Hyderabad: In a country, where misogyny bubbles under the surface among many men, comes an essay which is about a ‘Modern Girl’ published in a Current School Essays book which is intended for ICSE, CBSE Secondary and Higher Secondary Students has shocked almost everyone who has read it.
Jogulamba Gadwal SP Rema Rajeshwari who tweeted pictures of the book said, “I am not quite sure about the author of the book but this was sent by my batchmate from Delhi but I strongly condemn the misinformation, negative, stereotypical and projection of an educated women who is empowered enough to get educated and step out of the house to do whatever she wants. It is very unfortunate that is the kind of misinformation we are giving to the kids who are in their formative years.”
She adds, “There has to be a monitoring mechanism to keep a check on these private publishers so that such misinformation is not taught to the kids because this is clear misinformation like Fake news. This is another form of fake news because what if parents are not educated and they don’t go through these books to check the content. At least this book’s details were shared but we don’t know how many such books exist in our country. I remember when we were in school we had such nice NCERT books as it was our own window to the world but these days if we have a piece of information we have to verify it.”
Mrs Anjali Razdan, Vice Chairperson, Hyderabad Sahodaya Schools Complex (HSSC) said, “Well this is the weirdest essay I have come across and it is ridiculous and most retrograde and denigrating of women. If this is an authenticated book and an authentic author then he/she should be put behind bars for even thinking and worse penning down such messages, in the name of essays. Today’s child is far beyond these thoughts but if it is preached in rural areas, it definitely sends wrong signals to the vulnerable minds of both boys and girls. In fact I will go a step further to say that there is no such thing as ‘modern’ today. Every woman now lives by her terms and modernity is only a mindset and doesn’t come from clothes or cosmetics.”
She adds, “The world’s focus is now on environmental concerns rather than dressing and make-up and the more aware and concerned one is the better are your chances of survival. Also the time has come to educate the boys rather than girls about modernity of thoughts, actions, responsibilities etc all. If ever it needs to be defined , then ‘modern’ could be more about actions and attitudes, empathy and ethos rather than clothes.”
Mrs Reshma Joshi Inamdar, Head Master-Aurbindo International School said, “Now what has been given in the essay seems to be the author’s views about modern girls and does not contain any progressive content on the subject. Extremely immature and deliberate in approach. The only thing I can appreciate in this essay is the modern thought of girls (and boys) to be conscious of their fitness.”
She adds, “I think this essay needs the approach of a modern lifestyle, the opportunities it provides, resources, technology, knowledge gaining, communication and above all the need to inculcate sustainable environmental values. Apart from the above, there is also a plethora of hobbies and interests that a modern girl can develop these days. Modern relates to more dynamic and a vibrant world but with its disadvantages of missing naivity and ethnicity. I think the present modern girl is steadily moving towards striking a balance between modernising traditions.”
