This is the twentieth century, not only have we as a country
conquered space but we also are vehemently moving forward in becoming a
towering economic entity. India is slowly transforming herself from her
identity as a third world country for whom the only strength is her numbers to
a progressive personality that is edging her way to the big boy table.
All is good in the
hood that is, till a actor Arjun Rampal
posts a very loving photo of his and his pregnant better half. What is so shocking about a woman being
pregnant ? the fact that she is not married to the man.
Flashback to the eighties and nineties bollywood movies,
where a unwed mother brought all kinds of hell raining down on the woman from being
pushed into flesh trade, to living a life of obscurity to being stoned by the
community. What has changed after nearly three decades? nothing . Just the medium of abuse.
While the Bollywood community shared their joy for Actor Arjun Rampal and his girlfriend Gabriella
Demetriades the couple was stoned with
words of contempt from the people on social media. The same words and same thoughts which molded
our society a few decades ago once again rear their pointed spears to inflict wounds
on a couple for a choice that is very personal.
The constant refrain is of our culture being tarnished by a
unwed mother and a love child. The comments follow in thousands and they are
that of absolute horror. I don’t see that horror expressed on stories about
gang rapes, sexual abuse of children, dowry death or forced prostitution. All
these incidences are accepted as a norm, something that happens so often that
it does not warrant a comment. These incidences
do not tarnish our social fabric. But a child brought into this world by a
couple who is competent enough to take care of their baby is simply not acceptable.
There are thousands of children in India who are living a
miserable life because their parents have not given a single thought to their
needs before bringing them into this
world. Like animals they are bred and left to fend for themselves. Some parents
find themselves not being able to commit to the parenthood but cannot accept
the fact because being parents is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world. These children live a life of neglect, does
society care ? no these children are
ignored because that is life.
A couple who is in love and who is fully committed to
bringing up the child in the best way possible is not ignored. They are hated
because even though the emotions are in place, responsibility and mental
ability is in place the most important thing is not. A legal paper that says
the word marriage.
