‘JU Mulling Legal Steps Against Prof for Virginity Remark’: VC

Sarkar has faced flak for a Facebook post and his controversial remarks on ‘virgin’ girls.

Kanak Sarkar, a Jadavpur University professor, has received massive backlash for a Facebook post comparing the virginity of a woman with the seal of a “cold drink bottle or a packet of biscuits.”

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Two days after Jadavpur University barred professor Kanak Sarkar from entering the campus for a misogynist social media post, its Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das on Friday, 18 January, said that he was mulling legal action in the case to ensure such incidents do not occur again, PTI reported.

Sarkar, a professor at the university's International Relations department, had earlier received massive backlash for a Facebook post comparing the virginity of a woman with the seal of a “cold drink bottle or a packet of biscuits.”

“Sarkar has been barred from entering the campus till the time a university-appointed committee files its report for thorough examination. We are mulling strictest legal action against him. Additionally, the National Commission for Women (NCW) and West Bengal women’s commission are also probing charges against him.”

Suranjan Das, VC Jadavpur University

On 17 January, students and teachers of the University’s International Relations department presented a list of demands to the Vice Chancellor, which included a plea for the expulsion of Sarkar.

Since the incident, female students of the University have also shared accounts of sexual harassment by the professor, following which the campus saw protests by the students.

As the students boycotted his lectures on 14 and 15 January, Sarkar was divested of teaching duties.

Letter issued by the International Relations Department of Jadavpur University after a General Body Meeting of students and teachers.(Photo: The Quint)

Facing outrage and criticism, the professor, who has been teaching in the university for over two decades, tried to justify his comments by saying it was "intended for fun in 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 had told PTI on 15 January.

In the ‘misogynist’ post published on Facebook , Sarkar had written:

“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 [sic] as values, culture, sexual hygiene. To most boys, virgin wife is like angel [sic].”

(With inputs from PTI.)