St Stephen’s Delhi Cancels ‘ANGA Oath’, a Valentine’s Day Ritual

Stephen’s cancels ‘sexist’ Valentine’s Day ritual.

Many students and teachers of St. Stephen’s College erupted in vehement protest after it emerged that the college was deciding to apply for autonomy.

(Photo: St. Stephens College)

Every Valentine’s Day, St Stephen’s college in New Delhi performs a sexist ritual called the 'anga oath’.

According to an earlier report by The Quint, a section of men, “in keeping with tradition”, read out the Alnutt North Gentlemen’s Association (ANGA) Oath. Just like the boys from Hindu Hostel who had earlier in the day done a Puja of the Virgin Tree to mark their "age-old college tradition".

This is what the oath said:

We the people of ANGA, have solemnly resolved to constitute ANGA into a Paramount Egalitarian Fellowship and to secure to all its members Justice – Social, Sexual and Sentimental Liberty – to philander exclusively with men Equality – of status and opportunity and to promote among them all misogyny assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity of ANGA Hail ANGA!  

Women students of the College have protested against this practice strongly highlighting its misogyny and homophobia that has been perpetuated for years.

However, according to The Times of India, students this year ditched the ‘tradition’ and cancelled the ‘ANGA oath’.

We have decided to cancel the event this year as we don’t promote or believe in it. 

Srijit Seal to The Times of India

Unlike Stephens, Hindu college is continuing its ‘virgin tree’ puja this year. That puja too has been panned by women and men as being sexist and misogynistic.