India – The world’s fastest developing country .A country that has continued to progress since its Independence from the British rule in 1947. Today we see Indians all over the world and some of them continue to hold the worlds most privileged positions in various non Indian administrations. Yet within India the progress stands unbalanced. While the urban areas have been progressing at the speed of light, growth in rural areas seems to have stagnated. These are the sections of rural India that have been clothed in poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. These are the areas that the yet to see the light of the so called ‘Development’. This is the darker side of India which most of us are unaware of.

If it wasn’t for the English Documentary show “India –Girl with 2 Faces “that was telecasted on The NAT GEO channel ; perhaps even I would have remained ignorant of existing scenario in India. This was the story of an infant girl called Lalli. Born in a remote village in the northern part of India , Lalli was as pretty and as cute as any other new born child. However what made her unique and different was that she was born with two faces. An infant, who was now picture of innocence and vulnerability.

Lalli was lucky to escape the wrath of female infanticide that still exists in most of the villages of India. However, she was not lucky enough, to have rich or educated parents. Her family earned a meager income through farming and a couple of other domestic jobs. They could barely afford two meals a day. Yet Lalli’s parents were than happy on having being blessed with a girl child. Indeed, they were shocked to discover that their first born was a child with two faces. When Lalli’s parents brought her home from the hospital, news spread like a wild forest fire, throughout the entire village. People rushed in from near and far to take a look at the baby. Within minutes a huge crowd gathered outside Lalli’s ancestral house. Giving in to the requests of the villagers gathered outside, Lalli’s parents brought out the kid wrapped in a bundle of thin blanket and lay her down on the cot outside. People were awestruck when they saw her face. Lalli was born with one head but with two pair of eyes, two noses and two mouths. She seemed quite normal and gay.

India is well known for its rich culture and tradition. However what comes as a part of this culture and tradition is the huge bundle of superstitious beliefs and rituals that most people find difficult to let go. Lalli was born with a medical problem termed as craniofacial duplication however the villagers gave her a new name-Devi which means ‘Goddess’. Indian Gods are mostly portrayed with more than one heads and the villagers now believed that the miracle kid was a reincarnation of their Goddess. As the days kept passing by, the number of visitors kept increasing. People now started coming from nearby villages to take a look at the infant.

Initially Lalli’s parents were proud to see the villagers worship their kid as a Goddess. Lalli used to be kept for public display every evening while the villagers came and offered their prayers, food and money at the infant’s foot. Flies kept swarming around the toddler who was surrounded by food and people- Open and vulnerable to germs and diseases. However as the days kept passing by , Lalli’s parents grew apprehensive as the child began to loose weight. Their happiness was short lived when they realized that their daughter would not survive for long unless she was operated upon. An American Doctor who had heard about Lalli’s rare medical condition, approached Lalli’s parents and offered to help them with Lalli’s treatment. The doctor was worried when he saw how frail the kid was. By then ,Lalli had already developed eye infection due to the unhygienic conditions around her. The doctor coaxed them to get Lalli to the nearest city hospital in Delhi so that she could be operated upon. He briefed them about the dangers involved if Lalli was not given medical treatment at the right time. Medical and Monetary assistance were offered at subsidized rates. But for Lalli’s parents the decision was not all that easy.

For Lalli to be taken to the hospital, her parents would not only have to consider the decision of Lalli’s grandparents but also get permission from the village Chief. As expected, the villagers were opposed to the idea of Lalli being treated through medical science. For them it was a battle of Medical Science Vs Spirituality. Lalli’s parents now knew that they were endangering their child’s life but if they went against the villagers, Lalli’s family could be exiled from the village. Not willing to put the entire family into trouble, Lalli’s parents unwittingly and reluctantly decided to stay back ignoring the doctor’s advice.

Weeks flew by, and Lalli was now, all skin and bones. Her appetite had worsened and Lalli, now had trouble breathing. Looking at Lalli’s deteriorating health her parents finally decided to take her to the doctor even if it meant an exile for life. However even before they could plan their journey to the city, Lalli lost consciousness. Her parents rushed her to the hospital. Lalli’s grandmother refused to accompany them for fear of inviting the villager’s wrath.

By the time Lalli was admitted to the hospital, there was little the doctors could do, to cure her. Her pulse rate and Blood pressure had dropped to extreme levels and she could not be operated upon till the levels were normal. Lalli was kept under observation for two days but unfortunately her pulse rate never came back to normal. Lalli died at the hospital leaving behind a grief stricken mother and a sober father who now realized that Lalli could have been saved if she had been brought to the hospital earlier.

A year later Lalli’s parents managed to build a temple in fond remembrance of their daughter who was worshipped as a goddess when she was alive. Even today the villagers regularly flock to the temple to pay homage and respects to Lalli, little realizing that their ignorance was one of the factors leading to the child’s death. Lalli is now relegated to the pages of history .Her story, added to one of the many stories that have their roots in illiteracy, lack of general awareness and baseless ritualistic customs sprouting out of Indian soil .Her village, along with the thousands of other villages in INDIA continue to breed superstition , poverty and ignorance. Her story only goes to prove that there are regions in INDIA that are yet to see the light of progress.

Regions that thrive in Darkness!