A cultural do for the girl child

Shovana Narayan presented a Kathak ballet, “Call of the Womb,” based on a poem “Ladli” by Uday Pratap Singh, poet and former MP.
Talking about “Ladli – Do Anubhav,” Shovana said her presentation is about two aspects. She said in a certain strata of society the girl child is considered a burden and her own feelings are given no importance. “So I’m talking from the woman’s point of view– about what she feels.As she grows up she finds her life has changed, the little hands that once played with dolls, now wield the chakki, it gives her the feeling as though her whole life is being ground away. And she also thinks about the next generation and whether she wants her child to go through the same experiences that she has undergone, or through those emotions or dreams of hers that were stifled.”
The danseuse added, “But at the same time if there is no stree Shakti, there is no perpetuation of life.”
She pointed out that art is a very potent medium to reach out to the emotions of the people and therefore is a great tool to spread awareness about issues like female foeticide.
KG Balakrishnan, former chief justice of India, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said, “Sex selection and a skewed sex ratio were symptoms of gender inequality,” while adding that the demographic imbalance between men and women in any society had far reaching social and economic implications.
Kiran Sharma of World Health Organisation informed that the child sex ratio from 1961 to 2000 had constantly declined in India. She pointed out that sex selective abortions were widespread in the country and were linked to the availability of services.
The issue can be addressed through an integrated approach — strict law enforcement, mass awareness, empowerment of women and helping them
be in control of their bodies, she said, while adding female foeticide was not only a social issue, but was also about rights.
Uday Pratap Singh rued that female foeticide was a sin that was being committed by educated sections of society too.
Even though the evening was devoted to an issue, it was art and culture that drew many to the evening. Said Mrinalini Vasudevan, a JNU student, who had come with two of her friends that she wanted to attend a cultural event and when she got to know that Kathak danseuse Shovana would be performing, she decided to attend it.
Promona Sen Gupta, a student from the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, said that she often sees cultural events. It’s good to raise issues like female foeticide through artistic endeavours, said Ria Basu, another student, while adding youngsters were quite interested in cultural activities, especially performing arts. Many young people attended the cultural evening for the sheer love of dance like Magda Niernsee, a student of Kathak, who came with a friend, Basia.
Pooja Gupta, a student of Jesus and Marry College said that art gives strength to such causes, while adding that it was the issue that drew her to the evening.
Besides, the Kathak ballet, Kumud Diwan gave a thumri presentation. The event was organised by the ASG Chandra Foundation, where its president SK Agrawal, honoured people from various fields including doctors for their work against female foeticide.
On this occasion, SK Goel, director general, ICCR was the guest of honour.