Madhya Pradesh: Hen named 'Narmada' in college advertisement, sparks controversy

In Harda district of Madhya Pradesh, objections have been raised over the name of a hen appearing in an advertisement for a private veterinary college. The hen in question is referred to as 'Narmada' in the advertisement.

A complaint has been made to the collector and a demand has been made to change the name of the hen. Those objecting, including the Narmada Brahmin Samaj, have said that their religion considers the Narmada river as a life-giving mother and so, naming a hen after it is not appropriate.

"A memorandum has been received expressing objection to the name of the hen. Necessary action will be taken on this," said Sanjeev Nagu, the joint collector.

The president of the Narmada Brahmin Samaj, Ashok Parashar, made the group's demands clear, saying, "People from different communities have objected to the advertisement for a college. Maa Narmada is a symbol of faith for all of us. She is not just a river, she is the life-giver of all of us. Naming a hen after her is not appropriate. Remove the name from the advertisement immediately."

In response to the growing outrage over the advertisement, Rajiv Khare, the college director, noted that it was not the college that named the bird. The advertisement in question was for the sale of various hens. The poultry centre in Jabalpur, from where the hens were purchased, named them Narmada, Kadaknath and Sonali, Khare said.

The people in the town, led by Parashar, marched to the Collectorate, demanding a change in the name and submitted a memorandum to the joint collector.

- Ends