Mallika Sarabhai, others protest 'sexual harassment' in Bhuj Swaminarayan institute

By A Representative
Strongly protecting against the Shri Sahajanand Girls Institute, Bhuj, for its allegedly outrageous act of forcing young women hostelers to undress to check if they were menstruating, thereby violating the “religious norms” of the institute, the Gujarat Mahila Manch (GMM) has claimed, the incident "violates the basic rights of young women".
Insisting that the incident amounts to outraging "the modesty of young women, causing them mental trauma and amounts to sexual harassment", the GMM statement, signed by about 1,300 concerned citizens, mainly women activists, says, "Such incidents reinforce the redundant and unscientific idea of women being dirty while they menstruate."
Signed, among others, by prominent danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, academics Jharna Pathak, Meera Velayudhan and Neha Shah, and social activists Manjula Pradeep, Nirjhari Sinha, Nafisa Barot, Pankti Jog, Sejal Dand, Shabnam Hashmi and Nita Mahadev, the statement regrets, despite widescale outrage, the institute's trustee Pravin Pindoria has warned the students, “Take whatever legal action you wish to take, this will continue, and if you have any objection, you can leave the hostel”.
Pointing out that this suggests the trustees are supporting the act and are more concerned about upholding the outdated norms of the Swaminarayan sect, to which the institute belongs, the incident says, "Ironically, the institute proclaims its mission to be 'self-development and empowerment of girls through scientific and value-based education'."
According to the statement, at an educational institute where young women are under the custody of such a warden and principal who acted the way they did suggests the girls' safety is compromised.

Mallika Sarabhai

"The act violates the fundamental duties under article 51A of the Indian Constitution which want every citizen “to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities", even as renouncig practices "derogatory to the dignity of women”, GMM insists.
Wanting the incident to be nipped in the bud, the statement demands that, while FIR has been registered in the incident, and vice-chancellor Darshana Dholakia of the Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kutch University has set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the matter, action should be taken against all those involved in the incident under Sections 354, 509 and 355 of the Indian Penal Code.
Seeking removal of the warden with immediate effect and action on all those who made statements justifying the act, the statement demands counseling sessions for the young women who have been "traumatized by the incident", adding, parents and young women should be given "an open environment to speak about the incident without any intimidation and the young women's demands be heard as part of the process."
---
Click here for the names of 1,291 persons who endorsed the statement

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Search This Blog