New Delhi: Portions from a B.Sc. nursing textbook titled ‘Textbook of Sociology for Nurses’ by T.K. Indrani is being criticised for talking about the “merits of dowry”.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi Monday wrote to Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, requesting that such “anti-women” and “derogatory” content should not be in circulation.
“One of the so-called advantages as stated in the textbook says – ‘Because of the burden of dowry many parents have started educating their girls. When the girls are educated or even employed the demand for dowry will be less. Thus, it is an indirect advantage’. It is appalling how such derogatory and problematic text remains in circulation and that a textbook elaborating the merits of dowry can actually exist in our curriculum is a matter of shame for our nation and its Constitution,” Chaturvedi wrote in her letter addressed to Pradhan.
ThePrint reached the Ministry of Education and Pradhan’s office for a comment regarding the letter but was yet to get a response till the time of publishing this copy.
The MP has also requested “to immediately stop circulation of such regressive textbooks and take them off the curriculum”.
“I also request you to take strict measures in this regard and ensure that in future such anti-women content is neither taught or promoted, especially by the academic institutions and that the textbooks are reviewed and approved by a panel,” she added.
A portion of the textbook, which has been highlighted both by Chaturvedi and some social media users, reads, “Ugly looking girls can be married off with attractive dowry with well or ugly looking boys.”
The passage goes on to add, “Dowry is helpful in establishing a new household.”
The book has been published by Jaypee Brothers, a private publication house that specialises in medical books. The cover of the textbook says that the syllabus is according to the “Indian Nursing Council”. The author, Indrani, has written several other books on nursing, including – ‘History of Nursing’, ‘Textbook of Midwifery’ and ‘Research Methodology for Nurses’, among others.
ThePrint also reached the publishers of the book via email to get a comment on the controversy but there was no response. This copy will be updated once there is a response from the publishers.
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