Children or No Children?

 All families in ancient times celebrated the birth of a child with a lot of excitement. Earlier there were a hundred children in a family-like Kauravas. Then the number reduced to 10 and 20, then 5 or 6 siblings in a family, then only 1 or 2 siblings. There is a marked reduction in numbers in a family.

Now a single child is most preferred by parents because they want to give him the best. Parents cannot cope with the demands of more children and family dynamics raising more children. Earlier there were joint families, now nuclear families have become a reality.

So now the number is inverse in terms of children each family has. Is it a social phenomenon an emotional phenomenon or just the way beings evolve in different generations?

Now there are families or couples who say that they are so happy with each other that a child becomes a burden and additional responsibility in their lives.

They do not believe in extending the heritage or the culture of the family to the next generation. Yet, people who are less educated or in the rural sector still believe that they need to have more and more children.

However, people in the urban context vote for the number of children or no children at all. If I were to reflect on myself I have two children who gave a lot of pleasure, a lot of pain, a lot of demands, and expectations as parents. But I also feel that is the process of being a human and if we do not create the generation or the human being which we can nurture, foster, and bring to this world we are doing injustice to society.

Every new child that is born into the world is born with his own emotions, expectations demands, and evolves as a wonderful human being.

If we deny the world this creation we are being self-centered in just thinking about ourselves and not about what do I leave behind me to the world.

Do we visualize a world that has more animals and trees but fewer human beings?

Author:-Dr. Nayana Shah (Ph.D.)

           Director, Manthan

             Ahmedabad

Comments

  1. Sudeshna bhojiaMarch 29, 2022 at 12:06 AM

    The institution of marriage is by nature oriented towards procreation. However, to define this institution by procreation is unjust towards childless couples and couples of the same sex. The court of law also has never inquired into procreative capacity or intent before issuing a marriage license/ certificate. Fertility is neither a condition of marriage, nor a ground for divorce.
    On the collective level, procreation is needed to protect basic needs, and basic needs must be met before people can make effective use of their basic liberties. But as rightly written, there is a definite shift in priorities which is socially, economically and at times politically governed (controlled).

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 29, 2022 at 7:24 AM

    Almighty, omnipotent, powerful creature of the universe created this world with Wonderful human being. I believe if we are stopping or controlling the procreation will be injustice.. I too have 2 children but now I feel we could have excepted one more blessings of God.. Life with out children will be aimless, empty .

    ReplyDelete

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