Editorial: Politics of procreation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is not at all known for telling jokes. He is a straight-shooter, the kind of politician who chooses his words carefully and doesn't let them stray into the realm of comedy. So, imagine the surprise when, at a mass wedding, Stalin encouraged newlywed couples to move forward and multiply. And by multiply, we mean seriously multiply. His suggestion, wrapped in humor, could be interpreted as a call for, oh, maybe 16 children per family. No small task, that.

Now, Stalin is a self-proclaimed atheist, so no one can blame him for quoting from Genesis: “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.” Give.” But his call to arms (or ruse, as it were) seemed to have landed well. Reports suggest the couple were laughing, perhaps already seeing their tiny one-room house filled with children like sardines in a can. Just imagine bunk beds! But there is a method in the madness. Tamil Nadu was one of the few states that took the “Two for Us” family planning slogan seriously. So much so, that population growth slowed down, which was looking great until it started affecting the state's representation in the Lok Sabha. Less people, less seats—simple math.

Due to this, a demand arose to stop seat allocation on the basis of 1971 census. Thus Tamil Nadu still has 39 seats, while Bihar, with 1.5 times the population, has only 40. Now, with whispers that the Modi government may lift the moratorium, Tamil Nadu may find itself left behind in huge numbers. Couples in the state may need to start working double shifts to move ahead. Never mind that Mother Earth is already groaning due to India's increasing population!