Karnataka governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala stoked a controversy by suggesting that women and girls should not go to beauty parlours as it diverts their focus from their prime work, including studies.
Addressing the valedictory function of the 103rd Science Congress on Thursday, the Governor said: “Women should focus on studies rather than paying more attention on their beautification by going to parlours. Girls and researchers need to be more objective towards their studies and not on presenting themselves in fashionable way.”
Vala added: “Girls should not waste their time in shaping up their eyebrows and engaging in other beauty tips.” The Governor, who addressed the last day of Science Congress in Hindi, said: “I have noticed that girls are more focused towards their studies in comparison to boys as they are addicted to ‘other’ things.”
The Governor’s suggestion has not gone down well among women scholars and teachers. A research scholar at Mysore University has strongly condemned Vala’s statement.
“Every woman is free to do whatever she wishes to. How can a Governor say such things? I go to parlours and get my eyebrows done, but that does not mean that I am not focused on my studies,”said Soumya KB, a research scholar.
She added nobody has the right to question our independence. “We are living in the 21st century and no one can impose their thoughts on women,” she said.
Shefali Roy, a Political Science professor at Patna University, said: “Going to parlour hardly makes an impact on girls’ education. To be smart and clean is not a crime. It is a girl’s choice as to how she wishes to live and study and no one has the right to impose their thoughts on her.”
Roy added: “I’ve never noticed such thing in my college. Girls are well dressed and have always performed well in studies.”
Another teacher of GB Pant University, Uttarakhand, Amit Saxena said, “I do agree with the Governor’s view as girls should not project themselves as models in colleges and schools. They need to be more subjective towards studies than dressing sense.”
This is not the first time that leaders have raised questions on the dressing of women. Earlier, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma had said that – “girls wanting a nightout may be all right elsewhere but it’s not part of Indian culture”. Sharma had said that he had nothing against Western culture but Indians shouldn’t follow it blindly.