Bhopal: Invited to a school to speak about girls’ safety, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh Savita Suhane instead decided to advise the students on how to have “ojaswi” (bright) babies.
Avoid conceiving on a full moon night, she told them. A seconds-long video clip of her speech has drawn much attention on social media.
Speaking to ThePrint, Suhane defended her remarks, saying they were part of a longer speech and made to ensure that societal culture is maintained.
Asked if there had been repercussions based on the 3 October incident, sources in the Madhya Pradesh Police said no action had been taken.
In a 35-second clip from her speech, the Shahdol DIG can be heard saying, “The new generation that you will bring forth on Earth, how will you give it? You have to plan for it. First note my words, never conceive during a full moon, and always offer prayers to the Sun god before it. Offer water to the Sun god, before conceiving it will result in ojaswi children.”
Suhane made the remarks while addressing the students of Classes 10, 11, and 12 at a private school in Madhya Pradesh as part of the state’s ‘Main hoon Abhimanyu’ programme to spread awareness on the safety of girls.
Speaking to ThePrint, the senior police officer said, “The comments were made during a 1.25 hour-long speech on girl safety. How will we ensure that women and girls are respected and how the foundation for the new generation should be laid? These were not small children, but those of classes such as 11 and 12. If we can teach them about good touch and bad touch, then why not about this.”
The Shahdol DIG further said, “One cannot take a tablet and ensure that the next generation is cultured and samajik sanskriti (societal culture) is maintained. It is in this context that the remarks were made.”
“I did not intend to hurt anyone with my remarks or words, and if that has happened, I will ensure to avoid it in the future,” she added.
The ‘Main hoon Abhimanyu’ programme is an ongoing initiative by the Madhya Pradesh Police to spread awareness on ways to prevent crimes against women through various activities from debates and nukkad nataks (street plays) to lectures and marathons, among other activities.
Suhane was inducted into the police force in 1994 as a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and was a lecturer prior to that.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: Fixed timings, secure transport among ‘suggestions’ by UP govt in aftermath of RG Kar case
The Indian govt has been trying to fight Allah’s will ever since Independence. And it has failed miserably all along.
Why is it that a girl attains puberty by the age of 10? Why is it that a boy attains puberty by the age of 12?
Because it’s Allah’s will that they get married and procreate. Allah willed it that way and hence human bodies function in accordance with his will.
Artificial human interventions such as raising the legal marriage age to 18 (for girls) and 21 (for boys) is never going to work.
Allah’s will is the final word. If he grants puberty to humans at such tender age, it’s because he knows that they are perfectly capable of birthing and rearing a child. The government must not decide who can marry and at what age.