Married at 11, a mom by 14: Growing up and raising a family at the same time

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

Jan. 21, 2013: Krishna, 14, poses with her four-month-old baby Alok and husband Kishan Gopal, 16, inside the living room of their house in a village near Baran, Rajasthan.

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

Jan. 21, 2013: Gopal Kishan plays with baby Alok.

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters, file

May 16, 2010: Then-13-year-old Kishan Gopal, right, returns home with his 11-year-old newlywed wife Krishna, left, in a village near Kota, Rajasthan.

Reuters photographer Danish Siddiqui first met Krishna and Kishan Gopal on their wedding day, May 16, 2010. The groom was 13 years old, his bride just 11.

The legal age for marriage in India is 18 but weddings like theirs are common, especially in poor, rural areas where girls in particular are married off young.

Siddiqui has been visiting the young couple at their home in the desert state of Rajasthan every year since they were married, documenting the changes in their relationship and their surroundings. In a post on Reuters' Photographers Blog, he takes up the story:

When I went to their house last week I was greeted by the loud wailing of a baby. It was their four-month-old son Alok, which means enlightenment in Hindi. Last year when I visited them, I learned that Krishna, the child bride, was seven months pregnant. I wasn't surprised at all but out of curiosity I asked Gopal, her husband, why he was in such a hurry to expand the family. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Nothing else to do, no work, life is so boring." I was a bit taken aback.

Those like me who live in big cities plan meticulously before taking the plunge into parenthood. And here this teenager was telling me that he wanted to have a child and risk his young wife’s life because of boredom. That, again, is a different India.

When I visited, I was happy that the parents, their family and even the neighbors were enjoying the presence of the little boy. Gopal told me that his wife was nearly on her deathbed after the delivery last year and her being alive now is nothing less than a miracle.

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters, file

July 17, 2012: Gopal Kishan, then aged 15, listens to songs on his mobile phone as his father looks on at their soybean field on the outskirts of his village.

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

Jan. 21, 2013: Krishna sits with her four-month-old baby Alok outside her house.

When I asked the 14-year-old mother if she’s happy she had a baby boy, Krishna nodded her head and said, "I wanted a girl but its okay now." I was surprised by her response, as most people in both Indian cities and villages prefer boys over girls who they see as assets as opposed to girls who they consider liabilities or dependents.

During my visit, I noticed that 17-year-old Gopal had changed in the last couple of years. He started consuming alcohol a lot.

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

Jan. 21, 2013: Gopal Kishan drinks liquor at a roadside restaurant on the outskirts of his village.

He hasn't got any work, as even the soybean fields which his family owns are not that fertile now. The water level in their fields has gone down, resulting in irrigation problems. This time when I was in the village, Krishna broke down after her husband came home drunk and was trying to carry the baby. She was scared Gopal might drop his son.

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

Jan. 21, 2013: Krishna breaks down after her husband came home drunk.

I stayed with the couple for a day and then took them out of the village to shoot some portraits. It was the first time in four months that Krishna was stepping out.

I took the opportunity to ask Gopal about his future plans. He told me that for his family's survival he needs to move out of the village and try to find some work in the city. When I asked him if he plans to have another baby he told me his first experience was scary enough for him and his wife.

As I left the small village, the only thing which bothered me was the future of four-month old Alok. Would he go down the same route his parents took or would he bend societal norms to carve a separate path for himself and his future partner?

Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

July 17, 2012: Krishna, then aged 13, stands with Kishan Gopal, then 15, inside a newly constructed room at her house.

For more visit the Reuters' Photographers Blog.

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Discuss this post

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How very sad........no, tragic.

  • 37 votes
Reply#1 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:22 PM EST

Tragic is truly the word for it.

I didn't even like boys when I was 11, and would never have left home to marry one. I cannot imagine forcing one of my children to marry before or at the age of puberty.

  • 27 votes
#1.1 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:00 AM EST

Did anyone notice how cute the baby is though?

  • 9 votes
#1.2 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:58 AM EST

True on all observances. 11 years of age is too young to marry, and as the story shows, the husband is also too young to be a parent.

RajPhilD is right too. The baby is adorable, as babies tend to be.

  • 13 votes
#1.3 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:57 AM EST

It's really depressing to see that this girl has been put into this situation and that the boy has no idea what to do. He's only basing his life on his example likely set by his father. It'll be an endless cycle.

  • 12 votes
#1.4 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:36 AM EST

this is so-o distorted !!! this is probaly common practice in this area-like many things in many countries -they are not all like the us where we put our girls on dangerous bith control hormones-its not like our kids don't have sex- most just abort them!!!!as a former pregnancy conselor i know!!

  • 3 votes
#1.5 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:14 PM EST
Ook Ook Jonesvia FacebookDeleted

Nancee, I'm a little surprised you were a pregnancy counselor but can't spell the job title. Are you sure you weren't just volunteering for some religion-based anti-abortion organization? I have never heard of anyone in the know who thought it would be safer for a 13-year-old to give birth than to take bcps or have an abortion.

I sincerely hope this baby will grow up to have better prospects than his parents have.

  • 6 votes
#1.7 - Sun Feb 3, 2013 1:49 AM EST

How very sad........no, tragic.

