The discovery of a newborn buried alive in Uttar Pradesh is more than a shocking crime. It is a chilling reminder of how deeply entrenched gender prejudice continues to poison Indian society. The image of a tiny hand protruding from the earth, of an infant gasping for air as mud fills her mouth and nose, is a metaphor for how we treat millions of girls ~ pushed to the margins, silenced, and left to fight for survival from the moment of birth. India’s celebrated economic growth and urban modernity cannot mask the stubborn reality that a daughter is still often seen as a liability.

Despite decades of campaigns and legislation, female foeticide remains widespread, aided by illegal sex-determination clinics. Where abortion is not an option, infanticide or abandonment follows. Each case may be presented as an isolated tragedy, but together they form a pattern of systemic violence against girls,........

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