‘Martial art need of the hour for girls’

With the death of the Delhi gangrape victim, most of the private schools in West Bengal have decided to make martial art a compulsory subject — especially for girl students — from primary level onwards, to strengthen their self confidence.

In Bengal, there are around 200 private schools and teachers of most of the reputed schools feel that the only way to strengthen the self confidence of girls is to make them physically fit so that they could fight back.

Anindita Chattrejee, Principal of J V Vidyamandir said: "After the Christmas vacation, we will make Karate classes compulsory for all students starting from Class 1 to 12. Till now, Karate is an optional subject, but we feel that as the nation is unsafe for girls, there is a need to make Karate a compulsory subject."

Malini Bhagat, Principal of Mahadevi Birla Girls High School agrees, saying that Karate for girls should be made compulsory apart from general counseling and workshops on self protection, that are organised weekly. "We organise various lectures and seminars on monthly basis on how to increase girls' self confidence, but that is not enough. I feel that women should be equally fit like men, so that they could protect themselves," she said. Teachers of noted schools like South Point High School and DPS High School also feel that the need of the hour is to organise Karate classes for girls, to strengthen their fitness.

Significantly, noted psychologist as well as social workers feel that not only in schools, martial art should be taught in every field, including work places.

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