Yes, but this is how most of the world lives: Married very young, having children when they are still children, no education, no work, drinking to excess out of boredom.

In our country, we can and must do better than that!

We must remember that childhood is a precious and all-too-short time, and not hurry our kids to grow up and have sexual relationships and children before they are prepared for those responsibilities.

Of course the baby is cute, but it is not healthy for mother or child for a young teenager to give birth. She almost died. The children of such young mothers are not as healthy as children born after the mother is fully grown, around age 18.

Having children so young consigns a girl to a life of ignorance and poverty, which in turn lowers the standard of livng for society in general.

Ook Ook...you might want to consider that, but for the grace of God, there go you. We are more fortunate but we are not better than the inhabitants of the Third World. Your attitude starts wars.

  • 2 votes
#1.8 - Mon Feb 4, 2013 9:32 AM EST

Many Americans would find problem with this story because it is not American culture. Plus Americans blast any culture that is not based on American ideaology. But those type of marriages are outlasting American marriages.

    #1.9 - Wed Feb 6, 2013 3:34 PM EST
    Reply

    Hmmmm. Dirt poor but he has a cell phone that is more advanced than mine and has the money for alcohol!

    • 51 votes
    #2 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:50 PM EST
    Comment author avatarJERSY GIRL 1Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

    It is probably an Obama phone.

    • 21 votes
    #2.1 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:10 AM EST

    He has a good cell phone because they are cheap outside America and the service is paid for as needed by refilling the time on the "sim" card, in real countries people are not raped by "service providers". The Alcohol was almost certainly homemade and very cheap which is its draw. As for the hater of Mr. President Obama, you can tell from the name the large white cow thinks country is music(wrong) and actually believes the lies Fox News spreads with every word they utter.

    • 30 votes
    #2.2 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:59 PM EST

    JERSY, can you be any more vacuous? I'm sure you stood in line to get your free Bush phone, though...

    • 21 votes
    #2.3 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:02 AM EST

    Scott, why are you providing excuses for the culture that this reporter is exploiting? No matter what, the kid is dirt poor and is not working, yet he found the money to buy a phone when he needs to feed himself and his premature family. THAT is a demonstration that this kid's priorities are NOT right in any culture and has succumb to the same social ills that every nation develops: When the chips are down and life is hard, a majority of people will either flock to their religion or the bottle or both. He chose the bottle, regardless of where it came from.

    Clearly, this kid and this family is @!$%#ed for the present being...

    • 9 votes
    #2.4 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:54 PM EST

    InspiredByHumanity, you are just as screwed up as Scotty if you think that a lack of religion will help out people as well, sir. The Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, World War II, the Spanish Civil War, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the wars that China had after World War II, among MANY other examples in history, have shown that a lack of religion is just as damaging as an inclusion OF religion in the lives of people. In short, people are dimwits that need a deeper purpose of living than what they have now in their lives.

    However, as for you, Debora-389330, when you say that you were 11 and did not have any attraction to boys, you were thinking that a. boys were gross, b. boys were immature, c. that you feel more mature than boys simply because you were a girl, or d. because of all of the above, you felt that you had the right to become just as much of a sexist pig as a boy and only like girls. I have encountered all of the above before and I put people into their place for their attitudes in their lives and I will not hesitate to do the same thing to you. I find out that people that think this way are indeed very stupid, sexist, misogynistic, arrogant, and elitist jerks that fail to recognize that this is the inevitable end for us as adults in the real world. Furthermore, our schools fail to teach us four things that need to be taught in our lives and they are a moral foundation upon the REAL principles of the Holy Trinity, b. about having authentic relationships with people in this world, c. teaching us how to have street smarts, and d. how to actualy become adults.

    Finally, with all of that being said, CaerRaven is right that this kind of mindset is rather cyclical in nature and it is only augmented all the more due to cultural acceptance of the poverty and lack of opportunity in this part of the world. What is needed is what I had mentioned along with actual educational opportunities and the ability to train people in the matters of the real world. When that happens, we can get somewhere in our lives.

    • 2 votes
    #2.5 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:25 PM EST

    truthteller-

    I will have to agree and disagree. A lot can be said about the fundamentals that during the wars in which you cite that it was a strong Judeo-Christian foundation has led to "right" defeating "wrong" over the years. The phrase, "There are no atheists in foxholes." comes to mind. Where you cite the periods of war (because it IS easy to do so; I would do the same), the same can be said about the periods of peace. When fascism and imperialism attempted world domination, it was Judeo-Christians that stepped up to defeat them. Afterwards, during reconciliation and reconstruction, we have advanced society to epic levels that cannot be said by those that succumb to just the bottle. We leveraged Christianity like never before in the battle to defeat the atheists known as Communism. Some believe that the C.I.A. stood for the Christian Insurance Agency- a moniker for their intent on defeating the spread of Communism during the 1950s and 1960s.
    I would argue that the more a country diversifies and tries to integrate their nation the more it becomes divisive and fragmented to the point of dissolution. A classic example would be the Roman Empire. Whenever they defeated a nation or region, they would integrate them into their empire and in the end it became their undoing. Granted it took them something like 2000 years or so to destroy their empire, it still happened.
    The same thing can be said of the U.S. except our lines of communication are MUCH quicker because of the Internet and social medias. The more progressive and political correctness coupled with high-speed communications will speed up the destruction of this country and the foundations we built upon it some 230 yrs ago. I would be surprised if the U.S. could last another 70 years.

