On May 31, Rajasthan HC Judge Mahesh Chandra Sharma was recorded on camera saying, “The peacock is a lifelong brahmachari (celibate). It never has sex with the peahen. The peahen gets pregnant after swallowing the tears of the peacock.” This baffling statement was made when he heard a compliance report on the management of a cow shelter, and compared the cow to the peacock (both “divine” animals, according to him). He also said that the cow should be made the national animal, and the that the penalty for cow killing should be a life term.
I don’t know if Sharma slept through all Biology lessons but what I definitely know is that peacocks have sex. According to this National Geographic video, peacocks have a long and elaborate mating process. The peacock ruffles its feathers and displays them in full glory to attract peahen. A peahen chooses the peacock she wants to mate with, after which they have sex. Evidently, we’re also not the only species pressured by toxic masculinity – the peacock faces this brunt as well with having to look the most impressive to attract peahen. Competition among male peacocks is furious, with each trying to best the other.
Take a look:
And now, in 30 seconds, here’s the quick Biology lesson Sharma never got – peacocks hooking up like nobody’s business. Let me know if there’s any tear drinking here that I missed out on.
And on a more serious note, our textbooks already have enough ridiculous material (check this out) and we don’t need more added to it. Also, how is a qualified HC judge making such statements without any thought of how thousands of young people are going to perceive India’s lawmakers? Stuff like this is enough to shake your faith in the courts, and it’s ridiculous how we need to battle regressive mindsets even at places that are supposed to assure justice and equality for all. Sharmaji please, there’s a fullproof solution for situations where you got nothing useful to say – don’t say anything.