I saw three documentaries and I’m confused now…

Few years ago I’ve seen a documentary which was based on a true story of a child custodial battle. But the battle was not between estranged spouses but it was between the father and the State. If I can remember correctly the concerned country was Ireland (but not sure). The story goes like this. Mother of the family ran away with another man. As per the law of the land, concerned department decided that father is not rich enough to care for his kids. But the bond between the dad and the kids was too strong. The guy tried his best but he could not find a job that could convince the department to hand him over his children. Then an American layer heard the plight of the father and decided to help him without any fee. They fought the State and at the end won the case. There was a quote from Bible that said ‘Nobody, not even God can snatch away the right of a father on his children’. It was such a nice story and was a victory of an individual’s right.

Few months back Australian Parliament extended a formal apology to the aboriginal people for the mistakes that the State perpetrated over an extended period of time. The matter is known as ‘Stolen Generation’. There was a political debate but the ruling party went ahead with its apology. It was a triumph of individuals over the State. Australians are remarkably brave in the sense that they acknowledged the wrong done in past and took steps to amend the same. So what I want to point out is that the right of individual is supreme and the State can’t interfere.

I saw a documentary last evening and it was about children in red light district of Kolkata, India. The name of the documentary is ‘Born into Brothels’. It was quite interesting to see that an American woman fighting for the forgotten children and trying to rescue them from the hell. Some of these children won photographic prizes and she managed to put them into schools with great difficulty. But few years later most of these children were back to where they belong. In most of the cases the reason for their inability to continue studies was parental pressure. Parents can’t just realize that a brothel is not the right place for kids. Parents love is unconditional. But they are blind in that love. When those little girls reach the ‘sellable’ age, they will be an object for men. How far a man can degrade to use a woman as an object of desire? Just for few minutes of pleasure man can shatter a life. But I hate those mothers and fathers whose blind love is responsible for the plight of those small girls. What is their life? What is love for them? What is their world? What is their right? When a thirteen years old prostitute stands in front of a mirror, what will she see? Is it her reflection? She should be a free spirit exploring the world at that age. But here she is just a living dead.

Well, the point I’m trying to make is whether the future of a child has to be solely decided by his/her parents? Can the State and community be a silent spectator? Are we doing justice to the child? No. Then where to draw the line? I don’t know. I’m asking myself this question since yesterday but I’m yet to find an answer. By giving three examples I just wanted to find an answer, which is still eluding me.

Further Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_generation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_into_Brothels

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388789/