    But back to Haji (aka Kishan). I was referring to his early adoption of alcohol as a vice to deal with the social woes he helped create. Where as someone of his age should have learned the values, morals, and beliefs to nurture his faith, he opted for a 'cheaper' yet harder way of life. Some people do indeed lean on their faith to get them over the hump when times are difficult and when times get better, they praise their god and say god was testing them and it was a testament of their faith that got through the tough times. The beautiful thing about faith is, no matter what the test, no matter what the burden, and no matter what the vices you adopt to cope with them, when you finally DO come back to your religion, your religion will always be there to accept you back into the flock.

    I'm rambling, sir; perhaps I am as screwed up as Scotty...

    Cheers!
    :-)

    • 1 vote
    #2.6 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:38 PM EST

    truthteller-

    PS: One more thing, these people DO need more actual educational opportunities and the ability to train people in the matter of the real world.

    Whose job is that? The U.S.??? We cannot even fund our own people to go to college, let alone feed them, or employ them. Before we go about fixing the ills of society in other countries, we need to fix the roof, the doors and windows, and the pipes in this old house first and foremost.

    Cheers!

    • 11 votes
    #2.7 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:57 PM EST

    There is no 'Obama phone'. Please get informed.

    • 12 votes
    #2.8 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:53 AM EST

    There is. I work with two people that have them, in fact. They also get free service, free medical care, free daycare for their multiple children and a check gift wrapped from the American taxpayers.

    Betty, please lay off the kool-aid.

    • 12 votes
    #2.9 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:36 AM EST

    Chris, all of that stuff has been available for years. Obama didn't 'invent' that stuff. It's just been put on his back by those that lump their ideals into a group and call the other side bad. No doubt this president didn't do a danged thing to reduce it (in fact he did make things worse) but he didn't 'start' it by any means. Go back a few administrations.

    • 8 votes
    #2.10 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:01 PM EST

    sorry randoo- you need to read more and get better informed-you dont go from -community organizer[they give away gov money,qual people for free bees ect he doesnt know the 1st thing about gov!!!since the lib demo s couldnt get lib gore in ,they added the race card!!

    • 3 votes
    #2.11 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:57 PM EST

    No Nancee you to get more informed, it was a group of Republicans that implemented this program under President Regan and was called the lifeline program. It was updated under President George W. Bush. These programs are gone.The one you are talking about now has nothing to do with the president.Low-income households have been eligible for discounted telephone service for more than a decade. But the program is funded by telecom companies, not by taxes, and the president has nothing to do with it.

    • 10 votes
    #2.12 - Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:06 PM EST

    InspiredByHumanity

    Scott, why are you providing excuses for the culture that this reporter is exploiting? No matter what, the kid is dirt poor and is not working, yet he found the money to buy a phone when he needs to feed himself and his premature family. THAT is a demonstration that this kid's priorities are NOT right in any culture and has succumb to the same social ills that every nation develops: When the chips are down and life is hard, a majority of people will either flock to their religion or the bottle or both. He chose the bottle, regardless of where it came from.

    Clearly, this kid and this family is @!$%#ed for the present being...

    But u make no comment on the negative comment provided by laura ??? Scott simply stated a likely truth just as laura made obvious innuendos which i believe are true. As u said, he's a kid. Most kids don't have any priorities. He at least said something correct. He has to get out of the environment he's in cause there's no future in it in its present state.

    And then inspired, there are those when life is good give praise to the lord. As for those who only ask for god's help only when their down, no wonder why they don't hear from him. How would u feel if i came to you only when i'm broke ?

    • 1 vote
    #2.13 - Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:20 PM EST

    Maggiemay, you need a dose of reality for yourself.

    LifeLine is a program mandated by the US Government which requires telecom companies to levy a tax upon all of it's rate paying customers which is pooled to offset the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) aka Landline service for low income homes. This program was originally designed to grant at a extremely reduced rate telephone service within a 30 mile radius and access to the then new 911 system.

    You are correct that the President has nothing to do with LifeLine.

    -BUT-

    With the high numbers of households (like mine) who elect cell coverage and do not have landline installed, the President's program to supply communications to the entire nation, affectionately referred to as 'dem Obama Phones' by Debra Mowery (who has notoriety on YouTube, and admitted recently she was a paid Obama campaign activist/worker, Obama is forcing telecoms to use the LifeLine funds to fund the "stand in line get a free cell phone AND airtime" program.

    • 2 votes
    #2.14 - Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:37 AM EST

    The phones are actually funded by taxes paid on phone plans, so the telecom companies may be the collector of the money, but they do not pay for the phones. Anyone who works to make money to pay for their own phone pays for the free phones.

    • 1 vote
    #2.15 - Mon Feb 4, 2013 3:07 PM EST

    It is amazing that no matter what news article is presented, after a few comments, it turns to politics and race. This is about a young family in India. Yet, now all comments are about who pays for so called "Obama Phones". Amazing!

