Bhopal: A university in Bhopal has taken up the responsibility of preparing adarsh bahu, or ‘model daughters-in-law’, to tackle the ‘evils’ breaking families and societies in India. The Barkatullah University has decided to start a three-month training course to prepare model daughters-in-law from the next academic session. The announcement is in keeping women’s empowerment in mind, the university has claimed.

Speaking to The Wire, Barkatullah University vice chancellor (VC) D.C. Gupta said, “This is a three-month course. These days, we see that social evils are breaking families apart. We are starting the course so that families remain intact. This is not a course about the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law but about how to keep the entire family from breaking apart.”

He further said, “We see that these days there are disputes in families over small issues and families are breaking apart. People are fighting within a year of marriage and the issue even goes to the extent of a divorce. Now what will happen to the girl and the family? So should we not do something that saves the family from breaking apart?

On being asked what exactly will be taught in the course, the VC said, “We will teach students how to deal with difficult situations and save the family from breaking apart. We will also examine the evils in society that have contributed to such break downs. We will teach how to save family from such evils. It is our endeavor to work towards women’s empowerment through this course.”

The VC said 30 girls will be admitted in the first batch. Regarding the minimum qualification for admission, he said that it is too early to say anything. According to sources, feedback will also be taken from the families of girls who complete the course.

According to The Times of India, K.N. Tripathi, head of the Department of Psychology, appreciated the VC’s decision, saying the course is a good step. Tripathi said the VC wants to bring changes to the society.



Meanwhile, Asha Shukla, head of the Department of Women’s Education, said she was not aware of start of such a course.

Earlier, there were media reports that the Indian Institute of Technology (Benares Hindu University) was starting an ‘adarsh bahu’ training under the Young Skilled India program. The IIT administration had, however, denied the reports, claiming there was no plan to run such a course.

