Hindus welcome French move to overturn ban on women trousers

05 February, 2013

Hindus have welcomed French government's move to overturn a 200-year-old ban on women wearing trousers. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that although it came very late, but it was still 'a step in the right direction for France'.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that France and Europe, which boast of their human rights record, should be more kind to women and voiceless groups like Roma (Gypsies) and end their maltreatment.

This maltreatment should not be acceptable in the 21^st century Europe. Limiting freedom and access of women and men dictating their terms of dressing to women was blatant discrimination, Zed argued.

He urged the world to do serious soul searching on the treatment of women. Quoting scriptures, Zed pointed out that ancient Manusmriti said: “Where women are revered, there the gods are pleased; where they are not, no rite will yield any fruit.”

A number of Rig-Veda hymns were said to be composed by women, and Aditi, who was sometimes referred as “mother of the gods”, found mention in Rig-Veda as a goddess. Men and women were equal in the eyes of God, Zed noted.