Beti Bachao; Beti Padhao!!

Patriarchy, the lion king, in the volatile, violent, hinterland,

Unequal Sabhas, Khaps, led by men only, in our motherland,

Others, like Germans, reverentially, call it Fatherland,

paradoxically, greater respect for woman where they stand.

Trial of fire, crossing multiple hurdles a girl is born,

Death in womb or after birth infanticide they are gone.

Denied education & nutrition to help her brothers,

Suffers death again, she, sacrificing for others.

Escaping death but suffering scars possibility live,

as lurking sexual predators - neighbors, relatives - jive,

for a toddler now, teenager then  or even a granny in some session,

even as “marital rape” remains as anathema for even a discussion.

Democratic Hinduism, unlike other religions, has female gods,

Trinity of Shakti, Lakshmi & Saraswati – Trimurti consorts,

How do we deny girls- Lakshmi (wealth) & Saraswati (education) – gain,

& equate “Shakti” only to the ability to endure dols of pain?

As gender ratio degenerates, stunts & nears wither,

Men desperately seek women for marriage hither & thither.

Perhaps, time for Saas, Bahu & menfolk together get,

Divine realization dawns & they let

“Beti Bachao; Beti Padhao”