Bhuj, Feb 14: In a horrifying incident, as many as 68 undergraduate girls were paraded through their college into the restroom and forced to individually remove their undergarments to prove that they were not menstruating.
This shameful exercise was conducted at Shri Sahjanand Girls’ Institute (SSGI) in Gujarat’s Bhuj under the supervision of principal and other teachers.
It all began after the hostel rector complained to the principal that some of the inmates had been violating the Hindu religious norms specifically for menstruating females.
According to the sect’s norms, menstruating females are barred from entering the temple and kitchen. They are even forbidden from touching other students. However, the hostel administration reportedly complained to principal Rita Raninga that some girls who were having their periods not just mingled with other hostel inmates, but also entered the kitchen and ventured near the temple on the premises.
“It was sheer mental torture and we don’t have words to describe it,” a student who underwent the traumatic experience said, adding that there were total 68 girls who were forced to pass through the test.
“The hostel administration levelled this allegation and insulted us on Wednesday. On Thursday, when we were attending lectures, rector Anjaliben called the principal and complained about this. We were forced to leave our classrooms and queue up outside in the passage. The principal abused and insulted us, asking which of us were having our periods. Two of us who were menstruating stepped aside,” said another victim.
“Despite this, we were all taken to the washroom. There, female teachers asked us to individually remove our undergarments so they could check if we were menstruating,” she added.
Another teenage undergraduate said, “We come from farflung villages. The college campus houses a school that runs classes from Class 1to 12. They provide hostel facilities to the school students. The college does not have its own hostel. We live with the school-kids in their hostel.”
She added, “The principal, hostel rector and the trustees harass us regularly over the issue of menstruation. We are punished for having periods. This happens even if we follow their religious rules. They made us remove our undergarments because they thought some of us were lying about not having periods, and mingling with the others against rules. But the humiliation meted out to us on Thursday was the last straw. When we protested against this, trustee Pravin Pindoria told us that we could take legal action if we wanted but we would have to first leave the hostel. He also forced the students to sign a letter saying nothing happened in college. But enough is enough.”
Kutch University authorities have, meanwhile, swung into action and a five-member team including in-charge vice-chancellor, Darshna Dholakia, and two other senior female professors visited the college on Thursday. “We will speak to the students and the college authority and later initiate appropriate action based on the findings,” Dholakia said.
Run by followers of Swaminarayan Mandir, the college was set up in 2012 but moved into a new building on the premises of Shree Swaminarayan Kanya Mandir in 2014. The college which offers BCom, BA and BSc courses has about 1,500 students of which 68, who come from remote villages, stay in the hostel on campus. The college is known for its pro-Hindutva stance.
New Delhi, Feb 13: Condemning the prevalence of the illegal practice of “dedicating” young girls as Devadasis in Hindu society, the Supreme Court on Friday described the practice as an “evil” done to women, who were later even subjected to sexual exploitation and pushed into prostitution.
Comments
Now all like minded should unite and eradicate all the malpractices in the name of religion like :
- Caste system- Upper, lower, Dalit etc.....
- Praying multiple Gods, also praying to Devils, Ghosts
- Fortune telling like horoscope. These can be seen on many Indian TVs.
- Telling the man made stories - that God and giants fight and God is loosing.
- Madai snana in Karanataka,
- Devadasi system in most of the South Indian states
Generally, stick to Vedas and practice it. These are more convincing than man made other books.
The best thing is if you found practical and true, get and follow from other religions.
Where are Ram sena, Bajarangadal ,VHP,ABVP.......? Why not Hindu is ondu in this case. Why not crocodile tears in this case. Wake up fear real creator.
Prostitution Racket using God's Name.. Sick people. This is bcoz of false believes.. Gvt should enforce BAN on it. many poor girls are trapping under this false believes.
Would they agree with SC? May be the order has to come from Nagpur and its never going to happen.
TO those who are ARROGANT
ALLAH says in QURAN: O MANKIND, We have created YOU from a male and a female and have made YOU into nations and tribes for YOU to know ONE another. Truly, the noblest of YOU with God is most PIOUS. Truly, God is all KNOWING, All AWARE - QURAN 49:13
Islam REJECTS certain individuals or nations being favored b'cos of their wealth, power or RACE. ALLAH created human beings as EQUALS who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and PIETY.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh said : O people! Your God is ONE and YOUR forefather (Adam) is ONE. An ARAB is NOT better than a NON-ARAB & a NON-ARAB is not better than an ARAB, and a White person is not better than a BLACK person & a BLACK person is not better than a WHITE person EXCEPT BY GOOD DEEDS & PIETY.
Do YOU know even DALITS also should not be looked down.... If U guys continue to oppress people & did not recognise the true God surely HELL will be the destination. Please READ what God speaks its not just for high class.. everyone can access to GOD's word.
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