break these two fundamentals. What is this fuss about the family name??? What we will get if our family name continues for the next 100 years??
People reading this, tell me, how many of you remember (or even know) the name of your grandfather's father??
We need to realize that we, middle class people, are not Nawabs or Marathas or sultans of pre-1800 era. How many of us are having pictures of our forefathers in our homes?? Can I assume that my great-grandson will get an edge in US Presidential Election in 2060 for being from "Jain Dynasty"??

I am nothing and even if in the next 20 years I become the CEO of Motorola, my grandchildren will not get any special treatment because of their family name, though they may get it in some areas, for the reputation of the family name but that will be same for my Son's and daughter's children. I mean to say, this world will not treat anybody on the basis of the family name but only by the capability of the individual.

Now coming to the 2nd fundamental of giving husband's family name to the child, I really feel, why can't a woman give her family name to his son/daughter?? Family name really doesn't matter when it comes to the achievements.

How many us know/remember Rajeev Gandhi's father's name?? Or Rajiv Gandhi's grand father's name??? Rahul Gandhi and priyanka gandhi are still flaunting the blood line of Nehru. Priyanka is still Gandhi and not Vadhera, practically.

Counter view #2. Now that totally depends on an individual. With the increasing number of young boys and girls moving out of their hometowns and pursuing careers in metro cities and abroad, the only thing they can do to their parents is sending money. And with the growing foresight for the retirement options and investments for safe future, everybody is moving towards a state when money will not be a favor to take from children, any more. And if you talk about taking care of your parents then to do that either sons have to give up their jobs or parents have to move away from their homes and start staying with their sons which again is a sensitive issue when it comes to leaving your comfort zone at the age of 60.

There are examples of children settled in US, keep sending money and visiting only when any of their parent dies. There is a absolutely shocking real incident I know. In a family a man was very ill and was on his death bed. Doctors asked his wife to call up the relatives. She called up her son. He arrived and the man miraculously survived. While leaving for US the son told his mother that this time it was very difficult for him to take leaves and come. So if similar thing happens in next 6-12 months, he won't be able to come.

On the other hand there are examples of daughters taking care of their parents. So clearly, as marriage is seen a bond between two families and not only between to people, it is a time to realize that if a woman can take care of her ailing parent in laws then similarly this is duty of a man also to take care of his in laws.

Counter view #3. Until and unless we make our girls independent, educated and smart, we will continue to be haunted by the marriage expenses and dowry ghost. If your daughter is a deserving candidate for marriage she will surely be taken. Or if she has her own identity she can rather become a chooser and not a beggar. This problem is more specific to smaller cities and towns where lesser girls come out for professional education and primarily seen as a liability who must get married and go.

Aaj Tak Continues...







And Star News Also...











Aaj Tak Wins Award ?????

What is Indian Telly Awards ??? Who are the sponsers ??? Who are the
judges ???
In the whole family of news channels or better to say, a whole district of news channels how come Indian Telly Award for best news channel can go to the funniest, most dumb and 'The Most Stupid' of them all, Aaj Tak... ????
There can be few options now for this question.
1. Aaj Tak is bribing the judges.
2. Aaj Tak is bribing the judges.
3. Aaj Tak is bribing the judges.
and few more...

One evening I reach home, switch on the TV and come to know that They are the best news channel... !! The only thing came in my mind was that Are they really a news channel ??? This was a joke in itself, for me.

A channel whose prime time news comprises of "Raju ke Hasgulle", "Khali aaya, Undertaker Bhaga", "Amitabh Bachchan ko thand lagi" and few more is the best news channel... this news itself is the worst thing that can happen.

Although they are running with this legacy of Prime Time Massacre since long time now, however recently they have really come up with some innovative ideas to make sure the audiance die by Nervous Break down.

The favorite prime time program of Aaj Tak is Khali and his stupid choreographed fights. And to the worst, they put a caption with title Breaking News. I think they have a seperate team for sitting and thinking such stupid one liners. i.e. Sazish samjho Khali, Khali ne kheli holi etc.

I am sure one has to sit in the exam to be a correspondent in Aaj Tak. And the questions would be:
Write breaking news one liners for the following:
2 dogs are getting married. Husband wife are fighting. Fils star are breaking off.

The second hot fevorite is Raju Shrivastav and his same old jokes which he already has played in Laughter Challange. Just imagine, at 8 o Clock in the evening when all other channels are showing important national and international news, these guys are showing Breaking News: Raju ke Hansgulle, Gabbar ki Shaadi, Basanti ko bhi nahi chhora.

Their other 'Award Winning' contributions to the betterment of the society include: Pushpak Viman, Rani mukharji ke Thumke, April Fool: Rakhi ko Krazy4 ke gaane se nikala and others..

Last but not the least, when every other news channel reported about the bikaner's one and a half old girl trapped in borewell, only when she was out, these guys didn't even talk about any other thing in this world. Though they had enough time for commercials. The whole day they were showing the rescue efforts. That was not all, there were discussion with the correspondent on phone. i.e. "हम आपको बता दे कि अभी अभी सारिका ने उबले हुए आलू खाने की इच्छा जताई है, और सुबह उसने कहा था कि उसका जलेबी खाने का मन कर रहा है, और उसे जलेबी खिलाई भी गयी थी. "

And to the heights of cheapness, there was a song being played in the background, 'Main kabhi batlaata nahi, par andhere se darta hoon mein maa... tujhe sab hai pata... hai na maa.. '

Actually, if we see.. this is not with Aaj Tak only.. every hindi news channel is like this only. Be it NDTV india, Star news or zee news.

I remember a renowned media person who on NDTV india, was once throwing a poll where question was: "Sanjay dutt ke apane paas hathiyar rakhne ko aap kya kahenge.. (what you will say Sanjay Dutt's act of keeping a gun with him??? ) options: 1. Unki mardangi(his manhood), b. Unki Nadaani(His Childilike act) c. Ya unki galti(or a mistake) "

Even hindi news website are in the race.. you can see the website: http://www.josh18.com/ this website belongs to IBN network and the level of news on this site clearly shows that what is the mentallity of such a nice group when it comes to Hindi audience...

eg. शराब के पीछे जीजा ने साले की नाक काटी

This website has changed a lot now and may not fit here in the discussion now but few months back it was nothing but an online version of Aaj Tak.

I am trying to guess what makes these people think in such stupid manner and how come they boldly publish such stuff.
Do these people think that hindi news audience is fool and they have do not have any interest in national and international news ??? Or do they think that Hindi Audience cannot appreciate Indo-US nuclear deal ????

I am giving a BIG THUMB DOWN to Aaj Tak's Best News Channel award.