      #2.16 - Wed Feb 6, 2013 3:39 PM EST

      DEWEE-
      I blame it on MSNBC.com

        #2.17 - Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:01 PM EST
        Reply
        Comment author avatarpained1Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

        I just hope we can import them all over here and change our ways to accommodate theirs

        • 9 votes
        Reply#3 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:21 PM EST

        Sure why not , lets give more of our tax dollars away to take care of everyone else outside of the usa, while we snub our nose at those we do need to help in the USA

        • 10 votes
        #3.1 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:21 PM EST

        Good idea accommodate in your home, contact them in fill the papers for support them whit you salary !

        • 1 vote
        #3.2 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:39 AM EST
        Reply

        Yes, it seems as if the poor in India prioritize the same as in America. The cell phone is a necessity, the alcohol we know is not. So sad to see that at 17 he is bored with life and drinking too much already.

        • 11 votes
        Reply#4 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:36 PM EST

        Don't generalize. This is one case, this is one man. There is no welfare in India, so everyone HAS to work----or starve.

        People work or go to school six days a week.

        Farmers have a very hard life.

        • 14 votes
        #4.1 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:05 PM EST

        In some areas in Africa is worst ! I remeber read here wht africans sell their daugthers very young to olders mens to married her in exchange to keep alive the use of their cell phons, every year thei have a new kid in diferent wifes for the purpose of sell later the girl for the news have 18 brothers and sisters in diferents womans...

        • 1 vote
        #4.2 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:16 PM EST

        Don't generalize? Then why did this reporter exploit this family? Why share this sad story to us if this is not the way it is in India? I know all about the caste society that country perpetuates, so why not generalize?

        • 1 vote
        #4.3 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:34 PM EST

        In numerous ways, many have imposed a caste system in the US. Take a good look.

        • 6 votes
        #4.4 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:43 PM EST

        InspiredByHumanity

        Don't generalize? Then why did this reporter exploit this family? Why share this sad story to us if this is not the way it is in India? I know all about the caste society that country perpetuates, so why not generalize?

        Cause it leads to negative sterotyping of people which americans are so good at.

        • 2 votes
        #4.5 - Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:24 PM EST

        You could be right Michael. Do you think the hard working, tax paying, law abiding white families are now at the bottom of the caste system? No Obama phones for that group of Americans!!!! Anybody know how much tax payer money was WASTED on inauguration parties?????? Unfortunately many, many Americans will be in a similar situation as this young family if we don't close the front and back doors of America and take care of our own problems and our own people!!!!!

          #4.6 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 8:44 PM EST
          Reply

          I agree with Optomyst, this is tragic! Why do people in third world countries have kids and can't afford to care for them? Poor excuse he was bored. He cares nothing about the mother or the child. He was just bored. Sad that women around the world can't get it together like women in america and stop this type of abuse. I have no sympathy for them. There are too many of them and they need to stand up against this type of abuse. I feel so sorry for the children. Then they expect countries like ours to help them. I just wish I was next to him to hit him up side the head! They are both stupid! My four year old grandkid has more sense. He's not bored!

          • 9 votes
          #5 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:57 PM EST

          KLuib, when you are poor and live in a country with no pension or social services, you must have children or no one will take care of you when you are old and you will simply starve to death. And you need to have several, because you can be sure that at least a few will die before they grow up. Plus running a household in a poor country is a lot of work...once the kids get to be 5 or 6, they can start shouldering household responsibilities.

          You need wealth and reasonable security in order to be able to limit your family size.

          • 17 votes
          #5.1 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:17 PM EST

          India does not get aid.

          • 3 votes
          #5.2 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:05 PM EST

          KLuib

          Why do people in third world countries have kids and can't afford to care for them?

          Certainly not for the same reason they do it here. The major difference is that in "third world countries" they get married first. That wouldn't work here ... as soon as the husband got a job the welfare payments would end.

          • 11 votes
          #5.3 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:17 PM EST

          There is no free public education in India's rural areas, no social services, and itinerant if any healthcare...like birth control. Women and girls outside of affluent areas are often not valued beyond their ability to have children and keep a home and usually have little or no choice as to what they can do with their life. Female infanticide is still a common practice and it was once estimated that 99% of all abortions performed in India are for sex-selection even though that reason is prohibited by law. Laws prohibiting violent crime against girls and women are rarely enforced much less prosecuted and when they are the judicial system seldom gives more than the merest slap on the wrist to the offenders while penalizing the hell out of the victims.

          And before anyone sticks their noses up in the air and thinks America is too civilized to let these things happen here, keep in mind that there are lawmakers trying to repeal domestic violence and rape laws that heve been constructed over many decades to protect women, not to mention efforts to repeal equality laws which give women and girls the right to equal opportunities in education, athletics, careers, public service, business ownership and employment, and home ownership, as well as equal standing in a court of law.

          And let's not forget those special Neaderthals trying to deny women and couples access to birth control on so-called religious grounds, because God forbid that a woman or a couple have any right to determine when and how many children they want to have and regardless of whether or not they can afford to have children at the time.

          • 31 votes
          #5.4 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:18 AM EST

          "Been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding"

          • 15 votes
          #5.5 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:38 AM EST

          Allison, your post is filled with so much leftist propoganda I don't even know where to start, nor do I have all day to refute all your nonsense. Besides everything else, NO ONE is trying to take away your birth control. YOU are the "neanderthal" if you really believe that. Perhaps you should try educating yourself instead of letting other people do your thinking for you as you apparently do. Many conservatives have a problem with being forced to PAY for OTHER people's birth control. It is not everyone else's responsbility to pay for YOUR birth control. It is YOUR responsibility.

