indian parents mutilating their children

mindi

A thought that arose during reading the "Do you give one pen?" topic. I have repeatedly heard it said that parents deliberately cut off arms and legs of their babies so that they will be more effective beggars. I don't have much medical knowledge, but I wonder how they would go about doing this. In my understanding there are major veins and arteries that would cause the child to bleed to death, unless the procedure was carried out in a surgery. Is this idea just another example of Westerners' misunderstanding of how much Indian parents value their children, or is there something I am missing?

Dr Funkenstein

I've been wondering this, too, mindi.

It has all the trappings of an urban myth, imo. Does anyone have any real evidence that this hideous practice actually goes on?

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beach

It’s a difficult question to answer.
Could be true, but a bit unbelievable. I’ve heard of stories of poor parents ‘leasing’ children for begging. There were reports of children abducted for begging. Sharks rarely attack humans. But when they do it creates unprecedented news and panic.

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Sadhu

I have never heard of limbs being cut off, but I have heard of intentional disfigurement. For example, taking a baby and binding their limbs so they will grow incorrectly. I have seen beggars in Delhi who appeared as though their legs hade been 'turned around' at the hip. Their knees pointed the opposite way, and they walked with their hands on the ground, and their feet pointing more or less back. I have seen this more than once, and I do not think I was seeing the same person more than one time. Disturbing is the only way to describe it.

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Alan D

In response to the OP I would say this happens very rarely, if at all. What kind of parent could mutilate their own child?

Leasing children off to workmasters, especially by poor families, does happen, e g the carpet business and sometimes children are kidnapped and forced into organised begging

I would guess that most children with deformities one sees were born like this or suffered a serious accident.

wonderwomanusa

The same kind that could abort or kill (or sell to brothels) their girl children.

Dr Funkenstein

Wonderwoman -

You equate someone that's had to terminate a pregnancy with someone that would deliberately mutilate their child for financial gain.

Are you serious about this?

(Waaaaaay off topic I know, folks. Apologies but I'd like to hear ww's views)

dreamsyndicate

Reading the above, an indian (american native) proverb came to mind, even considering the horrible.
If it happens, it wouldn't happen if they (the parents) were as rich as we are,
i think everybody agrees on that .

"Don't judge any person until you have walked two moons in his moccasins."

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Dayglowhamster

dreamsyndicate - damn fine response!!!!!!! You can judge an action with ease BUT a person - nope, that's not so easy.

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DianeN.

A lot of children are born with orthopedic diformaties--but are corrected by wearing leg braces and/or surgery. My friend's son was born with his feet facing the wrong way and a huge clef palate. Because of the wonderful medical care (free from the Shriner's Hospital in the USA) you would never know now looking at this young teenager that he started life out in a hideous manner. He was lucky. If he had been born into a poor family in a different country perhaps he would have been destined to be a begger, rather than the comedian he hopes to become. Perhaps some people would take pity on him and give him a few easily spared pennies. Or perhaps others with look at him with contempt and blame his parents for binding his legs as a child. Whatever people believe does not matter--because the truth exists. And whatever people believe will not change the fact that he would not have been able to walk or to have access to a better life.

His situation was a congenital defect--meaning that it was completely up to chance. But imagine in a country where poor nutrition and poor (non-existent) prenatal care exists...the posibilities of giving birth to a "less than perfect" human are far greater.

I find it hard to believe that parents deliberately mutilate their children to benefit the family fortune. I don't want to believe that I think that most parents, no matter how poor or desperate, or how rich and proud, love their children and want to protect them to the extent of their own ability. (of course there are exceptions to parental love--we all hear stories of hienious treatment of children in every culture)

Perhaps child mutilation does exist, but I would rather believe that if a child does have a deformity it is the result of that chance of birth rather than the parents' greed. Or perhaps the child has lost is parents and is at the mercy of an unscrupulous begger master.

Is it an "urban legend" to make us feel more comfortable with our "well deserved" wealth?

just wondering..................

Diane

Tomi

Unfortunately, Diane, I don't think it is an urban legend, and I can't see how it could possibly make anyone feel comfortable. I should hope not. But I don't have any first or second hand knowledge of it.

What I do have a friend's account of, and it was in Hong Kong many years ago, was a woman holding her child upside down by a leg and shaking him until the tourist she was following (an acquaintance of mine) gave her money to stop. People will do the weirdest and most violent things when in need. Perhaps these are not good people to begin with, but even well-bred well-off people have killed children and resorted to cannibalism when desperate, so it's not just the poor and ignorant.

I also know of one woman who borrows children to beg right here in the Boston area. And she's not destitute; she's well-dressed and rides a 10-speed bike.

wonderwomanusa

I would equate someone who aborts a female child in favor of trying again for a male child with someone who might mutilate their child, yes.

That is not HAD TO TERMINATE.

SHIMLA

I would equate someone knowingly aborting a female child, with a murderer.

The punishment should be no less for such criminals.

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breeb

Slightly off topic, but has anyone heard of the Rat children/people. Is this one just an urban myth?

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