The recent lathicharge on women students at Banaras Hindu University’s Mahila Maha Vidyalaya has raised uncomfortable questions for those who seek to promote a vision of New India. If in the PM’s constituency, its premier educational institute is exposed for practising institutionalised gender discrimination, be it on curfew times, non-vegetarian food or even access to the internet, then the New India dream looks tattered. The lathicharge on BHU girls protesting against sexual harassment was a reminder of just how panicky the Indian state becomes when faced with modern independent women aggressively demanding their rights.
The physical violence unleashed by the police was matched by the verbal violence unleashed on social media by so-called ‘nationalists’ and by the BHU vice-chancellor who has Read More
