Sudha Murthy Met And Took Blessing Of Sambhajirao Bhide, Receives Criticism

In Sangli, Maharashtra, on Monday, writer and philanthropist Sudha Murthy met Sambhajirao Bhide, the man who founded the Shiv Pratishthan. During the Maharashtrian event, she additionally asked for Sambhajirao Bhide's blessing.

Sudha Murthy Meets Sambhajirao Bhide

Sudha Murthy received criticism over her meeting and seeking blessings from Bhide, especially when she is know for her strong opinions. Recently, Bhide gained attention over a video in which he was instructing a journalist to put a bindi on her forehead, otherwise he won't give her a byte. Further added that woman is like "Bharat Mata" and should not live like a widow by not wearing a bindi.

Suggested Reading: Politician Sambhaji Bhide Asks Journalist To Wear Bindi, Women Commission Issues Notice

On the other hand, Sudha Murthy opposes social norms and traditions that tend to degrade women's status in society on all fronts, including social, political, physical, and economic. Most of her books explores themes of rebellion against the established social order. Her protagonist are no longer weak, meek, and submissive beings, rather, they are women awakened to face difficulties and live a meaningful and dignified life, regardless of the senseless social criticism. However, she meeting Bhide, who attacked women's autonomy did not go down well with people over Twitter. Since then she has been trending and receiving criticism.

This is not first controversy of Sambhajirao Bhide.Reportedly, Bhide has been the primary accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, which resulted in the death of one person and the injuries of several others, including 10 policemen. Hindutva activists Milind Ekbote and Bhide were accused of inciting the violence by Dalit leaders and villagers. Although, police claimed to find no evidence against him in that case.