Family planning ‘redefined’: 15 kids, three wives
LUCKNOW: When it comes to family, this 46-year-old agricultural labourer evidently does not believe in planning.
He has 15 children, and does not remember most of their names, but goes for a headcount every evening to ensure that all of them are home.
Meet Mohammed Shareef, the patriarch of one of biggest families in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. He has three wives, and admits he does not know much about population explosion, but considers children to be God’s gift to humanity.
“If He (God) can give us many mouths to feed, He will always ensure no one sleeps on an empty stomach,” says Shareef. All his three wives and 15 children stay under one roof.
He says his big family has made him famous in his ancestral village Baudhiyan Kala that has a population of 6,000.
“Ours is the biggest family in Baudhiya Kala, I am sure it is also the biggest one in the entire Lakhimpur Kheri district,” Shareef says.
When he was 14, he married his first wife Jatta Begum in 1987, he recalls.
“With Jatta, I have three sons and five daughters. It was a happy marriage, until I met Noor alias Lakshmi and got married to her in the 1990s,” he says. Shareef doesn’t remember the actual year of marriage. “With Lakshmi, I have four daughters and a son.”
“I got married to Tarannum Begum, a Nepalese, in 2000. With her, I have a son and a daughter, which completes the figure of 15,” he explains. His eldest son is 24 years old and the youngest daughter is two years old.
“I am blessed to have such a loving family, where all stay together, even the wives. I never came across a situation where my children or wives argue with one another,” he says.
Heading such a large family is not an easy task, especially for an agricultural labourer.
As per rough estimates, the family consumes around 35 kg wheat flour and over 60kg-rice a month.
“Since I am an agricultural labourer, most of the time I get wheat or flour, which helps me in meeting the food requirement of the family,” he says.
When asked about the names of the children, he says, “I don’t remember their names. Their respective mothers know their names and also ensure that all are in by the evening. I only count them in order to ensure all are home,” he says. He says he has never come across any family planning awareness drive. Shareef has an income certificate, which says he earns less than Rs 60,000 per annum. He has recently applied for three accommodations under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna for his three wives. On being asked if he would be going for more children, he says, “Sab Allah ki marzi (It’s all God’s will).”
Yashpal Singh, village head of Baudhiyan Kala, says, “Shareef has a big family. We often conduct programmes to create awareness among the people. But most of them prefer to remain ignorant.”