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.
In a significant judgement, the Bombay High Court on Friday lifted the ban imposed on women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali dargah. The ban was imposed somewhere between March and June 2012 by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust.
Comments
Please be a muslim and stop going to dargahs, it is prohibited in Islam, Dargahs nothing but a grave, don't expect any help from deceased, seek help from Allah only, real muslims will never go to Dargahs.
Dear Non Muslim Brothers.
I was going through your comments.One thing i would like to clarify with you is that do not judge Islam by seeing other's rather try to learn later you can judge your own.Islam never entertain Darga or Darga Pooja it is the people who added in Islam for their benefits where as Allah almighty do not need any Mediator.Learn Islam before its too late.
Question to the trustee
Who is watching breast of female visitors?
Dargah is not meant for those who believe in \Tawheed\"."
Still it is better than doing Shirq.!
Stop doing shirq & Nobody will show you anything.
Pray to Almighty Allah Only.
First of all true religious lady will not visit any dargah ( major shirk) which is haram in Islam.
Secondly how Muslim lady mingle with gents in any public or private place which is also haraam in Islam.
Thirdly looking at ghair mahrum is also haraam in Islam.
So all are eagerly awaiting to do haraam things in life!!! Shabbash...
@ Monu.. have you been to Haji Ali Darga.. go and see how many non-muslims come there and prostrate.. or else the Dargah should pass a rule for all.. to cover oneself with shawl or something to avoid such incidents
Haraam it is Shirkh for Muslims to pray in Dargah or visit it.
Mr. L.K. Monu
They are referring to non-muslims women entering dargah.,
Dear Reader.
In Islam women (compulsorily) should wear full covering cloth including all the parts of the body, leg and hand and except only face and 2 palm.
So where is the question of showing breast.
Note: Praying is normally include Rokooh and Sujood i.e. bend the body and Prostration and which is only for Almighty Allah not to Shrine of Bukhari who is buried there.
Now where is the question of Breast show up.
Add new comment