NEW DELHI – An Indian teacher has claimed that women who dressed like men and degrade their womanhood gave birth to transgenders and autistic children.
Rajith Kumar, a botany lecturer at Kalady’s Sree Sankara College in Kerala, who used to present such sexist and homophobic theories, stated this during a live TV show here the other day.
“…a woman who dresses up like a man, what will be the character of the child she gives birth to? These children are called ‘transgenders’ or ‘napumsakam’. Hijra,” India Today quoted Kumar as saying.
A report on The News Minute points out that the teacher had stressed that “Good children are born to those men and women who live their lives as men and women”. He further claimed that man-like girl born to the man who degrades his manhood.
He went on to say that children born to rebel women and men suffer from the autism.
The one good thing that came out of this incident is that KK Shylaja, the state minister for health and social welfare has barred Rajith from participating in government programmes.
“Rajith Kumar has been consistently propagating superstitious and sexist ideas. We are mulling legal action against him for making such derogatory comments,” the minister said.
After backlash, the teacher appeared on TV remarked that his views were based on science and years of experience.
Later, Health Minister KK Shailaja released a press note, stating: “Rajith Kumar has been consistently propagating superstitious and sexist ideas… After having made a comment that transgender people are born to women who wear jeans, he reiterated the statement in a television show. We are mulling legal action against him for making such derogatory comments”.
The minister has imposed ban on Rajith’s participation in government programmes. Over the years, Rajith has reportedly been holding “awareness sessions” in several schools, colleges and government offices.
