Reflecting Verse: "Children are a heritage from the Lord."
Psalm 127:3
A Letter to the Humanity
Dear Humanity
My name is Infant. I am three days old. I come from the other realm of “female kingdom.” On the behalf of every 3-day old in the female kingdom, I want to convey a message. At their first glance on me they utter, “Oh no! It’s a Girl.” I was killed with asphyxiation simply because I have “Vagina”. I am not the only victim of female infanticide. My friends were also killed through poisoning, choking, drowning, deliberate negligence and gendercide.
I heard that the social pressure of dowry, economic destitution, gender bias and many such unjust patriarchal practices have put us in the list of so called “Missing-Women” in India. So, it seems like we were murdered out of poverty, superstition, myths, gender bias and your greed for money, power and control. While discussing among ourselves, we (victims of female foeticides and infanticides) came up with these questions. Do you have any justification for killing us? Isn’t a murder, a murder, whether you are one day old or hundred years old?
A study in 2011, estimates that more than 12 million girls were killed in India over the last three decades. Girl children were secretly and brutally eliminated from the family system. Seems like the practising of female infanticide does not disgust you. But my gender, if girl, is dirty.
My life is a gift from the Lord. Who gave you the authority to kill me because I am a girl? You may destroy my body but not my soul. Oh you, women slaughterer! Are you terrified of the Corona Virus? You are wearing mask, using sanitizer, consuming multi-vitamins and what not, to protect yourself. You do not want to die, but you kill us mercilessly just because I am a girl. Isn’t life (including you oh! Murderer) originated from a women’s Womb? Do you think that by killing us you have proven your superiority, or do you think your life will become less burden, richer and happier? I curse to you oh! Women killers. May you never find peace.
I am angry, with the corrupt evil system and frustrated knowing that I cannot do anything. The superstition, the ignorance, gender bias, myths, patriarchy, and your atrocious greed is way too dark and evil to comprehend. Then, does this mean have I lost my faith on humanity? Not yet. For I have noticed that many men and women, are fighting to bring this evil practice to an end.
BTS’s (Bangtan Boys, a Korean music band) inspired many with his remarkable speech, “Love Yourself, Speak Yourself” but I was killed even before I could love myself or speak up for myself. I urge all the citizens of the earth to ‘speak up’ for us.
Let us see the world...
Let us feel the world...
Let us love ourselves...
These precious lives of ours are gone, many girls like us will be born to many couples. Allow them to live life to the fullest. For if I was not killed, I would have been your friend, or your sister, or your doctor, or a Mother of someone today.
Well I think, your silence to this injustice is a crime. A sin you will never be forgiven for. If you are reading this, may you be disturbed by this injustice done to the many “unborn-women.” We cry to you “is there anyone out there who will hear our cries and voice for us?”
Thanking you
Yours Sincerely,
Infant,
The Unborn
Prayer
God of life and justice, we are all created in your image which shows, women are no lesser being, restore the dignity of the Women. Guide us to become instruments of justice and agents of transformation, so the world gears-up for a cultural reset. Amen.
Author: Asai Soror
About the Author: Soro belongs to the Tangkhul Tribe from Manipur. She is currently pursuing her Doctoral Research in the Department of Missiology and Ecumenics at the United Theological College, Bangalore.
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