Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob have managed to make baby making into a media news item, having had so far 17 babies and being prominently featured in many well known news articles, including Discovery Health.

What most people don’t seem to know is that in India someone has 19 babies and that was in 1997 but they are Indians living in the slums of Bangalore! What is however astounding is that an American family with 17 gets press and notoriety vs. an Indian couple does not, is this once again an example of how life is valued higher in other parts of the world because of the priviledge they have?

 I repost the article here:

19 babies: Some moms do have ‘em

ASIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BANGALORE, May 4: Even as India grapples with its ever-increasing population, a few families in the Gauripalya slum in the metropolis of Bangalore are defying all laws of family planning. The news that Noorjahan Begum, one of the residents of the slum, is expecting her 19th child does not surprise anyone.

The concept of having large families is a tradition here and most families have an average of six to seven children. Married at the age of 19, Noorjahan, now 40, has nine sons and nine daughters. Two sons are already married, with children.

Noorjahan says she is scared of having a sterilisation operation. She adds that it goes against the teachings of her religion. “I din’t want to have a (sterilisation) operation. I was scared of undergoing it,” Noorjahan said. “Our religion forbids the concept, also, our priest was against the idea.” While her grown-up sons earn their living by driving autorickshaws, the younger ones have the responsibility of cleaning the vehicles. The average daily income of the entire family is about Rs 70.

Noorjahan, who frequently gets her children’s names confused, makes a living by making hand-made cigarettes and incense sticks. None of her children has been to a school.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.