          • 15 votes
          #5.6 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:37 PM EST

          Poverty,yes,he has a cell phone,and has money to buy alcoholl,his very young wife does not look happy at all,what a sad Life,I can not picture myself living like that,but then again it's a culture abusive to girls!

          • 4 votes
          #5.7 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:00 AM EST

          mens and womans are in this cultural trap, live in a open cage. The woman and especiale the men don't need marrie and have a childrens so young, why they did't ? sure don't know, just is cultural thing, and them CAN THING in other options, licke chanching this crazynes, and this go in on, in on for generations...

          • 1 vote
          #5.8 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:45 AM EST

          not much different than our country,except the single moms here get married to welfare instead of the dads

          • 7 votes
          #5.9 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:34 PM EST

          Hasn't India been under the colonial umbrella for at least a hundred years? This is caused by the leaders of this country ignoring their populace for wealth and Bollywood.

          • 3 votes
          #5.10 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:55 PM EST

          Grilledcheesesandwich (great user name by the way!) You took the words right out of my mouth with comments for Allison and the others who expect those who work hard, take care of themselves and their families, still have to be stuck with paying for you and all your expenses as well. Grow up, get a job, and quit depending on everyone else to take care of you and your family from birth to the grave. You have acesss to all the birth control that you want (free to you thanks to my tax dollars) and their is a thing called abstinence that doesn't cost anyone a single penny. And I do have every right in the world to preach to you about when you can have children, how many, etc as long as I am paying for them with my hard earned money. Once you take own the responsibility and can afford all of that on your own, then you can certainly do as you please. I, for one, am tired for paying for your birth control, your abortions, your food stamps (that are mostly used on things other than for what was intended), your housing, and your children (which you just continue to have more so you can get more of MY money from the government. I worked to put myself through college to earn a degree and make a decent living and now I am giving away a greater % now than ever (thanks to Obamacare and my raise in taxes , that President Obama, swore he wasn't going to do). I give to many charities and I truly believe in my Christian values to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. That is what Jesus asked of us and believe it also is my social responsibility to care for those who are not as fortunate..... but not the # of people in our federal aide programs who are just looking for handouts so they do not have to work the 12 hours days I do. Have you ever thought what it would be like to work 5 or 6 days a week, even 8 hours a day at a job and then looking at your paycheck to see how much of that hard earned money you just made is gone to someone who does not NEED IT..... Try it sometime and see how you feel about your comments then.

          • 5 votes
          #5.11 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 6:44 PM EST

          grilledcheesesandwich and gsp2, I honestly can not add anything more to the epic level of truth that you two have said here to Allison. She truly is a sub-protozoa for believing in such sick and barbaric practices as abortion (read legalized murder), euthanasia, and population control. Abstinence is the ONLY way to stop such things and to women, if a man tries to rape you (or a woman), then you have many of these things called weapons, which can range from a kitchen knife to an assault rifle, and this other group of things called fighting styles. Self-defense is a good idea, girls, so why not try it when some big jerk tries to have their way with you? You all have brains, so why not prevent yourselves from becoming insults to humanity and learn to fight the jerks off of you that do these things to women, and ditto for the men who deal with crazy women and men that try to rape them, too.

          • 1 vote
          #5.12 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:33 PM EST

          It is a little hard to defend yourself when you are in a bus and seven or so dudes hold you down and take turns raping you...It's even harder after they are done and they use a foreign object to impale you; inserted into the vagina and worked into the abdominal cavity. When you lose blood you feel faint and weak. Granted this is not a normal size bus we are used to; call it instead an oversized minivan. But if that is considered the norm for 'public' transportation in India, what else is she going to ride in? It is far more than that when there are societal ills that are pervasive enough to motivate a group of men to inflict that type of harm to a woman who wasn't asking to get raped.

          I only hope that the death of that woman serves as a watershed event to give her life some meaning and I hope that her raping and the death at the hands of those monsters was a one time event...DOUBTFUL.

          Again, I am rambling...Back to Allison...

          Allison-
          Do yourself a favor and drop out of the classes you are currently in at college and join the military to get a real education. The military is a diverse and tolerant society but they have a different mindset than the propaganda those liberals are teaching you in school. You'll get to see the world in a different light and understand real quick that the people that you want to help so badly is actually not appreciative of you being there and will do everything to kill you if they could. They might shake your hand with their right hand but they have a knife behind your back in their left hand.
          You want to be treated equally with men? Wear a uniorm and you will fit right in and you will have access to as much birth control as you want to include the same level of educational benefits as the men in uniform.
          Otherwise, learn to take a hot load in the mouth; you won't have to worry about pregnancy so much.

          • 4 votes
          #5.13 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:16 PM EST

          She truly is a sub-protozoa for believing in such sick and barbaric practices as abortion (read legalized murder), euthanasia, and population control.

          Interesting, because I didn't see anywhere where she promoted the idea that any of these things were okay. Saying that is what happens is not saying it is okay. You're putting words in her mouth.

          God you people are tiresome bores.

