‘Stay Away Or Will Be Found In 50 Pieces’: UP Governor Cautions Women Against Live-In Relationships

UP Governor Anandiben Patel. (File)

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has made the headlines for her remarks cautioning young women against live-in relationships, saying that young girls should “stay away from such relationships or else they will be found in 50 pieces.”

While addressing the 47th convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi on Wednesday, the Governor said such arrangements often lead to exploitation, describing them metaphorically as “a society that eats the mango and throws away the seed,” news agency PTI reported.

The Governor, who is also the Chancellor of state universities, expressed concern over rising instances of violence against women and urged girl students to make wise decisions in their personal lives.

“Daughters must think carefully before taking any decision and should stay away from live-in relationships and such circumstances which may lead to exploitation,” she said, according to a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan.

She further gave a message to young girls and women, saying that even though live-in relationships are becoming more common these days, but they should refrain from going on this path.

“Take charge of your life and make thoughtful decisions. We’ve all seen the horrifying outcomes — they are found in 50 pieces. In the past ten days alone, I’ve received several such reports, and each one leaves me deeply disturbed. It makes me question why our daughters are making such choices,” the Governor said as quoted by media reports.

Her remarks came a day after the Governor claimed that one only needs to visit an orphanage to see the outcome of a live-in relationship.

While addressing students of Jananayak Chandrashekhar University in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district at a convocation ceremony on Tuesday, Patel said that the consequences of such relations can be seen in orphanages where girls, some as young as 15, line up with babies in their arms.

“I have the same advice for my daughters. No one will come to you for friendship. And this is the trend today. Live-in relation; What is live-in relation? Go and see. Go to orphanage and see. What is the meaning of Live-in relation…you will be shown the vehicle after doing it. A 15 year old daughter and a 20 year old daughter are traveling with a one year old child. (I have one advice for daughters. Someone would come up to you seeking friendship. This is common these days. Live-in relation: What is live-in relation? Go and see. Go and see in the orphanages. What is the result of live-in relations…there you can see. Fifteen and 20-year-old daughters are standing, carrying one-year-old babies),” Patel said as quoted by media reports.

She had further cautioned women to stay away from live-in relationships, stating that neither parents nor in-laws would offer support in such situations. She also urged girls to focus their energies on more purposeful pursuits.

She said that she had personally interacted with many affected girls, each with a heart-wrenching story of betrayal and suffering. She recounted a conversation with a judge who expressed similar concerns and stressed the need for universities to create awareness among young women about the potential dangers of live-in relationships.

The Governor linked such relationships to “greed” and a lack of moral values. “They (men) take young women to hotels, lure them with affection, have children, and then abandon them. These are not our values. Such incidents are increasing, and we must guide our daughters to choose a better path,” she added.

She appealed to educational institutions to spread awareness and encourage young women to focus on building strong, self-reliant lives instead of falling prey to emotional exploitation in the name of modernity.

(With inputs from agencies)