Insta
‘Spiritual’ Training To Girls In Kerala’s Malappuram To Overcome Love ‘Disease’ Draws Flak
Medical students in Kerala (Vipin Kumar/Mint via Getty Images)
A spiritual training programme that will train girls aged 13 years and above to help them stay focussed on studies and avoid guileful Casanovas will be held at Kottakal in Kerala’s Malappuram district has raised a controversy. The SSM Institute of Human Development and Research in Kottakal, which is holding the training on 12 August, says the issue of Casanovas in the region is a serious one girls need to be taught what real love us but critics of the programme say it doesn’t have real objective like empowerment of women.
Malayalam daily Manorama reported that the training would include sessions on “Chemistry of Love”. The organisers also say that the programme will make girls aware of their body and growth.
Malappuram is a district where Muslims make up over 70 per cent of the population. The district is the stronghold of the Indian Union Muslim League, a party that is part of the the United Democratic Front led by the Congress in Kerala.
The programme has been criticised on the social media for terming love as a pathological problem or “scourge”. The organisers have also said that “love can be dangerous and sometimes a disease”, which critics find more objectionable.
The daily quoted psychiatrist C J John of Kochi Medical Hospital as saying that the organisers are using “pseudo psychiatric template” to make women follow conventional and orthodox roles. The organisers are also being questioned on why the programme is only for advising women and not men.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