          • 6 votes
          #5.14 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:39 PM EST

          For those who think that paying for birth control is so bad...I find it a lot better to pay for birth control and prevent unwanted pregnancies and limit abortions than to pay for the aftermath of all that. Saving a nickel to spend a dollar doesn't make fiscal sense.

          • 5 votes
          #5.15 - Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:53 PM EST
          Reply

          I'm just disheartened by everyone's comments on here. Who are any of you to judge them??? Let he who is without fault throw the first stone. .....*silence* We all say/do jacked up things at one point or another in our lives. These people are teenagers. You show me one person period, let alone a teenager, who has everything figured out and is doing what they're supposed to do without a guardian to force them to do it and I'll show you a lie. You all sound quite ignorant as well, just for the record. Hopefully your comments DON'T reflect your hearts. Love, Janien

          • 13 votes
          Reply#6 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:12 PM EST

          To all the ignorant westerners posting here: Looks around your neighborhoods, I'm sure you have teenaged girls having kids out of wedlock. At least these two Indians had the desency to get married before having kids. How many kids in North America/Europe are born out of wedlock? I bet a lot more than in India. As Janien3 said, who are you to judge these people? They are not depending on your tax dollars? Also, cellphones are way, way cheaper in India then in the west, that is why the kid has one. Also, Indian liquor is way cheaper than western brand in India. Rant over.

          • 17 votes
          Reply#7 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:30 PM EST

          My understanding is that there isn't the "hard line" phone infrastructure in India, that we have here: so it's a cell phone or nothing in most places.

          • 11 votes
          #7.1 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:40 PM EST

          I lived in Hungary 15 years ago - the wine there was cheaper than Coca-cola!

          • 7 votes
          #7.2 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:18 PM EST

          They aren't legally married. Must be 18 to marry in India. Some day she will wind up with acid thrown in her face or burned with cooking oil.

          • 4 votes
          #7.3 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:54 AM EST
          Ook Ook Jonesvia FacebookDeleted

          TURD WORLD???

          You say that so frequently. We get it, Ook Ook. You wish to let the world know that you're an ignorant bigot. We ready you; point taken... move along.

          • 3 votes
          #7.5 - Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:14 AM EST

          Well, when you're forced into marriage before puberty, it's kinda hard to get pregnant outside of marriage. A kid with a single parent who's educated and working will have a much better life than the baby these kids have.

            #7.6 - Mon Feb 4, 2013 12:41 PM EST

            "to all you ignorant westerners". So just where are you from and what nationality are you Jay S???? And just who are you to judge yourself???? Are you a foreigner living in America? Or are you posting from another country and talking out your backside about a people you know nothing about? If you are "American" then your kind of a jerk for the ignorant westerners comment. We all have our own opinions and your aren't "more valid" than anybody else's! !!!! !!!

              #7.7 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 8:54 PM EST
              Reply

              Yes, Jay, this girl is probably better off than the junkies and homeless living on the streets in our own cities. Have you driven through the City of Brotherly Love? Loads of homeless people living in parks just a short walk from its wonderful museums....and only a few blocks from Temple University people are living in appalling and dire conditions.

              Yes, let's keep the Bush era tax cuts for the rich.....

              • 9 votes
              Reply#8 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:22 PM EST

              Yes I agree,the extra money wouldn't go to the people you mentioned anyway.
              If you really believe it will you better be careful what you shine your shoes with...

              • 2 votes
              #8.1 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:28 PM EST

              Yeah, because tax cuts put all those people into poverty. Not mental illness, laziness or anything like that. All the while we need illegals to come over the border to do work these bums won't do.

              • 1 vote
              #8.2 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:10 PM EST

              All the illegals here need to be sent back over the borders and the borders need to be shut down tight. Then this country needs to kick the professional welfare moochers off the dole and put them in those jobs so welfare can be used for the truly needy it was meant for. It was meant to be temporary and a hand up not a hand out or a permanent life style. This country needs to get back to helping the needy in this country become productive and valuable citizens and to take of those that can't or need help like the mentally ill, disabled etc..

                #8.3 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 9:03 PM EST
                Reply

                Yes, our anti abortion activists wants to be like India having a population of one billion plus people, that is so smart.

                • 7 votes
                Reply#9 - Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:57 PM EST

                Ever thought about contraception?

                • 2 votes
                #9.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:15 PM EST

                There's more to this story than birth control. This article may also be available in Hindi, and appear right along side of the news about the latest Bollywood extravaganza. In his little village, whatever village at all, not everyone can run the chance of harming the grandson of someone who is a major player in this little drama. Surely that narrow life has been greatly enriched by control over children. The greatest tragedy in this story is that those who should have an unstained life ahead of them feel so trapped that one of them, perhaps only one, has been thinking about the cutting of losses very hard, for quite some time. Contraceptives? It's a man's right not to be perceived as sterile, perhaps it's his mission, too, depending on where his parents were when it happened to him.

                  #9.2 - Sun Feb 3, 2013 7:23 PM EST
                  Reply
                  Comment author avatarmarsupial-3262721Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

                  None of yall is der if you dont kno about it dont speak about it. I got three son and Im 19 im slingin for em aint got no other avenues out tha hood dats on the real

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#10 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:57 AM EST

                  @marsupial, you are a joke as a parent then. I can tell you from raising my 5 kids alone your full of it. I work and have always worked to take care of my family. I didn't care what I had to do or how I had to do it, I got my butt off my shoulders and took my behind to work. There is a helpful hint for you, stop being a no good parent and get up and do something about it.

