Following the Bihar Education Minister's contentious remarks concerning Ramcharitmanas and Manusmriti, a surge of opposition to the latter has arisen within the state. In a recent viral video, a young lady can be seen burning the Manusmriti to cook chicken and light a cigarette, a symbolic and perhaps provocative gesture against the text.

The aforementioned young lady who engaged in the controversial act of burning the Manusmriti has been identified as Priya Das, a 27-year-old resident of Sheikhpura. Having completed her teacher training, Priya remains an active participant in local politics. In response to the widespread attention garnered by her video, Priya claimed that the roots of her action were planted long ago by the visionary leader Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Upon being asked about the viral video that has captured widespread attention, Priya Das stated that the act of burning the Manusmriti is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, she asserted that the seeds for this form of protest were sown long ago by the visionary leader Babasaheb Ambedkar. According to Priya, the primary purpose behind burning the Manusmriti is to expose the hollow pretense that underpins this text. Despite the fact that the book ostensibly serves to provide education and moral guidance, it has instead been utilized to perpetuate discrimination and create divisions among people. Priya further contended that the Manusmriti is a text that assigns individuals to specific castes and professions even before their birth, thereby relegating them to predetermined positions in society.

Priya asserted that her decision to burn the Manusmriti was motivated by a desire to expose the insidious hypocrisy that is perpetuated by this text. According to her, the Manusmriti serves as a tool for dividing people and perpetuating discrimination. She expressed her hope that her act of burning the Manusmriti will mark the beginning of a larger movement to render this text irrelevant.

When asked about her message for women on the occasion of International Women's Day, Priya emphasized the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's own rights, as well as being cognizant of instances when those rights are being violated. Specifically, she urged women to stay attuned to their inner selves, confront obstacles head-on, and forge ahead in the face of adversity. Priya also highlighted the fact that many of the societal ills that plague women can be traced back to the Manusmriti, including issues related to marriage and gender equality.

Three books spread hatred

Two months ago, Chandrashekhar Yadav, the Education Minister of Bihar and a member of the state assembly representing Maddhepura made a controversial statement in which he asserted that the Manusmriti, Ramcharitmanas, and MS Golwalkar's "Bunch of Thoughts" have contributed to the propagation of hatred and discrimination in society. Yadav specifically singled out Ramcharitmanas, claiming that it serves to propagate animosity in society and curtails access to education and equality for Dalits, women, and individuals from backward classes. He also identified the Manusmriti as a text that contributes to the spread of hatred in society.

In response to Chandrashekhar Yadav's controversial statement regarding Ramcharitmanas and Manusmriti, the Ayodhya seer Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya made a shocking announcement. Acharya had declared that he would offer a bounty of Rs 10 crore to anyone who would slit the tongue of Yadav if he failed to apologize for his statement within a week's time. This statement sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many individuals and organizations calling for Acharya to retract his statement and apologize for inciting violence.