"That society is not at all a civilised society where women are tortured," Mukherjee said at a programme in Kirnahar Shib Chandra High School, where he had studied up to the primary level.
The president was replying to the statement made by a teacher, who said "Sir, we are worshipping Durga, on the other hand the modesty of the women are being outraged everyday."
Mukherjee also said, "it is a matter of shame for a society. We have to keep up respect towards womenfolk."
Mukherjee reached Kirnahar in Birbhum district this afternoon. He was received by West Bengal Fisheries minister Chandranath Sinha and the district magistrate J P Meena at a make-shift helipad.
Mukherjee, who would stay here for four days, would attend a number of programmes including the Durga puja celebration at his ancestral home at Mirati village.
The president, who was accompanied by his wife Subhra Mukherjee, also visited his elder sister, Annapurna Mukherjee at her house in Kirnahar.
