The Jadavpur University professor who made regressive comments on women’s virginity – comparing it with a sealed bottle – has been taken off duties. His comments had led to outrage, and students held a demonstration on the university campus on Tuesday seeking his expulsion. They also boycotted his classes.
The professor from JU’s international relations department – who has been alleged to be a “repeat offender” by some students – had written the comments on Facebook, which he later deleted.
A student-teacher committee found the Facebook post offensive, following which the decision was taken on Wednesday to take him off duties.
According to the statement of Prof Om Prakash Mishra, head of the department of International Relations – “In view of the recommendation of the Student-Teacher Committee of the Department, Prof Kanak Sarkar is divested of his teaching duties with immediate effect. Substitute arrangements would be decided in the meeting of the Board of Studies scheduled on 18th January, 2019.”
After deleting the post from Facebook, Sarkar had justified it as freedom of speech. Later, he maintained that it was intended for “fun” among a group of friends and “not meant for public consumption”.
Students say that harbouring and promoting such a misogynistic mindset is not acceptable, especially in an environment which nurtures young minds.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) asked the West Bengal director-general of police to probe into the incident and to take action. The NCW has also asked for an explanation from Sarkar.
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