Nagpur: This year’s Ganeshotsava in the city seems to be special, as compared to the devotional fervours of previous years. This year’s Ganesh idol carries a special message to the public in general, and those who despise the birth of a girl child in particular, that is to say, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and the ‘selfie with daughter’ there of.
Though the slogan of social significance has been introduced by Prime Minster Narendra Modi, it is being popularized by citizens on various platforms. The Ganeshotsava in Maharashtra was the most suitable platform then, created by Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, for uniting people to the cause of Freedom of India and fight against the British, which significantly worked out.
In the same manner, as it is the need of hour to protect girl child and take care of her in all possible ways, the Bal Ganesh Utsava Mandal, Tulsi Nagar in the city is very meticulously popularizing the conceptual need of the hour, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, and ‘selfie with daughter’, which has been beautifully reflected in Ganesh idol installed by the Mandal.
May it so happen that this concept or theme get conveyed to far off places in the country in general and those regions or communities in particular wherein the birth of a girl child is despised and the upbringing of a girl is done with apathy and even cruelty, about which our daily news papers and electronic media channels are rife with, day out and day in.
May God instill the minds of people in society with regards for girls getting born and being brought up! May good sense prevail on all people to honour the birth of girls in society and educate them properly!
Here, the words of Maharshi Karve, whose actual name is (was) Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April, 1858–9 November, 1962), are worth recalling to the memory, “If you educate a boy, you educate an individual; but if you educate a girl, you educate the whole family which she takes care of.”–(as quoted by a former Supreme Court Judge, late M C Chhagla in one of his addresses at SNDT University, Bombay, in 70’s). Perhaps our Prime Minister is fired with that imagination for the future of girls.
The slogan, Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao, should be taken as a pledge by one and all, so that due respect and importance may be accorded to the all girls or women in general. The birth of a girl deserves protection and utmost care, for it belongs to weaker sex and thus requires appropriate handling for her betterment. It would not be wrong here to recall renowned Hindi poet Maithilisharan Gupt whose heart is filled with deep sympathy for girls or women, as, Abalaa jeevan haye tumhari yehi kahani, Anchal mein hai doodh aur nayanon mein paani (Saket-1955).
The Bal Ganeshotsava Mandal’s efforts to popularize the theme Beti Bacho-Beti Padhao and ‘selfie with daughter’ are thus praiseworthy.
