Overview
- Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel told women to become “expert mothers” before aspiring to jobs such as IAS officer or teacher in a convocation address in Kanpur on Thursday.
- At the 41st convocation of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Patel presided over the conferral of 1,07,713 degrees and inaugurated digital delivery of certificates via DigiLocker for more than 1.07 lakh graduates.
- The governor said a Jan Bhavan monitoring team had found instances of narcotics allegedly being supplied through food delivery containers near hostels and that administrative steps had dismantled the reported network.
- Her remarks drew immediate criticism from commentators and students who said the ‘expert mother’ test is gendered and unfair, a contrast to the convocation fact that women won about 82% of the medals.
- Patel’s comment is the latest in a string of speeches this week on women’s health, family values and campus safety and it may prompt renewed scrutiny of university guidance, administrative oversight and how public officials discuss gender roles.