A few months ago, Nitish Kumar, the great CM of Bihar, spewed out a whole load of garbage that was as stupid as it was disgusting. His comments on women, education and the pull-out method of population control are not just about his own ignorance but a pointer to the deep-seated misogyny that runs through Indian society. This is not just about one man’s backwardness; it’s about a culture that continues to disrespect and demean women at every turn. And it’s time we call it out for what it is: a shameful continuation of outdated gender norms that should have been buried long ago.
Nitish Kumar’s Controversial Comments
Let’s not beat around the bush here. Nitish Kumar’s comments are pure idiocy. He said that educated women when married, will understand the need to pull out and control the population. Here’s what he said: “Agar ladki padh legi… aur jab shaadi hoga ladka-ladki mein… aur woh jo purush hai, roz raat mein jab shaadiya hota hai, uske saath karta hai na… to usi mein aur paida ho jata hai… aur ladki padh leti hai… ki humko maloom tha ki woh karega theek hai… lekin ant mein usko bheetar mat ghusao… usko bahar kar do… aur karta to hai… to usi mein… aap samajh lijiye ki sankhya ghat rahi hai.” Translation: If a girl is educated, she will know to tell her husband to pull out to prevent pregnancies.
This is not population control; it’s medieval madness. Amazingly, a man in his position can spew such nonsense without a hint of shame or self-awareness. But Nitish Kumar is not alone in this parade of misogyny. Indian politics is full of such examples of verbal diarrhoea from men who should know better but clearly don’t.
A Legacy of Misogyny in Indian Politics
Nitish Kumar’s comments fit into a long tradition of Indian politicians making disgusting sexist comments. Take Dr K Sudhakar, Karnataka’s Health Minister, who said Indian women want to stay single and childless because of Western influence. Or BJP’s Dayashankar Singh, who in 2016 compared Mayawati, a Dalit leader, to a prostitute. Singh’s exact words: “Even a prostitute fulfils her commitment to a man after she is paid. But Mayawati, a big UP leader, sells party tickets to anyone who pays her the most.”
And then there’s former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Mullappally Ramachandran, who said a woman filed cases against Congress leaders because she was an “adulteress”. And who can forget Mulayam Singh Yadav’s “boys will be boys” defence of rapists? He said, “Ladke ladke hain, galti ho jati hai (boys will be boys, mistakes can be made)”, effectively reducing rape to a minor mistake.
And that’s not all. Digvijaya Singh of the Congress party called a female party member “sau tunch maal”, a slang term used to objectify women. Abhijit Mukherjee, son of former President Pranab Mukherjee, dismissed women protesting the Delhi bus gangrape as “dented and painted” women chasing fame. And let’s not forget BJP’s Gopal Shetty, who reduced actor Urmila Matondkar’s political candidacy to her looks.
The Social Impact of Misogynistic Attitudes
When leaders say such things, it’s not just offensive; it’s dangerous. These comments normalize misogyny and reinforce toxic gender norms. They tell women we don’t matter, our voices don’t count, and our rights are secondary. This is the kind of language that encourages everyday sexism and violence against women.
Let’s see how these attitudes play out. Despite some progress, women in Bihar still face many hurdles. While there has been improvement in education and life expectancy, the economic and social status of women is pathetic. Schemes like the Samagra Shiksha Scheme and Akshar Aanchal Yojana are trying to empower women through education. Still, they are fighting against a deep-rooted patriarchy and misogyny.
Bihar, a state which is often called backwards, is a perfect example of India’s gender issues. Despite significant investments in education and women empowerment schemes, progress is slow and uneven. Bihar Skills Development Mission and other schemes are trying to skill women for economic independence. Still, these efforts are constantly being undermined by the pervasive misogynistic attitudes that Nitish Kumar and his ilk utter so casually.
Thanks to reservation policies, women’s political participation in Bihar has shown some positive trends. The gender gap in voter turnout has narrowed, and more women are participating in local governance. However, these gains are fragile and can be quickly eroded by the kind of regressive language that Nitish Kumar and other politicians use.
The intersection of caste and gender makes the situation of women in Bihar even more complicated. Women from lower castes face multiple layers of discrimination and don’t have access to basic amenities, healthcare and education. Policy interventions must address these intersectional issues to be effective. But when leaders like Kumar say such stupid and insensitive things, the divide only widens.
Do Better
It’s time we demand better. Nitish Kumar’s comments are a stark reminder that the gender equality battle is far from won. We need leaders who respect women, not those who objectify and insult them. A society is judged by how it treats its women, and by that yardstick, we are failing big time.
To change this story, we need to challenge these patriarchal attitudes every step of the way. Public awareness campaigns, education programs and strong policy measures are necessary. We must also hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions. Misogyny has no place in modern society, and it’s up to us to make sure it doesn’t.
Nitish Kumar’s comments are more than a personal failing; they are a symptom of a more significant societal disease. By speaking up and demanding change, we can start dismantling the patriarchy that has held us back for so long. It’s time to move forward and leave behind the regressive attitudes that have no place in a progressive society.
So Nitish Kumar’s comments are a wake-up call. It’s a reflection of the deep-seated misogyny that is not just in Bihar but in Indian society. We need to stop tolerating this and start demanding more. Women deserve respect, equality and the freedom to live their lives without being at the mercy of misguided men in power. Let’s make that happen.
