Hyderabad: Telangana became the first Indian state to make gender education compulsory at the graduate level with the introduction of a non-stereotype textbook titled, "Towards a World of Equals".

The book has been introduced on a pilot basis in Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University affiliated colleges.

The book talks about gender in its composite form without limiting itself only to the crimes against women. The book covers women's work in politics and economics and information about unacknowledged writers of Telangana to problems of sex selection. It also talks covers complex subjects like female-centric history and male-female relationships. It discourses about the different stands of women movements across the world, also introducing students to political movements of Afro-American, Caribbean, African, Dalit and minority women. Notably, a documentary film of visual teaching tools is also attached with the book.

The book will be a part of a semester a would be taught for 14 weeks. The content of the book was prepared by a nine-member committee. Four training workshops had already been conducted and more such events are on the cards.

It would be interesting to see the reactions that the book generates.

For example, in its first chapter of socialization, the book initiates a discussion on "Are boys taught household work while growing up? Discuss your experience at home".

The editors of the books say they are every optimistic about the results. "We have received a lot of good feedback from teachers, "said one of the editors. (Inputs from agencies)(Picture courtesy:europeanmovement.eu)