Textbook draws flak over short skirt ‘metaphor’

Author apologises, says has asked the publisher to remove the paragraph from the subsequent editions

A textbook prescribed to B. Com (Honours) students of Delhi University has created a stir as the book ‘Basic Business Communication’, authored by C.B. Gupta, advises students to “write emails short enough to be interesting, like skirts”.

‘Casual analogy’

The textbook, which is commonly prescribed by professors to students of B.Com (Honours) in most DU colleges, said: “Email messages should be like skirts – short enough to be interesting and long enough to cover all vital points.” Several students have now taken to social media to protest against the paragraph.

Mr. Gupta, a former head of the commerce department of a DU-affiliated college, clarified saying: “I have already quoted the source which was an article written by a foreign author. It was simply a metaphor and I did not wish to hurt anybody’s sentiments.”

The “metaphor” has not gone down well with some students who read the book recently. “Some students have a tendency towards rote learning without paying much heed to the actual gravity of the things that are written in the textbooks. Such casual analogies will just result in increased casteism, a social evil that already exists in our society,” said a student who wished to remain anonymous.

In print for a decade

The book has been in print for almost a decade and it is only now that this particular statement has been questioned. “It is surprising how nobody has ever questioned this statement present in the book earlier. Thankfully we are able to realise the negative effects that such casual remarks can have on different sections of the society and thus, question the reliability of such textbooks in our course,” added the student.

Responding to the concerns expressed by students over the statement, Mr. Gupta added, “I have already spoken to the publisher and the said words will be deleted from the subsequent editions.”

Recently, a Class XII physical education textbook had come under fire on social media for defining 36-24-36 as the “best body shape for females”. Many critics had also demanded that the book be withdrawn.