                  • 4 votes
                  #10.1 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:04 AM EST

                  The best way out of the hood or any other impoverished venue is to get a good education. There are adult education programs you can enroll in, Marsupial. Take advantage of one before the GOP gets rid of them, and be determined to better yourself - for yourself and your children. Instead of watching all the mind-numbing crap on TV, start reading to your children and playing games with them to improve their minds as well as your own. Oprah Winfrey made her fortune on TV but she's always maintained that it was her love of reading and learning that gave her the tools needed to become one of the richest women in the world. Pretty good for a girl who grew up in the hood herself.

                  • 5 votes
                  #10.2 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:28 AM EST

                  BelovedSired, Allison Shaw:

                  You just got punk'd.

                  • 3 votes
                  #10.3 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:41 AM EST

                  Thanks Quell - I was thinking the same thing. Marsupial can spell marsupial but can't spell there, know, them and has "put on" poor grammar? Please... I wouldn't have been so nice as to say they got punked. I would have called Marsupial a troll but I don't name call.

                  • 1 vote
                  #10.4 - Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:57 PM EST
                  Reply

                  Man, this blew right past the Third World exit and ended in Sixth World or something.

                  • 3 votes
                  Reply#11 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:25 AM EST

                  Learn to spell Marsupial!!!!! I think your post is a load of BS just to stir up controversy!!!!!

                    #11.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 9:05 PM EST
                    Reply

                    If these backwards countries don't get their sh** together they are in serious danger of ending up like almost any major American metropolitan area. Kids having kids with no education or jobs. Thank god these countries at least respect the sanctity of marriage. *sarcasm off*

                    • 7 votes
                    Reply#12 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:28 AM EST

                    Hahahahahahahahaha, you smart Mike, they live in their poor position like a men and a woman, in USA new culture 2000 they tray to brainwash all us to live like disgusting homosexuals...

                    • 1 vote
                    #12.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:55 AM EST

                    Must be an America hating (but just here for the benefits and taxpayer freebies) foreigner. Go back to your sh:thole of a country wherever that is. P.S. Not that I really care though.

                    • 3 votes
                    #12.2 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:15 PM EST
                    Reply

                    Dear Apalled Americans~ The (East) Indian culture is thousands of years old. They've been living in this fashion for millenia and will continue to do so long, long after America is a name in a History presentation. Besides what are they doing that we're NOT doing? Watching ignorant, half-grown kids having children? Watching men who can't get work drinking away their families' eating money? Watching farm country turning in to desert? Get over it.

                    Pass the scotch.

                    • 7 votes
                    Reply#13 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:55 PM EST

                    Word.

                      #13.1 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:49 PM EST

                      Double post-- whoops.

                        #13.2 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:50 PM EST

                        No. Just...no.

                        I am an unmarried 26 year old woman. I plan to stay that for a while. I plan on getting my bachelors degree for sure and maybe I will even apply for my masters degree.

                        I plan on doing things with my life. Getting married and having kids is not one of them.

                        I am extremely lucky to live in a country that allows me to make those choices. This girl didn't have a choice. I couldn't even imagine.

                        I imagine that at some point women in these other countries will wake up and demand an end to the BS. I hope and pray for it.

                        Until that day though, there is not too much for me to do I suppose.

                          #13.3 - Thu Feb 7, 2013 5:33 AM EST
                          Reply

                          Yeah seriously...pass the scotch

                            Reply#14 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:34 PM EST

                            Holy Cow!!

                            • 2 votes
                            Reply#15 - Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:14 PM EST

                            Look at this .In this country we have people making children every day that they can not ...will not take care of!!Men who will not work..Any of you liberals who want to hand out money, others people money Take a good look at this ..All of us should be thanking God this is not our lot..If these people did not have a cell phone and a computer they would think they were fine.This is how most of the world lives and as we become more of a third world crap hole due to unrestrained population growth..This will someday be our lot as well..Or at least our grand childrens lot.

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#16 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:39 AM EST

                            That's why we need to shut down the borders, exit all the illegals and get back to having a little better values. We need to get a handle on teen pregnancy and the whole professional welfare moocher lifestyle!!!! We need to be taking care of our own people and our own countries problems and stop being the world police!!!!

                              #16.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 9:09 PM EST
                              Reply

                              Greg-2993627 Please, try to stay informed. The population problem facing the US is not over population. It is under population. The last generation of Americans failed to have enough children to replace themselves. Were it not for immigration, we would be having a hard struggle due to too few people. Concerns about over population here are so last century.

                              • 1 vote
                              Reply#17 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:36 AM EST

                              SSanf, you ignore other problem, we have tanks to politicians millions of our population living in Parasite state, loving in welfare, SSE, etc. they DON'T WORK if they work the government don't "help" anymore and they are afraid for that, The imigrants come in (majority) to work ! and I saw many of them and some times many companies choice them because are HARD WORKERS the last generations of young americans are lazys and stupids, their politic party is "Hollywod" their tools "smart cell phones" and our government are in hand of Corporations, they are the REAL RULLERS of pur contry now ! wr don't need MORE PEOPLE, we need BETTER people ! here and around the glove.

