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Menstrual Untouchability

Sexism, misogynism, and horror! Where has humanity headed that makes it prevaricate pseudoscientific theories based on 'religious' practices? Menstruation is a boon, not a curse. The idea that it is impure and disease-like is blatant sexism and should not be followed. However, OneWorld regrets that these ideas are followed by millions across the world.

Quite recently, A prominent girls' educational centre in Bhuj (Gujarat, India), which is managed by the popular Swaminarayan trust, was charged with the ignominious crime of insulting the dignity of a girl. Sixty-eight girls were isolated and coerced to remove their undergarments upon the suspicion of menstruating yet not isolating themselves (as was the archaic and discriminatory law of the institution). To further the furore, the head of the managing Swaminarayan order, Krushna Swarup Das, proclaimed in a viral video that, 'Menstruating women who will cook for their husbands will be reborn as b******; men consuming food from menstruating women will be reborn as bullocks.' 

While the 'Shastras', religious scriptures, (As was said) do not contain such offensive content, the Manusmriti does. However, the world and modern Hinduism has come to shirk away from the prejudiced, archetypal Manusmriti which also expounds upon the caste system as it is today. So why do we listen to such blatant discrimination? 

Such iniquities must not be tolerated in a forward-thinking nation like India. Menstruation should not shame but empower females. By breaking the backs of these ideas, they not only take away their empowerment but give them enslavement. From thence begins the steady eradication of feminist thought. We must disallow the formation of such institutions which threaten the integrity of India as a nation washed clean of its bigotry.

To make matters worse, counter-protests to the alleged 'defamation' of their religious leader were held in the country. Worse still, women attended these protests, thereby reducing them to periodically diseased people! Such brainwashing can only result in Orwellian situations and religion-actuated solipsism. Such thought-policing and brutal punishment only lead down the path to hell. 

This issue desires action. It requires governmental power to remove such impecunious ideologies and punish such incidents with speed and ferocity. It must correct the wrongs in their thoughts and help them see the other side.

Every day, women are discriminated against for their menstruation. Such practices are a spectre to Indian households. We must not allow such customs to haunt us. The time has come to prevent such ills from being promulgated. We must not regress to backward traditions, but further towards modernity. There is no time to lose. We must fight the wave of orthodoxy and move into the present. When we see ourselves as we truly are, without preternatural biases, we shall truly culminate as humanity.

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