In yet another sexist development in India, Lucknow University women’s hostel has issued a notice regarding the dressing of the residents on Wednesday.
According to a report in Careers 360, the notice forbids residents from wearing “dresses above knee length”. The notice, allegedly issued by the provost of Tilak Girl’s Hall, said that the residents are not allowed to move outside “in spaghetti or vulgar tops”. Student residents flouting the new rule will be fined Rs 100.
However, the hostel provost, Bhuvaneshwari Bhardwaj, has denied putting up an official notice, the student residents maintain that no one can put up a notice without the permission of the provost.
“The notice was put up yesterday morning on the notice board in the mess area where all official notices are posted. When we confronted the provost, we were never told that it is not an official notice. She is going back on her own word,” said a resident on condition of anonymity.
The student had alleged that the provost spoke called over phone to student’s parents and asked them to stop the protest.
“Around 30-35 students had raised objections before the provost and she called the parents of some students because of this they’ve backed down,” the resident further said to Careers 360.
A statement issued by the left-leaning student organisation, All India Students’ Association, Lucknow University unit said, “When the girls dissented over this notice, the provost and university administration tried to intimidate them and threatened girls that if they would not follow up with this notice then they would be expelled from the hostel. Also, the provost forcibly called parents of protesting girls and tried to intimidate and suppress their voices.
“When we protested, ma’am was not ready to listen to us and she said we cannot allow clothes above knee-length. She said if we want azaadi [freedom] from restrictions, we should refund hostel fee and live in a paying-guest accommodation,” said the resident.
Recently, Uttarakhand’s newly elected Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has triggered a row with his remarks on women wearing ripped jeans. Rawat said he was shocked to meet an NGO woman wearing ripped jeans while on a flight with kids.
Tirath Singh Rawat said, “If such women go out in the society to meet people and solve their problems, what kind of message are we giving out to society, to our kids? It all starts at home. What we do, our kids follow. A child who is taught the right culture at home, no matter how modern he becomes, will never fail in life.”
“[Women] showing bare knees, wearing ripped denim and looking like rich kids These are the values being given now [at home]. Where is this coming from, if not at home?”
His statement took social media by storm and social media fell into debate regarding the same.
