Shama Mehta

I couldn’t help but notice that its Children’s Day in India. Yes, I realise its nothing new or exciting. I can’t recall doing anything special on this day. But suddenly I feel a strong sense of connection with this day as in what it stands for and how children are really today. I am not going to comment on the Canadian aspect of it, but I definitely have loads to say about the Indian aspect.

We’re living in the 21st century, and apparently we’re taking strides in development of science and technology, but the question I want to ask is whether humanity itself has developed? I look around and the answer is a startling NO. Children’s day in India, something to celebrate? Let’s take into consideration how the children are treated. Child labour, though illegal, still exists. Even worse, its sexual discrimination. Infant girls are still being killed, just because the society hasn’t accepted the girl to be just as important as the boy. I am not just talking about rural areas, it goes on in urban areas as well. I was just reading an article in gujarati daily online and I was utterly shocked to read that a girl in a city was treated like crap by her own dad and brothers.She’s not even a young girl. She’s 28. To me, it is sickening. I am thinking why aren’t any steps being taken by the so-called working for women’s rights people around. Where are all the Women’s rights people when they’re really needed? Bloody politics! I know it is not easy dealing with these issues in India. But the bottom line is, if you can’t change it atleast don’t celebrate something without making sure it is as pious and deserving as it should be.

So many tragedies, both personal and otherwise, happened since december from past year or so. Coming to what is relevant are two major tragedies : The Tsunami in South Asia and the latest Earthquake in South Asia as well. Millions have lost their lives and nothing can ever replace losing a loved one. Its such a harsh reality that it is almost unbearable. But either way, my thoughts now are straying towards to the ones who have actually survived : the orphans. Its just so hard to imagine how they are dealing with this tragedy in their lives. What and how are they going to be this Children’s Day? I wish I had the resources to do something and it just makes me feel so useless right now because there is nothing I can do to make them feel any better.

This Children’s Day, my thoughts and prayers go out for all these kids. I hope you spare them a thought too.
Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope… and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. ~Robert F. Kennedy