A passage in an English paper was criticized as being blatantly misogynistic and caused outrage in India. It contained ‘atrocious statements’ that stated women who don’t ‘obey’ their husbands is the primary reason kids are not disciplined.
A passage in the national English literature and language exam contained a “shockingly retrograde” statement that explicitly stated that India’s women’s independence was the main reason for many social and family issues.
Due to the controversy over this passage, the Indian exam Board has decided not to allow it in the National English Language and Literature Exam. This exam was taken Saturday by 14-15-year-old students.
All of the students have been awarded full marks for the comprehension section of the exam following the outcry, with opposition politician Sonia Gandhi to labelling the passage as ‘blatantly misogynist’.

After the protest, all students received full marks in the comprehension section. Sonia Gandhi, an opposition politician (pictured), called the passage ‘blatantly feminist’.
The offensive passage contained statements like “wives stop obeying their husbands, and that’s the main reason why children and servants become undisciplined” and “it was only through accepting her husbands’ way that a mom could gain obedience over younger ones.”
Also, the passage said “The emancipation for the wife.” “Dismantled the authority of parents over children” and “in bringing down the man from his pedestal the wife and mother deprived herself of the means to discipline.”
A public outcry from children, parents and teachers prompted Sonia Gandhi, the president of the opposition Congress party, to raise the issue in the country’s parliament on Monday.
Gandhi read the passage out to parliament. She called it’shockingly progressive’ and added that it contained ‘atrocious remarks’.
Gandhi said to Parliament, “The whole passage is filled with such condamnable ideas and questions that follow it are equally absurd.”
She said, “I also add my voice and objections to the concerns of students parents teachers educationists and educators, and I strongly object to such blatantly ostracistic material being allowed to enter an important examination by the Central Board of Secondary Education.”
“It is a reflection of extremely poor standards in education and testing. It is against the principles and norms of a democratic society.
Gandhi called on the minister of education as well as the Central Board of Secondary Board (India’s examination board) to immediately retract the passage and carry out a review of the ‘egregious error and ensure it’s never again.
Gandhi also stated, “I strongly urge that the ministry education conducts a review of gender-sensitive standards in the curriculum testing and curriculum.”

A passage in the national English literature and language exam contained a “shockingly retrograde” statement that explicitly stated that India’s women’s independence was the main reason for many social and family issues (file image: students in India).
Rahul Gandhi (the son of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi) described Gandhi’s passage as “downright distasteful” and tweeted that it was “typical RSS-BJP ploys for crushing the morale, future and hopes of the youth”.
According to NDTV, after the protest, the Central Board of Secondary Education announced that it would withdraw the passage from exam just moments following Gandhi’s speech.
The matter was sent to an expert committee. Their recommendations led to the decision to scrap the passage. Accordingly, the board stated, students will receive full-time parks in the event of the passage.
Although the numbers of Indian girls going to school are increasing, literacy rates for them remain low compared with boys.