Is 'Meri Bahu Adarsh' the new MBA? Why we all should join this course

There was a time when everyone (almost) — irrespective of their area of studies and interest — was eager for an MBA degree. We are not sure whether the frenzy has lived its life and passed the spirit to a new MBA — ‘Meri Bahu Adarsh’ course.

Otherwise, what explains the sudden spurt in reports of institutions offering a crash course on how to become ‘Adarsh Bahu’ (Ideal Wife)?

A few days ago, it was ‘reported’ that IIT-BHU was planning a course to convert girls into skilled wives. Soon, the authorities denied the reports. We were told that a private startup incubated at IIT-BHU was behind the novel idea and the IIT had no association with it. The startup reportedly said it was imparting job training to women.

Now again, there are reports claiming that it’s not IIT-BHU, but Bhopal’s Barkatullah University, which is finally launching such a course from next academic session.

We don’t know which reports to believe, but what we can blindly believe is the age-old correlation between demand and supply. Of course, adarsh bahus are in demand and that’s why there’s such a buzz around it.

We are neither surprised, nor complaining.

Instead, we recommend this course to everyone. The eligibility bar must be really low, according to an NDTV report. You just have to finish your schooling. (Absolutely the age when you need a written document certifying that you are an ideal bride.)

Also, there can’t be any better utilisation of three months of our lives.

Why we are not amused

Matrimonial advertisements have prepared us well to survive this day. If all those adjectives of ‘fair-skinned’ and ‘convent-educated’ were not enough, a recent advertisement has created much uproar on social media for being very clear about its demand.

Without mincing any words, the advertisement said that the supposedly suitable boy (37 years old) does not want a ‘feminist’ bride.

Well.

That such advertisements will lead to a certification on this contentious issue is not surprising.

Wow! We can now stop families breaking apart!

According to a report, the theme of this course is 'women's empowerment'. Taking cues from subjects like sociology, psychology and women's studies, this course is being designed apparently to stop families from breaking apart. It aims to teach girls how to handle difficult situations in a new family, how to interact with new family members, etc.

Nothing wrong.

Finally, the conditioning that family members have been offering all these years before sending their daughters to another family will actually get a formal name.  

Why should we join?

Problem solving, which the course aims to offer, is quite an underrated skill.

Since there must be a huge rush for other vocational training programmes, even boys should be able to sign up for this Adarsh Bahu course, because who doesn’t want the qualities of an adarsh bahu in their employees — who will solve all problems with just a snap of their fingers and will not ever demand a raise?

How about a course on how men can be ‘adarsh husbands’ beginning with @narendramodi and if you think it’s his personal choice the same rule applies to us too. The govt cannot interfere in the personal lives of women. We don’t need to be told how to be and not to be. https://t.co/PrS79qhBDp

— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) September 15, 2018

We can play politics of various sorts and can even bring Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan into the whole debate, as he is an alumnus of the university.

But that’s not ‘adarsh’ behaviour.

There are only 30 seats for the course. Let’s not waste time. Instead, accept the fact that this is the course we need and deserve!

Also read: Why we are so glad that 150 men took a holy dip to get rid of 'toxic feminism'