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In the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, 700 brides at a mass wedding were presented with wooden bats and told to use them as weapons should their husbands become drunk or abusive.

The paddles are normally used for getting dirt out of clothes in traditional laundries, but those given out to the brides were stamped with pink and blue messages saying "a gift to keep drunks in check" and "police won't say anything".

At the ceremony in central India over the weekend, Gopal Bhargava, the minister of social justice and rural development, presented women with the bats and urged them to put them to use if necessary.

He said: “If your husband or any other member of family comes home drunk, treat him with it.” Mr Bhargava has ordered nearly 10,000 bats for distribution to newlywed women.

He explained that the purpose of the bats was to help rural women protect themselves as concerns over alcoholism mount in India.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new...iven-wooden-paddles/

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In the case of wives killing the husband with bats, I wonder if these women will not be charged given the fact they are given the tools to defend themselves, by the Justice Minister?

cain
Last edited by cain

I recently return  from  a photo assignment in  Punjab and Rajastan, where we attended two weddings.

We stayed with a family in Ludhiana where the men were served meals first. Often the women afterwards ate from the same plate that was left by  the men. Even in Canada I noticed the same practice. Maybe the bonding of love, cause sharing from the same plate.

In India, I suggested that men  assist the women in cooking, so we can all sit together at the  table for  meals.

The women laughed uneasily  at the suggestion and my friendly guide  said , don't impose your culture on us.

Rass, it was like Guyana in de old days, until me  brothers start cooking dinner, under the guidance of our mother.

This was a good thing for me alone in Vancouver in the 1960's , or me rass would starve.   

Tola
Last edited by Tola
Ramakant-P posted:

This is not the way to solve the alcoholic problem.  It's a cop out.

 

actually, the paddle is not to solve the alcoholic problem, it's to beat the men who misbehave when they drunk or otherwise

FM
kp posted:

The bats are used for self defense.

KP

You need to clarify which one of the bats that you are speaking of. There are two bats in the article. One bat given to the women and then the men have their own bats (attached).

Which of the bats ?

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Attached bats could easily be beaten with one of those same paddles. Next thing we hear a banna got a piece of wood stuck in his bat and had to receive a tetanus shot for it. Then we hear about wood ants eating at their bats. Not a pretty sight.

cain
Leonora posted:

I salute this move. Good luck to the girls.

So, you support DV as long as it's the woman dishing it out!  Now, when you get the reaction, you cry foul!  DV should never be condoned, supported, aided or abetted in any form and by anyone, man or woman.  Anyone who supports DV in any form is as guilty of the person committing it!!

FM

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