'Freaks' again

[Hendrix55]

I just read Mr Piper's question from Monday, and feel really shocked - it sounds horrific, feel quite sick. I've just been reading quite a lot on this subject for my dissertation but hadn't come across such deliberate mutilation, except in relation to the film Freaks. Who are the rat children one respondant referred to? How can people have treated others so badly?

[Octavius]

Details of the rat children can be found here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/122670.stm

[fishbait]

Hi have you ever been to Lisbon? If you do then you will find street beggars (Children)that are deformed, it is said that there parents have caused these deformaties but i am unsure what actual cause is!!

[caelin]

Alas Hendrix55 these are the very bad practices done in some other areas like Gujrat in India in dola shah shrine, and also in Pakistan and other countries where people use to keep these children in shrine not for some holy purposes but just to fulfill their evil objectives and money intentions.

These children grow at shrine with some abnormalities and people believe them to be with the blessing of the God. Another argument is that these children are made to wear �A Metal Cap� which constrains the normal growth of their heads and other mental abilities. This is done to make them beggars for the rest of their lives as people think they can pray and fulfill their desires and for that they give alms to them. (The spiritual misconceptions).

I wish you good luck for your dissertation on this topic, but don�t narrow your topic for only rat children as there are many other types of victims for this beggar�s industry you can research on the Mafia activities, making children and prospects physically disabled, and the like.

Other links which can help you for your dissertation writing on these topics

Regards.

http://www.insightnewstv.com/d05/
http://famous.adoption.com/famous/rat-children -of-shah-daula.html
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page= story_15-10-2002_pg7_14