In a nation like India where a birth of a girl child is still considered as a curse and a burden, the high-esteemed Bachchan family welcomed Aishwarya Rai's baby girl with open arms. So when Bollywood's first family gave such huge preference to Ash's female child, they might have given a huge fillip to the girl child.
After Aishwarya gave birth to her daughter last week, grandpa Amitabh Bachchan tweeted, "Goddess Lakshmi has come to our home and we have brought home Lakshmi ratan”. Earlier, during Aishwarya's pregnancy, hubby Abhishek Bachchan expressed his desire for a daughter. Also, granny Jaya Bachchan wished to have a granddaughter. This shows that an elite class of our nation is heading towards prosperity by giving more preference to female kid rather than a male one.
But what about the rest of India? Son preference is a well-documented phenomenon in India, with a report saying an estimated 500,000 female foetuses are aborted in the country every year. The nation's thought have not yet changed. Hence, the elite Indian families like the Bachchans can increase awareness since they are overwhelmed to have a baby girl in their home.
"Most of the time when celebrities of high stature like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan or Shabana Azmi promote a social campaign, it becomes the movement of new India as people start following them. Let's hope that Abhishek and Ash's baby girl creates the positive influence on all those families who are against the birth of the girl child," said Meghna Rao who runs an NGO called Breakthrough.
"It might change the way people welcome the baby girl in India and I am hopeful that she will also change the rude attitude of people," she added.
Source:http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2011/aishwarya-rai-daughter-awareness-girl-child-231111.html