Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi has expressed his wish for a grandson to carry forward his legacy. His remarks have been perceived as sexist by many and have provoked criticism on social media. The idea that sons are the primary providers of financial support for their parents, as well as the bearers of family legacy, is deeply ingrained in societies worldwide. India’s culture of patrilocality (a social system where a married couple lives with or near the husband’s family) leads to the preference for sons. Daughters are seen to belong to their husband’s families and a burden on finances, since the family has dowry to think about. But in recent years, the government has brought in major changes to law to give daughters equal rights in ancestral law. The Hindu Succession Act gives daughters the same rights as sons, allowing them to inherit property directly alongside their brothers, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. The girl-friendly child schemes like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ are also governed by these laws.
