The Jadavpur University professor, who in a Facebook post, compared a virgin girl to a sealed bottle, has been removed from his duties with immediate effect.
The outrageous comment posted on Facebook on Sunday created a commotion on social media and the entire scholastic community, which cost the professor his job. As per reports, the professor has been divested on his duties. Though the professor was quick to delete the flippant comments from his facebook wall, screenshots of it went viral.
Sarkar who has earlier too, on several occasions, written such misogynist posts on his Facebook page, had recently created a furore as he compared a woman’s virginity to a sealed bottle or packet in his series, titled, “Value Oriented Social Counselling for Educated Youth”.
The professor, in his post, wrote: “Are you willing to buy a broken seal while purchasing a bottle of cold drink or a packet of biscuits? It is the same case with your wife.
“A girl is biologically sealed from birth until it is opened. A virgin girl means many things accompanied as values, culture, sexual hygiene. To most boys, virgin wife is like angel,” Sarkar wrote.
The University issued a notice which read, ‘In view of the recommendations of the Student-Teacher Committee of the Department, Prof Sarkar has been divested of his teaching duties with immediate effect’
Jadavpur University professor Kanak Sarkar who made controversial remarks in a Facebook post has been divested of his duties with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/OlmdshSSUI
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2019
The notification came in two days after the Jadavpur University (JU) Arts Faculty Students Union and Students’ Federation of India submitted memorandums to JU Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das, demanding strict action against Sarkar.
Previously, Sarkar had on November 9, posted another such sexist remark on Facebook, exposing his flimsy state of mind. In his post, he mentioned that these days, boys and girls do not consider celibacy and virginity as part of ethics and morality. That is why girls end up being “exploited by the cunning boys”.
Similarly, on December 22, he had written a Facebook post in which he described virginity as precious as honesty and morality by saying that if a woman is a virgin before her wedding, she should be proud of it. “Express your virginity during marriage negotiation or during love affair or even in married life. I am sure you will be honoured by your husband or lover,” Sarkar said.
After his outrageous remarks caught attention, a student of his department opened up, alleging that “during classes, he had created an uncomfortable situation for women students. We don’t feel secure in his presence in the department,” she said.
Another enraged student, Roshni Chakraborty, while speaking to a media house, narrated her ordeal against the professor. She accused Sarkar of asking her whether she would be interested in bathing with him in any river. She furthered that at the time when Sarkar made this outrageous pass at her she was too young to understand that it counts as harassment, but now she would stand up against the injustice by boycotting his classes, said the infuriated student.
Kanak Sarkar in his defence said that “It is their democratic right to submit a memorandum against me to the authorities. But, I should be allowed to explain my stand.” He furthered that it was intended for “fun” among a social media group of friends and “not for public consumption”.
“Someone took a screenshot of the post and forwarded it, which triggered the response. I did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiment or insult any woman,” he said. He also said according to a Supreme Court order every individual is entitled to express his opinion.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of the lewd remarks meted out by the professor and has sought police action against the same.
Rekha Sharma, NCW Chairperson said in the letter addressed to the Bengal DGP, “I request you to investigate the matter and take appropriate action as per the relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and subsequently, the Commission be apprised feedback in the matter at an early date.”
