#SelfieWithDaughter: India responds zealously to PM Modi's initiative

The Indian prime minister's latest initiative is aimed at addressing the country's skewed sex ratio

In an attempt to boost the standing of women in India, India's Prime Minster Narendra Modi has started a campaign titled #SelfieWithDaughter which has thousands of Indians taking selfies and posting them online.

I urge all of you, share a #SelfieWithDaughter. Also share a tagline that will encourage 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' : PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 28, 2015

On Sunday, Modi urged his country in his monthly radio address to share pictures with daughters with the hashtag #SelfieWithDaughters - an attempt to recognize and celebrate female children as part of his Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) initiative.

In Haryana, a village Sarpanch initiated a #SelfieWithDaughter initiative: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 28, 2015

He even mentioned the name of the person who initiated the idea; the head of a small village in the state of Haryana. According to India Times, this selfie craze started when a village council in Haryana’s Bibipur village asked parents to send in a selfie with their daughters on WhatsApp as part of a contest.

The contest was an effort by Haryana to save its daughters and contribute to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao cause. Haryana has one of the worst sex ratios in the country.

India responded with remarkable zest and the hashtag #SelfieWithDaughters took social media by storm. Celebs too were seen actively participating in the campaign.

Amitabh Bachchan's favourite girls taking a selfie together
https://twitter.com/Thekkapoor/status/615174300497154048

Jackie Sheroff posted an adorable selfie with his daughter

Here's my #SelfieWithDaughter Krishna#betibachaobetipadhao pic.twitter.com/kpMhBWLzaX

— Jackie Shroff (@bindasbhidu) June 29, 2015

#SelfieWithDaughter - Me with my 2 daughters, Honey and Moni . pic.twitter.com/kTVYWA36zy

— Rajpal Naurang Yadav (@rajpalofficial) June 28, 2015

Our daughters are our pride! With @Alyonakapoor Rachita & Kriti #Family#SelfieWithDaughter #BetiBachaoBetiPadhao pic.twitter.com/E5MV9TGfLM

— Sanjeev Kapoor (@SanjeevKapoor) June 28, 2015

For me this is the cutest, Mere gaon ka dost, Beti bhi aur selfie stick bhi :) #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/Pw3E5DTqph

— Rofl Gandhi 2.0 🏹 (@RoflGandhi_) June 29, 2015

Love the #SelfieWithDaughter campaign. My selfie with my daughter Yashasvini @narendramodi. #BetiBachaoBetiPadhao pic.twitter.com/gbbaBlsuj2

— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) June 29, 2015

Just be.. #Selfiewithdaughter @narendramodi_in pic.twitter.com/LwpjpOlnOp

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) June 29, 2015

I already posted my #SelfieWithDaughter with my both jewels @bhajgovindam00 @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/UtemV2aimF

— DINESH GUPTA FCA (@dkgdelhi) June 29, 2015

https://twitter.com/SachinKalbag/status/615218530716286976

Daughter holds our hand for a while but heart forever. Blessed to be gifted with daughters. #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/fNu9IRBqzm

— Shankar Chaudhary (@ChaudhryShankar) June 28, 2015

Love the #SelfieWithDaughter idea @narendramodi. Here is mine w my girls. pic.twitter.com/CleKmT6M84

— Nisha Biswal (@NishaBiswal) June 28, 2015

Not only was India enjoying putting up pictures with daughters, but the trend soon became a global phenomenon.
https://twitter.com/Frank_Cornelia/status/615389612358238208

The selfie fantasy brought to life. #DaughterSandwich #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/nmO0xtsRnq

— Kenneth Cole (@kennethcolereal) June 28, 2015

https://twitter.com/TheOrlandoJones/status/615701190291136516

#SelfieWithDaughter my little angel she's my life pic.twitter.com/Nk8kJFdipR

— Malebo Hlungwane (@HlungwaneMalebo) June 28, 2015

:) My Oba(Father) .. Teacher, Hunter and descendant of invincible Naga Warriors .. #SelfieWithDaughter @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/IlrfSFiKfF

— Temsutula Imsong #MissionTayimba (@temsutulaimsong) June 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/Swedish_Racing/status/615211226352734209

PM of India @narendramodi: TY for #SelfieWithDaughter. When you raise a daughter, you raise a nation! pic.twitter.com/E3RrjfLpnQ

— All Valley Champion 🏆 (@gofiliberto) June 28, 2015

Love India PM's concept of #SelfieWithDaughter. Very proud of my daughter, Kathleen. Photo @FourSeasons Thailand! pic.twitter.com/MET01FJWWE

— Canada's Travel Guy (@JimByersTravel) June 28, 2015

Others were hopeful of the future, waiting for the day to be part of the campaign

Sir @narendramodi I have no daughter but the day my son gets married I promise to post my #SelfieWithDaughter

— Rita 🇮🇳 (@RitaG74) June 29, 2015

And another who chose to take a picture with his mother

Dear @narendramodi Bhai, no daughters, but here a photo of my mother "Daughter of India" with me#SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/Im4bQRbk1A

— R.S. Bains ⚔️ (Defender of Shakti) (@HerrBains) June 28, 2015

And then there were those who did not need a trend to take a selfie with their daughters

What a super day, it's Father's Day, Yoga day and his holiness @DalaiLama 80th birthday. Have a beautiful day Dad's. pic.twitter.com/ys278ZgRHs

— arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) June 21, 2015

Modi, was joyed to see the tremendous response received

Amazed by the fantastic response to #SelfieWithDaughter. Its remarkable how people across the world have chipped in. http://t.co/eROV6qlM83

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 29, 2015