Came across  a rather touching poem by a school student , Shikha Smarika, on the issue of female foeticide , and thought of sharing it with ilanders. For those who find the eng font too cumbersome to read, pl refer to the ad on page 9 of the Sunday TOI dated Oct 8,2006.

Sandesh Ajanmi Bitiya Ka

Kuchh kehna chahti hoon,apne hisse ka jeewan jeena chahti hoon
duniya ke rang, duniya ke sang, main bhi jeena chahti hoon.

Maan main teri kokh mein aayi, phir janm kyon na le paayi
na koi jaane mera marm, meri kabr ban gaya kaise tera garbh

Tera khoon to paya maine, phir doodh kyon na pee payi
astitva apna mitne par bhi, aansoo tak baha na paayi

Durdasha dekhkar meri to, brahma bhi pachhtaya hoga
sang mujhe le jaate huye, yamraj bhi tharraaya hoga

Janm lene do mujhe bhi, bete se badh kar dikhlaaoongi
dhara ke sukh kya cheez hain, tod aasma ke taare laaoongi

Agar beti ko marvaaoge, mamta maan ki kaise paaoge
kho jaayega kahin behen ka pyar, dular kis par barsaaoge

Antim sandesh yehi hai mera, bacha lo jeewan ajanmi bitiya ka
astitva varna mit jaayega, is duniya se maanav ka


PS: While on the subject, I would also like to recommend strongly a viewing of the excellent movie "Maatribhoomi: A Nation Without Women"