A Decade of Daughters: Selfie with Daughter Day Marks 10 Years of Change
Celebrating Daughters with a Social Media Twist
Sunil Jaglan with his daughters. The “Selfie with Daughter” campaign encourages parents to celebrate their girls by sharing selfies together.
On June 9, 2025, people across India and beyond will celebrate “Selfie with Daughter Day,” an annual social media initiative now entering its tenth year. The campaign, launched in 2015 by Haryana-based activist Sunil Jaglan, encourages parents to snap selfies with their daughters and share them publicly – a simple act meant to proudly celebrate girl children and promote gender equality. Over the past decade, this grassroots movement has gained national and global traction, even earning endorsements from India’s top leaders and participation from families in more than 70 countries.
Selfie With Daughter Lado Panchayat Sunil Jaglan Upload Selfie President of India Launches Mobile App ‘Selfie With Daughter’
Origin of the Initiative
The idea for “Selfie with Daughter” was born from a personal awakening. Jaglan, a former village head (sarpanch) of Bibipur in Jind district, Haryana, recalls an incident in 2012 when his first daughter Nandini was born. As he distributed sweets at the hospital – a custom typically reserved for celebrating a son’s birth – a nurse declined the offer, saying, “If it were a boy, we would have accepted it”. Shocked by this bias, Jaglan checked his village records and found a dismal sex ratio in Bibipur, reflecting widespread female foeticide. Determined to spark change, he organized India’s first Mahila Gram Sabha (women’s village assembly) to discuss the issue, revealing how deeply the preference for sons was ingrained. “Nandini’s birth changed me,” Jaglan says, describing that moment as the catalyst for a slew of initiatives to challenge patriarchy and bring pride to daughters.
Taking pride in girls: the Selfie With Daughter campaign in India
Jaglan’s early efforts focused on turning the government’s “Beti Bachao” (Save the Daughter) campaign into a people’s movement. He convened an unprecedented “Lado Panchayat” – a traditionally all-male khap council that, under his guidance, included women for the first time – where villagers jointly condemned sex-selective abortion. He also launched creative drives like “Gali Band Ghar” (abuse-free homes) to curb domestic abuse, and introduced “women’s happiness charts” and “Balika Sabha” (girls’ assemblies) to give young women a voice. By 2015, having led dozens of such grassroots campaigns, Jaglan was looking for a simple idea that could captivate the public’s imagination. That spark came on June 9, 2015, when he noticed toddler Nandini playing with a smartphone and took an impromptu selfie with her. He shared the father-daughter photo on social media – unwittingly planting the seed of a viral movement.
From Village Campaign to Global Movement
The response to Jaglan’s post was electric. Within weeks, thousands had begun posting their own “selfies with daughter,” and the trend caught the attention of India’s highest offices. Then-President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both praised the Bibipur initiative and encouraged parents nationwide to participate. Modi singled out the campaign in his June 2015 Mann Ki Baat radio address, lauding the proud display of daughters in a state like Haryana – notorious for its skewed sex ratio – as “giving meaning to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme”. “Sunil Jaglan had such an impact on my mind… I liked it very much. I also learned from him and included it in ‘Mann Ki Baat’,” the Prime Minister later reflected, crediting the idea for helping change attitudes. By the end of 2015, “Selfie with Daughter” had transformed from a local experiment into a celebrated component of the national Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) initiative, symbolizing a more personal, positive approach to championing girls’ rights.
Over the next few years, the campaign continued to evolve and expand. In 2016, an online platform was launched to serve as a “Selfie with Daughter” online museum, allowing people around the world to upload their photos and share stories. A year later, on June 9, 2017, President Mukherjee unveiled a dedicated Selfie with Daughter mobile app, underscoring the campaign’s growing national significance. Each year’s celebration adopted a new theme to keep the movement relevant: for example, 2023’s Selfie with Daughter Day focused on supporting differently-abled (“Divyang”) girls and women, while 2024’s theme championed first-time female voters, linking the pride in daughters to their empowerment in democracy. “The campaign’s objective was neither the selfie nor technology, but the importance given to the daughter,” Modi reminded listeners during his 100th radio broadcast in 2023, noting that such efforts have contributed to improving Haryana’s gender ratio. Indeed, by 2023 the state’s sex ratio at birth had markedly improved – 923 girls for every 1,000 boys, up from 871 per 1,000 in 2014 – a change officials attribute to collective actions under Beti Bachao, from government crackdowns on sex-selective clinics to awareness drives like Jaglan’s.
