Kolkata: Slamming Prof Kanak Sarkar’s misogynist statement, Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das said Wednesday it has sullied the image of the institution and ‘stringent’ action would be taken against him.
Sarkar, a professor of International Relations department, had compared a virgin woman to a ‘sealed bottle’ or ‘packet’ in a Facebook post, Sunday, triggering an outrage. Though he had deleted the post quickly, screenshots of it went viral.
“He (Sarkar) is a teacher. His comment has sullied the image of the university. We will take stringent action against him as per rules,” Das said, adding he had also ‘heard; that Sarkar had made certain objectionable comments in the class in the past.
It has to be seen what kind of step could be taken against him as the statement was made on Facebook, the vice-chancellor pointed out.
Das said he has come to know that both the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the West Bengal Commission for Women (WBCW) have taken suo motu cognisance of the statement of Sarkar.
The NCW tweeted Tuesday that it has written to the state Police DG to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. An NCW team would also meet the Vice-Chancellor on this issue this week.
Das said the WBCW has also sought an explanation from Sarkar. “He (Sarkar) has been asked for an explanation (by the WBCW). We also received a copy of the letter,” Das said.
The students have boycotted Sarkar’s classes for the last couple of days and student unions of the university submitted Tuesday memoranda to Das, demanding strict action against the professor.
Sarkar, 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 later defended his post. “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 had said Monday. He also said according to a Supreme Court order every individual is entitled to express his opinion.
PTI