                                #17.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:05 PM EST

                                baco78,

                                You have got to get of this site! No one can understand anything you are typing. You are giving me a headache trying to read your posts. You are also giving the impression that you are a true character of the stereotypical "welfare recipient."

                                Class starts at 7pm sharp!...be there or be square.

                                • 2 votes
                                #17.2 - Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:40 PM EST

                                Have you lost your ever loving mind?!?!?!?!?! We certainly DO NOT have an under population problem!!!!! WE DO have a huge OVER population of illegal immigrants that are undereducated or even illilterate and barely able to function in the english language!!!! We have a huge over population of criminals, professional welfare moochers and gangbangers!!!!!!! You need a reality check!!!!

                                  #17.3 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 9:12 PM EST
                                  Reply

                                  I have something for you Butt Out. this is India I don't give a crap what they do there. If they don't like it let them change it as long as they don't ask us to help. We have pleanty to worry about here. Never mind that our jobs are going there by the truckload. This is clearly their problem.

                                  • 4 votes
                                  Reply#18 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:49 AM EST

                                  No sympathy for an 11 year old girl & a 13 year old boy ? I'm glad I don't know you. You are a disgrace to the human race.

                                  • 6 votes
                                  Reply#19 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:23 AM EST

                                  None, How much do they care about us, NONE! I am returning the favor.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #19.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:57 AM EST

                                  don't forget the european BRITISH in older times made a mess in their country ,can we credit this to them ?

                                    #19.2 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:09 PM EST
                                    Reply

                                    Perhaps this is why India is so overpopulated and poor.

                                    • 4 votes
                                    Reply#20 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:47 AM EST

                                    Maybe the Pakistanis will nuke India, then the Chinese will nuke Pakistan....and the equally annoying Bangeladesh crowd. Then and then only will things be back to normal.

                                      #20.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:22 PM EST
                                      Reply

                                      Married at "11" ! ! Mother at "14" ! ! Babies having babies. Oh well, I can't condemn them for their culture, but I can condemn that lazy, drunken slob husband of hers. What a bag-o-crap to act like that. Odd's are that the baby will never see its 3rd birthday. THAT is the shameful part. When a 13 year old girl is about to give birth, her body hasn't matured enough to allow passage of the baby. She was not really able to accept penetration of the father without causing damage to her internals, let alone the birth. She will probably not be able to have relations with him without much pain for the rest of her life, and if she does, and gets pregnant again, her life will probably end at that birth. BUT, its their culture....... I guess.

                                      • 2 votes
                                      Reply#21 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:53 AM EST

                                      I can condemn that lazy,

                                      Did you not read the part that says his families fields weren't producing enough for him to work or the part where he said he was going to have to move his wife and child to the city to find a job?

                                      Did you know there are people with phd's in our country who are unemployed due to lack of work? So he may not be lazy, just unemployed.

                                      • 1 vote
                                      #21.1 - Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:59 PM EST
                                      Reply

                                      I read an interesting comment here, about OUR jobs going to India, and it is true. We do send our jobs to India, and we DO support this sort of culture. We do give them the hope to suceed, then yank the magic carpet out from under them. Who do you blame for this sort of behavior? Well, I guess it's the liberals. They will give away everybodies money but theirs. And what you see here in India is partially their blame. They can't hide behind that one, it's right out there in the open. The libbies will NEVER accept the blame though, they don't have the guts for that. They will beat aroung the bush, then blame him for everything that goes wrong and then take away our guns, free all the murderers, collapse the Country and run around in circles chanting and drinking their IMPORTED water, smoking their dope claiming how great they are. LOOK AT THE LITTLE GIRL WITH THE BABY liberal garbage. This is what you get for supporting offshore jobs. I hope you are happy now. The truth is out.

                                      • 1 vote
                                      Reply#22 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:04 PM EST

                                      So; the liberals are the ones who ship out the jobs overseas? It is the large corporations that do this, and guess who is the money behind them?

                                        #22.1 - Wed Feb 6, 2013 5:42 PM EST
                                        Reply

                                        The world need a new Masters, guides, profets, good liders for the people, like in olders times Budha, Mahoma, Jesus, Gandhi, etc. but we don have nothing now WE LIVE IN THE DARKNESS

                                          Reply#23 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:28 PM EST

                                          Hmmmm a 17 year old boy who drinks too much, attached to his cell phone and has a baby......Are you sure hes not an American?

                                          • 10 votes
                                          Reply#24 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:38 PM EST

                                          I am NOT out to judge, i have found nothing perfect no where. misfortune can happen to anyone. even the brightest can be ignorant. i am deeply saddened that only people with wealth know all the answers worldwide. if that being the case, then why do they too do Not Live forever. destiny is short Lived, good/bad foolish decisions are human.don't degrade the feeble, help guide them & encourage them towards a better perspective...............

                                          • 2 votes
                                          Reply#25 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 7:56 PM EST

                                          Dude, STFU.

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #25.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:24 PM EST

                                          Dude - take your own advice.

                                            #25.2 - Mon Feb 4, 2013 6:17 PM EST
                                            Reply
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