Fatehabad/Jind, January 7, 2026 – In a case that has once again thrust the spotlight on deep-rooted gender biases and the perils of repeated pregnancies, a 37-year-old woman from Haryana's Fatehabad district gave birth to her 11th child—a long-awaited son—on Sunday, following a decade-and-a-half of having ten daughters. Doctors described the delivery as high-risk, but both mother and baby are now stable, with the family hailing it as a "blessing from God."
Sunita, a resident of Dhani Bhojraj village in the Bhuna area of Fatehabad, was married to daily-wage labourer Sanjay Kumar in 2007. The couple, both in their late 30s, welcomed their newest family member at Ojas Hospital and Maternity Home in Uchana town, Jind district, after Sunita was admitted on January 3. The normal delivery on January 4 required three units of blood transfusion due to the mother's anemia and weakened uterus from successive pregnancies, compounded by the baby's initial dehydration. Gynaecologist Dr. Santosh, who oversaw the procedure, noted it was a "challenging case" but successful with timely medical intervention. Sunita was discharged within 24 hours and returned home to her village, about 30 km away, where celebrations ensued amid a sea of pink attire from her daughters.
Sanjay Kumar, 38, beamed with joy while speaking to reporters outside the hospital. "We were keen that there should be a son, and some of my elder daughters also wished to have a brother," he said, adding, "It is my eleventh child now. I have 10 daughters too." Defending against accusations of patriarchal pressure, Kumar insisted, "Whatever has happened was God's will, and I am happy with it. Within my meagre means, I am trying to give my daughters a good education... Girls are capable of achieving anything these days and they have proved their mettle in various fields. They are making everyone proud." The family's eldest daughter is in Class 12, with the others attending local schools, a point Kumar highlighted to underscore his commitment to their futures.
The story, amplified by a viral video of Kumar fumbling while naming his ten daughters during an interview, has exploded across social media, reigniting fierce debates on son preference and maternal health in Haryana—a state notorious for its skewed sex ratio. While the overall child sex ratio improved marginally to 923 girls per 1,000 boys in 2025 (below the national average of 929), critics argue such cases reflect persistent cultural pressures that endanger women's lives. One X user quipped sarcastically, "Give them a state honour for relentless perseverance—ten trial runs before finally 'perfecting' the 11th product, proudly co-created under Make in India," drawing thousands of likes and shares. Another post lamented, "When asked his daughters' names, Sanjay forgot some of them," fueling accusations of neglect amid the euphoria over the boy.
Netizens and activists have slammed the incident as "patriarchy at its peak," questioning the toll on Sunita's health after 19 years of near-continuous pregnancies—one every 1.7 years on average. Women's rights groups, including the Haryana State Commission for Women, have called for counseling and financial support for large families, while health experts warn of risks like uterine rupture and postpartum hemorrhage in multiparous women. "Repeated high-order pregnancies strain the body beyond limits, especially without adequate nutrition or antenatal care," said Dr. Renu Sharma, a senior obstetrician in nearby Hisar, speaking to local media. The case echoes similar controversies in the region, where government schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aim to combat female foeticide, yet cultural norms often prioritize male heirs for inheritance and old-age security.
Authorities in Fatehabad and Jind districts have yet to comment officially, but local health officials confirmed no violations of family planning norms were evident. As the family settles into their expanded household—now comprising 13 members including Kumar's parents—Kumar reiterated his denial of bias: "It is not like that." For Sunita, who has largely stayed out of the limelight, the focus remains on recovery. "We're all healthy now, and that's what matters," a relative told reporters. Yet, as online outrage grows, the birth serves as a stark reminder of the battles still raging against gender inequities in rural India, where joy for one life often masks the silent struggles of many.
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