The scheme was criticized in the Indian media, with one report saying it was "straight out of
the Nazi playbook".
A Hindu nationalist organisation is promising to help Indian couples conceive "superior" babies with high IQs and
fairer skin than their parents, sparking media criticism.
Karishma Mohandas Narwani, head of the Garbh Vigyan Sanskar project, said it advised prospective parents on
how to undergo a "purification" process to ensure their babies were born free of all vices.
how to undergo a "purification" process to ensure their babies were born free of all vices.
"We have to ensure the seed is good, which means the quality of the sperm and the ovum has to be top-class,"
Narwani, a practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine, said on Tuesday.
Narwani, a practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine, said on Tuesday.
"If that is taken care of, then the baby will have the desired mental, physical and spiritual quality."
She said couples could produce "superior offspring" by following the organisation's advice on every-thing from
diet to thinking good thoughts.
diet to thinking good thoughts.
"Actually our aim is to produce superior offspring, full of values and culture. The secrets are all there in our
ancient Hindu texts," said Narwani.
ancient Hindu texts," said Narwani.
The project, whose name translates as 'scientific purification of the womb', is based in Gujarat, the west-ern
home state of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is treating around 400 couples.
home state of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is treating around 400 couples.
Narwani denied newspaper re-ports that it was linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), an influential
right-wing Hindu organisation seen as the ideological fountainhead of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
right-wing Hindu organisation seen as the ideological fountainhead of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
But she said she was working with the help of Arogya Bharti, a group often described as the health wing of the
RSS.
RSS.
Ashok Kumar Varshney, an RSS campaigner and secretary of Arogya Bharti, said the group's methods made it
possible for 'parents with low IQ to have offspring with high IQ'. "It is also possible for a dark-skinned couple to
have fair babies," he added.
possible for 'parents with low IQ to have offspring with high IQ'. "It is also possible for a dark-skinned couple to
have fair babies," he added.
The scheme was criticised in the Indian media, with one report saying it was "straight out of the Nazi playbook".
Eugenics - the controversial belief that one could improve the human race by selective breeding - was a
popular idea in the first half of the 20th century and was notably used by the Nazis.
popular idea in the first half of the 20th century and was notably used by the Nazis.
But Varshney said the organisation was merely engaged in "motivational activity".
"A farmer will have a good yield only when he prepares the soil properly. Similarly, the purification of the
sperm and egg is very important," he said by phone. "The purification can be done through the right diet,
massage and detox methods."
sperm and egg is very important," he said by phone. "The purification can be done through the right diet,
massage and detox methods."
Straight out of the Nazi playbook
> Nationalist organisation is promising to help couples conceive 'superior' babies
> It advises prospective parents on how to undergo a 'purification' process to ensure their babies were born
free of all vices'
free of all vices'
> Couples could produce 'superior offspring' by following the organisation's advice on everything from diet
to thinking good thoughts
to thinking good thoughts
> The group's methods made it possible for 'parents with low IQ to have offspring with high IQ'
> It is also possible for a dark-skinned couple to have fair babies
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