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.
He was hospitalized on the previous day after he suddenly took ill.
Comments
No words to speak after hearing the sad demise my favorate Mr. P.C.M. Kunhi. I met him last year in the month of April 2015 on my vacation in a programme. He spoke to me and asked about my wishes. Great Educationist, Academist, Philanthropist and wise man.
Helping hand for poor. I was with him in Yenepoya Dental College at Zulekha Complex, Bunder.
May Allah bestow him Jannathul Firdouse and Give him a cool and heavenly life in Barzak.
Aameen Ya Rabbul Aalameen..
Innaa Lillahi Wa Innaa llaihi Raajivoon. May the departed soul rest in peace. May Allah accept all his good deeds and forgive the sins. May Allah bless him with Jannah. May Allah give sabr ( patience ) to the grieved family to bear the loss of their dear one.
Heartfelt condolences.
our deepest condolences to the family members of pc kunhi,
we pray with almighty Allah give patience and strength to the nearest and dearest of all his family members, this is a great loss to all of us, once again we pray for the magfirah of departed soul of kind and soft man. Ameen
to Allah we belong and to Him is our return
our heartfelt condolences to the family members of pc kunhi . may Allah give patience, strength to all his nearest and dearest, the great loss of our family, my deepest condolence to all of them,
we once again pray with almighty for the maghfirah of departed soul of kind and soft man, ameen
Please accept our deepest condolences, \to Allah we belong and to Him is our return\""
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Rajiwoon. Very sad and shocking news. We are with the aggrieved family
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon. May Allah grant him jannah. Indeed he was a great motivator. Hope his son Hashir will fulfill dreams of his father.
A great loss to the community and society. He was a role model for many. Despite his ill health he continued to fulfill his responsibilities.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. May Almighty Allah bestow with Jannathul Firdouse. A big loss to entire coastal muslims as well as for Islamic Academy of Education (Yenepoya University).
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAAJIOON.
The big loss for Muslim Community. He was the Correspondent of Badria College for decades.
May Almighty ALLAH bless him with Jannathul Firdous.
Inna Lillahi Wa inna ilaahi rajioon
The Great Academician, Educationist, Administrator,Philanthropist. the really big loss for the society, we wish him to take rebirth.
RIP, condolences to the family and loved ones.
RIP sir
wanaqalat shaqqana
unbelievable...really really hard to believe
Unbearable loss to the society “RIP”
Inna Lillahi Va Inna Ilaihi Raajivoon...
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajihoon. Allahummghfirlahoo warhamhoo whafu anhoo Yaa Rabbal Aalameen. May Almighty Allah bestow him with the Janathul Firdouse. ameen.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. we pray almighty allah to bless late.prof.p.c.m.kunhi, with his jannathul firdouse, aameen. our heartfelt condolences to the family members of prof.p.c.m.kunhi. may almighty allah give patience, strength and forbearance to all his family members to bear the brunt of bereavement. a soft spoken, well qualified civil engineer, educationist., academician and also an entrepreneur with humility. a very good footballer and a keen sportsman in his heydays. prof.p.c.m.kunhi, is closely known to us for the past 40+years., since his teaching days in krec-surathkal (now-nitk). particularly mangalore muslim community and others have lost a decent gentleman with high esteem. we once again pray with almighty allah for the maghfirah of the departed soul of this noble gentleman, aameen.
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