Weird Events and Controversies in March 2021: AICTE Guidelines and CM Rawat’s Remark
Introduction: The month of March 2021 was marked by several unusual and controversial events. This article explores two of the weirdest and most significant developments: the incident involving CM Tirath Singh Rawat's controversial remark about women wearing ripped jeans, and the new AICTE guidelines for engineering students.
Controversy Surrounding CM Tirath Singh Rawat's Ripped Jeans Remark
In March 2021, while attending a workshop in Dehradun, CM Tirath Singh Rawat raised a controversial issue by commenting on women wearing ripped jeans. During a discussion, he mentioned a female co-passenger on a flight and criticized her appearance, describing her as wearing ripped jeans and boots, bangles in her hands, and two children traveling with her. Rawat expressed concern about her values and how she would teach her children to display such inappropriate attire in public.
This statement was met with widespread criticism on social media, leading to the hashtag RippedJeansTwitter trending on Twitter. Numerous celebrities, female politicians, and public figures expressed their disapproval, voicing strong protests against such remarks.
Rawat acknowledged the backlash and stated that young people in India were following strange fashion trends due to a lack of values and wore ripped jeans to appear cool. He further mentioned that some individuals cut their jeans using scissors if they couldn't find ripped jeans. Despite this, Rawat recently apologized for his remarks but reiterated his objection to ripped jeans, emphasizing that he doesn't have a problem with jeans themselves but with the manner in which they are worn.
AICTE's New Guidelines for JEE: A Bold Step?
In March 2021, another strange and unconventional development in the world of education was the announcement by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) regarding the new guidelines for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
AICTE decided to introduce a new system where students can apply for engineering programs without a basic knowledge of math and physics. This decision generated much debate, as engineering studies heavily rely on these subjects. While some welcomed the move, arguing that it increases career opportunities for PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) students, others criticized it for being impractical.
The AICTE guidelines stated that engineering students will no longer be required to have a strong foundation in mathematics and physics, which, on one hand, opens up more career paths for students who excel in other subjects like biology or chemistry. However, many believed that engineering requires a solid understanding of these core subjects to ensure graduates are well-prepared for the demands of the field. Hence, the AICTE's move was met with mixed reviews.
Conclusion: Weird, Controversial, and Reflective of Current Societal Trends
March 2021 was indeed a month full of peculiar events and controversial statements that highlight the diverse and often contradictory nature of contemporary society. CM Tirath Singh Rawat's remark about women wearing ripped jeans and the AICTE's new guidelines for JEE serve as powerful examples of these incidents, reflecting both societal values and educational challenges.
What are your thoughts on these developments? Are they truly 'weird', or do they simply represent the evolving nature of societal norms and educational standards?