The campaign’s resonance has spread far beyond Haryana. What began in one village has now seen participation from over 80 countries, as proud parents worldwide share photos with their daughters on social media. By 2020, the foundation reported over 20 lakh (2 million) such selfies uploaded, including contributions from remote corners of India and expatriate communities abroad. Even global celebrities have embraced the message: Bollywood stars like Kajol and Sanjay Dutt posed with their daughters, sports icons from Saina Nehwal to Serena Williams joined in with their parents or children, and personalities such as Victoria Beckham shared selfies celebrating their girls. During the early 2020 lockdowns, the campaign saw a surge, with 47,000 new “selfies with daughters” uploaded in one month as families worldwide used the platform to share positivity amidst the pandemic. Prime Minister Modi has highlighted “Selfie with Daughter” on international stages – from Silicon Valley in the US to London’s Wembley Stadium – hailing it as a “global movement” that showcases India’s commitment to gender equality. The initiative even took root in neighboring countries; in 2021, Nepal officially adopted June 9 as Selfie with Daughter Day, partnering with Jaglan’s foundation to promote the event and celebrate their own daughters.
2025: A Milestone Celebration
This year’s Selfie with Daughter Day carries special significance as it commemorates a decade of the campaign’s journey. In the lead-up to June 9, 2025, new chapters and events have been launched to mark the ten-year milestone. Notably, on May 9 (the birth anniversary of poet Rabindranath Tagore), the state of West Bengal inaugurated its own “Selfie with Daughter – Bengal Chapter.” At a ceremony in Kolkata, Sunil Jaglan joined local leaders to kick off the chapter, which aligns with Tagore’s vision of dignity and equality for women. “As we celebrate the 10th International Selfie with Daughter Day, West Bengal embraces this mission, pledging to advance girls’ education, health, economic independence, and rights,” the launch announcement declared. The Bengal chapter’s timing – on Tagore’s birthday – was a symbolic nod to the region’s legacy of social reform and to Tagore himself, who was the father of three daughters and a proponent of women’s education. West Bengal’s participation underscores how widely the campaign’s ideals have spread across India. The state’s former icons had already lent support in the past (for instance, Bengali cricket legend Sourav Ganguly once posted a selfie with his daughter to champion the cause). Now, with a formal chapter, Bengal is committing resources to Jaglan’s movement, from promoting girls’ schooling and STEM education to hosting mother-daughter health workshops, according to officials. “Selfie With Daughter – The Bengal Chapter will be a game changer not just for West Bengal but for every state,” noted filmmaker Pavel at the launch, praising Jaglan’s campaign for influencing mindsets across social strata.
As June 9 approaches, the Selfie with Daughter Foundation is gearing up for a nationwide outpouring of father-daughter and mother-daughter selfies on social media. 2025 marks the 10th annual observance of the day, and organizers are using the occasion to reflect on the campaign’s impact. “On this 10th anniversary, we extend our deepest gratitude to Sunil Jaglan, whose 75+ campaigns have reshaped societies and inspired millions,” the foundation said in a statement, highlighting Jaglan’s journey from a village sarpanch to a pioneering feminist voice. Online, the hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter is expected to trend as proud parents share snapshots with messages of love and equality. Many participants see it not just as a social media fad, but as a festival of sorts – a day to unabashedly celebrate daughters’ achievements and assert that having a daughter is as joyous as having a son. In Bibipur, Jaglan’s team plans to host a community event on June 9 where villagers will take group selfies with all the local girls, followed by a ceremony honoring families who have championed girls’ education. Similar events are slated in other states: in Rajasthan, a NGO-led bike rally of fathers and daughters is planned; in Maharashtra, schools will hold special assemblies where girls click selfies with their parents and speak about their aspirations. The central government, which often backs the campaign, has encouraged all district administrations to promote the day – some are running contests for the “best selfie with daughter” or felicitating parents of newborn girls around June 9. The celebratory mood is a far cry from the silence that once greeted the birth of girls in many communities. It reflects a decade of slowly shifting attitudes. As Jaglan puts it, “today, there has been improvement in the gender ratio in Haryana… [and] the birth of every girl child is being celebrated”.
