Haryana Family Welcomes Son After 10 Daughters, Father Says 'No Patriarchy'

Jind: A family in Jind district, Haryana, has grabbed headlines after a woman gave birth to her 11th child, a baby boy, following ten daughters. The news has reignited discussions on gender preference, health risks for mothers, and traditional attitudes toward sons in parts of the country.

What happened in the hospital?

The 37-year-old woman was admitted to Ojas Hospital and Maternity Home in Uchana town on January 3 and delivered a healthy son on January 4. Doctors said the birth was high risk because of the number of previous pregnancies, and she needed three units of blood during delivery. Both mother and newborn are reported to be stable and doing well. 

"It was a high risk delivery but both mother and child are doing fine," said Dr Narveer Sheoran of the Ojas Hospital and Maternity Home.

Sheoran also said that the delivery was handled by his gynaecologist wife, Dr Santosh.

How does the father explain the family’s situation?

The baby’s father, 38-year-old Sanjay Kumar, told media that he and some of his older daughters had hoped for a son. Married for 19 years, he said he was focused on raising his children and giving them an education despite modest means as a daily wage labourer. According to him, the girls are capable and he does not see his family's story as one driven by patriarchy.

A video circulating online shows Sanjay answering questions about his children's names. He named all ten daughters but stumbled a bit recalling them, a detail that added fuel to public debate on social media. 

What are people saying online?

Social media users have reacted strongly to the story. Some questioned the wisdom of so many pregnancies and pointed to deeper cultural biases, while others supported the father’s insistence that he values his daughters and is proud of them. 

What bigger issues does this case touch on?

Haryana has long struggled with a skewed sex ratio and preferences for male children. While the state has shown improvement in recent years, it still lags behind the national average. Cases like this highlight ongoing tensions between tradition and evolving attitudes toward gender equity and women’s health.