In a sweeping and highly controversial edict ahead of Navratri, the Patidar community in Morbi—Gujarat’s hub of ceramic industry—has imposed a blanket ban on its women attending co-educational garba training classes, citing the need to shield their “innocence” from alleged “notorious” elements.
According to a report by a national daily, the diktat has sent ripples across the town, as the community, which forms nearly 70% of Morbi’s population, declared the resolution during a massive gathering on August 2. Thousands were in attendance, including politicians and local MLAs, as the motion passed with overwhelming support from various Patidar associations.
It’s an irony of sorts given that at a community gathering in Nakhatrana’s Patidar Student Bhavan, RP Patel, president of the Vishwa Umiya Dham Foundation, triggered controversy with his appeal to Patidar families to have at least three to four children. Addressing members of the Kutch Kadva Patidar community, Patel reportedly warned that the community’s declining population was eroding its social strength, political influence, and even threatening its existence.
According to Patel, after the community managed to end female foeticide, a new trend emerged, the “one child” mindset, and in some cases, a “no child” choice. He claimed that such attitudes, combined with property and land disputes, could lead to the loss of wealth and land if the community failed to unite.
On one hand, as Patel pointed out, the Patidar community is facing a sharp decline in population—especially in the number of girls. On the other, such internal pressures are compounded by restrictive and regressive actions, such as the recent diktats targeting women’s freedom under the guise of protecting their ‘innocence’. These contradictions expose the deepening social crises within the community.
“We don’t want to take responsibility if anything adverse happens,” Sanjay Vyas, president of the Morbi Garba Classes Association, was quoted as saying.
While acknowledging the financial blow this move deals to the dance class industry, he noted, “They are in the majority, and we are all connected in business.” Morbi has 27 garba training centres, most of which begin operations three months before the festive season, though around seven conduct classes all year round.
The Patidar community has instructed garba organisers to avoid launching classes in predominantly Patidar-dominated localities—namely, Ravapar Road, Patel Nagar, SP Road, and Alap Society.
The aim: to deter the mingling of men and women in dance environments that, according to the community, foster undesirable attractions.
Manoj Panara, president of the Patidar Yuva Sena Sangh, defended the community’s stance. He reportedly said, “This decision was taken after reports that some men joined garba classes only to target young women. When men and women dance together to love songs for three months in garba classes, it’s natural that they may get attracted to each other. Some notorious people join these classes only to woo girls and exploit their innocence.”
In place of the mixed classes, women-only training centres have been launched at five locations—including Kanya Chatralay, Patel Nagar, Vaibhav Nagar, and Ravapar Road.
These female-centric academies have been ordered to hire only female choreographers for women’s sessions, implement gender-segregated training schedules, and verify the identity of both instructors and participants—particularly with an eye toward safeguarding women from other communities who also enrol in these classes.
Although no explicit punitive measures have been laid down for breaching this decree, the associations have stated that violators—especially women who disregard the ban—will have their parents approached and “counselled” by community members.
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