Beyond Selfies: Jaglan’s Broader Campaigns
While “Selfie with Daughter” is the most prominent of Sunil Jaglan’s initiatives, it is by no means the only one. Over the years, Jaglan has spearheaded over 75 campaigns related to women’s empowerment, many under the broader goals of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. “I have been working for women’s empowerment and village development for the past several years with a focus on female foeticide,” says the 42-year-old activist, a computer science graduate who gave up a tech career to become an agent of change in his village. In fact, Jaglan began his crusade even before the national BBBP program existed – he launched a local “Beti Bachao” campaign in 2012, sparked by the birth of Nandini and the urgency to stop sex-selective abortions in his community. That same year, Bibipur village hosted its first “Lado Panchayat” (literally, “Daughter’s Council”), a radical reimagining of the traditional khap panchayat where women were invited to participate equally. At this assembly, women openly shared experiences and collectively passed resolutions condemning female foeticide – a groundbreaking moment in a society where such councils had long upheld patriarchal norms. The Bibipur model of involving women in village decision-making was so successful that President Mukherjee had it replicated in 100 other villages across India during his tenure.
Jaglan’s approach has been to target patriarchal attitudes from multiple angles. One notable campaign, “Digital India with Laado,” replaced the customary practice of naming homes after the male head of family with a new tradition: installing nameplates bearing the daughter’s name. Thousands of families embraced the idea – Jaglan himself put up a plaque proudly displaying “Nandini” at his home’s entrance. “Its impact is visible in the form of over 50,000 nameplates installed across India bearing daughters’ names… This small step symbolises a big change,” Jaglan observes. He also pioneered initiatives in women’s health and safety: for instance, distributing “First Period Smile” kits and educational charts in schools to help girls with menstrual hygiene, and declaring his village’s households “gali-mukt” (abuse-free) by campaigning against the use of derogatory language at home. To encourage girls’ leadership, he organized Balika Panchayats (girls’ assemblies) where young women could practice governance by discussing community issues. And in a challenge to child marriage norms, Jaglan held special Khap meetings urging that girls not marry before 21, even getting the traditionally conservative councils to endorse higher marriage ages. Many of these local interventions later found echoes in government policy or were adopted by NGOs elsewhere. “Jaglan’s innovative campaigns made Bibipur the country’s first women-friendly gram panchayat and inspired similar initiatives in hundreds of villages,” reports the Hindustan Times, underscoring the ripple effect one village’s changes have had.
Earlier this year, Sunil Jaglan launched yet another campaign, extending his mission for gender equality. On March 29, 2025 (his younger daughter Yachika’s birthday), he introduced “Beti Hoon, Beti Bolo” – which translates to “I am a daughter, say ‘daughter’.” This nationwide initiative aims to change a subtle but widespread social habit: many Indians affectionately call their daughters “beta” (meaning son in Hindi) as a colloquial term of endearment, reflecting a deep-rooted mindset that valorizes sons as the default. “A large portion of the population – including educated families – address their daughters as ‘beta’, which has a direct impact on their minds and hinders gender equality,” Jaglan explains. Through Beti Hoon, Beti Bolo, he is urging families to drop the practice and consciously use the word “beti” (daughter) instead, reinforcing that being a daughter is equally valuable and nothing to disguise linguistically. The campaign has quickly gained support: women in Bibipur admitted they’d never considered the implications of the term and pledged to spread the message. Jaglan plans to take this drive to 100,000 villages by organizing special gram sabha meetings, school workshops, and social media outreach across several states. “We will hold regular online meetings and spread the word… community outreach programs of universities, collaborations with stakeholders – not only that, some 18,000 gram panchayats in nine states are already in touch with us,” he says of the rollout. The goal is to fundamentally change the way people speak to and about their girls, in turn subtly reshaping attitudes over time.
Jaglan’s multifaceted activism has earned him national and even international recognition. A National Award-winning documentary film titled “Son Rise” featured his story of fighting female foeticide (the film, directed by Vibha Bakshi, was screened at Harvard and Yale). He has been invited to share his experience in countries from Nepal to South Korea, and his work was written into a chapter of an 8th-grade school textbook to inspire the next generation. In 2022, the London-based diamond company De Beers honored Jaglan with an award for community leadership in women’s empowerment. Through all the accolades, Jaglan remains focused on grassroots change. “Prime Minister sir, the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign you started from our state… the whole country tried to win under your leadership – it is really a big thing for me and for every father of a daughter,” he told PM Modi in a recent conversation, emphasizing that his mission is about complementing government efforts with local action. Indeed, Jaglan often refers to the fight against female foeticide as the “fourth battle of Panipat,” likening it to a historic war – this time, a war for the daughters of Haryana. It’s a battle he believes society can win through persistent awareness and empathy.
