Posted on 10/22/2011 6:53:56 PM PDT by posterchild
MUMBAI, India (AP) — More than 200 Indian girls whose names mean "unwanted" in Hindi chose new names Saturday for a fresh start in life.
A central Indian district held a renaming ceremony it hopes will give the girls new dignity and help fight widespread gender discrimination that gives India a skewed gender ratio, with far more boys than girls.
The 285 girls — wearing their best outfits with barrettes, braids and bows in their hair — lined up to receive certificates with their new names along with small flower bouquets from Satara district officials in Maharashtra state.
In shedding names like "Nakusa" or "Nakushi," which mean "unwanted" in Hindi, some girls chose to name themselves after Bollywood stars like "Aishwarya" or Hindu goddesses like "Savitri." Some just wanted traditional names with happier meanings, such as "Vaishali" or "prosperous, beautiful and good."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
What kind of parent would name their child “unwanted”
I cannot imagine.
One that would call a pregnancy "a problem".
Wow, that is just heartbreaking and brings tears to my eyes. What a bunch of pretty young ladies in the photograph. I cannot imagine any person being so devoid of humanity as to do that to his or her child.
Must be what they see on TV that does it.
Parents raised in a culture that considers girls a burden, sadly.
Well they seem to have a way to go on changing their cultural bias.
The new certificates that they received appears to have a picture of a little boy on the right side of the certificate.
When they take jobs with U.S. call centers they’ll be called “Alice” and “Nancy” anyway!
I’d imagine it leaves quite a mental scar on the girl.
Is “Unwanted” worse than “LaTrina”? You bee the judge!
Or Peggy!
Actually, I think it helps toughen them up for life in a rat hole of a country.
A liberal, during pregnancy.
Beg to differ. I work with lots of Indian women (software firm). They are wonderful people.
...What kind of parent would name their child “unwanted”...
Oh I don’t know, maybe a mother named Stanley?
“they are beautiful people. Except when they become “westernized.”
Must be what they see on TV that does it. “
I’ve read historical books on India before their “westernization.”
Not pretty. You got your thugs, doing random murders to please Kali. You have your useless girls being thrown into the Ganges at birth. You have your suttee. You have that stealing caste, I have forgotten their names, to please their particular god they have to steal daily. Temple prostitution of children. Deliberate maiming of children for begging purposes. Not to mention the caste system that consigned millions to slavery while elevating some to useless soft indolence. Rampant graft and corruption.
Westernization was the best thing that ever happened to that “culture,” and inasmuch as it took hold they are a lot better off.
I know so many couples who can’t conceive and go through many hassles to try to adopt children. None of those lovely Indian girls are truly unwanted when there are so many couples around with big hearts and empty arms.
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