A Minister Who Thinks Girls Belong in the Kitchen

Imagine being a teenage girl in Bihar with a dream to become a doctor or an engineer. You’re studying hard, fighting against the odds. Then, you turn on the news and see a government minister—someone who’s supposed to protect your future—basically saying you’re better off scrubbing floors than reading books. It’s a slap in the face to every girl fighting for a seat in a classroom.

Mithilesh Tiwari, a newly appointed BJP minister in Bihar, has managed to stir up a storm. In a recent interview, he didn’t mince words. He told the press that girls don’t really need an education. According to him, they should stay within the “four walls” of the home and help with chores. He believes they shouldn’t be protesting or gathering in public. It’s a wild take, especially since he claims to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for women’s empowerment. He calls women the “strength” of the home, but apparently, that strength only works if they’re illiterate and silent.

Is this the Nari Shakti we were promised?

Here’s the real kicker. Mithilesh Tiwari isn’t some uneducated man from a remote village. He’s a teacher. He holds a BA (Honors) in Economics. He even ran a coaching center in Patna for years. He knows exactly how education opens doors because he literally spent his career opening them for others. For him to turn around and tell girls they don’t need school isn’t just hypocritical; it’s dangerous. When a man in power says these things, it gives a green light to every backward-thinking parent to pull their daughter out of school.

The internet is, quite rightly, losing its mind. People are reminding him about Article 21A of the Constitution, which guarantees free education for children aged 6 to 14. It doesn’t say “unless you’re a girl.” Some are trying to claim his words were twisted, but the video speaks for itself. You can’t champion “woman power” while simultaneously trying to lock women in the kitchen.

The Atomic Answer: Bihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari sparked a massive controversy by claiming girls don’t need education and should focus on housework. His comments directly contradict India’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign and constitutional rights, drawing sharp criticism due to his own background as a former teacher and economics graduate.

What’s actually happening here is simple: we’re seeing a massive gap between government slogans and the actual mindset of the people running the show. We can talk about digitalization and global leadership all we want, but as long as ministers view women as household appliances, the progress is a lie. It’s time for a reality check. Education isn’t a luxury for girls; it’s a right. And no minister should be allowed to treat it like an option.