Impact and the Road Ahead
After ten years, “Selfie with Daughter” and its sister campaigns have begun to show measurable – if gradual – impact on society. The most striking change is in the numbers: Haryana’s sex ratio at birth has climbed significantly, from an abysmal 871 girls per 1000 boys in 2014 to about 923 girls per 1000 today. Once infamous for female foeticide, the state now “is celebrating the birth of every girl child,” Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said recently, attributing the turnaround to the combined efforts of government initiatives and grassroots movements. Across India, early signs of shifting attitudes are visible in villages that used to hide newborn girls away but now hold public naming ceremonies for daughters, and in families that previously stopped sending girls to school but are now ensuring their daughters complete their education. While challenges remain (such as ensuring those 923 girls survive and thrive into adulthood, with equal opportunities), campaigns like Selfie with Daughter have succeeded in sparking conversations in homes that never had them before. “I feel the campaign has had some positive impact in my own district and some other places as well and has helped bring a change in the people’s mindset towards the girl child,” Jaglan observes, noting that in Jind district, more fathers proudly introduce themselves as “so-and-so’s dad” with a daughter’s name rather than only a son’s. His website’s gallery – over 100,000 photos strong – stands as a testament to these changing mindsets, each selfie a tiny act of defiance against old prejudices.
The campaign’s emphasis on girls’ education and empowerment has dovetailed with national goals. While sharing selfies is largely symbolic, local officials say it often opens the door to deeper engagement: parents who participate become more receptive to attending workshops on saving for their daughter’s higher education, or ensuring she has equal inheritance rights. In line with this, recent Selfie with Daughter Day themes have targeted substantive issues. Last year’s focus on young women voters was aimed at increasing electoral participation among women – part of a broader trend that saw record numbers of female voters in several Indian states. This year, though no single theme was announced publicly, the 10th anniversary is being used to spotlight girls’ achievements: social media posts by the foundation are sharing stories of daughters who excelled in traditionally male-dominated fields, from aviation to wrestling, often crediting supportive parents. The government has also used the opportunity to reiterate policies under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao – such as scholarships for girls and stricter enforcement against prenatal sex determination – illustrating how awareness translates into action. Meanwhile, the campaign’s global footprint continues to grow. Organizers report selfie submissions from 80+ countries now, and interest from Indian diaspora groups to formally observe Selfie with Daughter Day in places like Canada and the UK in the coming years. The Selfie With Daughter Foundation, which Jaglan leads, has started collaborating with international NGOs on adapting some of his other initiatives (for example, a pilot project in Kenya is introducing “Digital India with Laado” by encouraging Kenyan villages to honor daughters on nameplates, tailored to their context).
Perhaps the greatest impact, however, cannot be fully captured by numbers or events. It lies in the subtle shift of perspective: the normalization of publicly cherishing daughters. A generation ago, social approval in many Indian communities came only when a family had a son; today, thanks to efforts like Jaglan’s, celebrating one’s daughter is not only acceptable but trendy. Parents from Haryana to Kathmandu now proudly post selfies with captions like “My daughter, my pride,” often tagging the campaign. For young girls, seeing their fathers and mothers openly value them is an empowering message. “During the last eight years, we have received selfies from 80 countries… many posted by prominent personalities,” Jaglan says, but what delights him more are the ordinary fathers in patriarchal heartlands who tell him that taking a selfie with their little girl felt like “a badge of honor”. Those small emotional victories are what add up to societal change. In many villages now, when a girl is born, sweets are passed around – and no nurse dares refuse them.
As India prepares to mark Selfie with Daughter Day 2025, Sunil Jaglan remains both proud and pragmatic. He knows a one-day celebration or a social media trend alone cannot erase deep-seated biases. But it can start a conversation and reinforce a positive behavior. His own daughter Nandini, now a teenager, has joined his mission, running initiatives in menstrual health and advocating abuse-free schools. The hope is that her generation will carry forward the momentum. “It’s no magic,” Jaglan says of the progress so far, noting that many of his campaigns have since been adopted by state and central governments as official programs. The true measure of success will be when celebrating daughters is so routine that it no longer makes news. Until then, Jaglan is determined to keep innovating and pushing boundaries. “When I realised the need for change, I transformed myself first. The day other men realise it, they will change, too,” he often reminds fathers around him. Ten years on, that change is underway – one selfie, one daughter, one proud family at a time.
Bold Resolution by Lado Panchayat of Hrayna: Declare Female Foeticide as Murder in the Constitution
