Professor who compared virginity to ‘sealed bottle’ barred from teaching

Hindustan Times: Jadavpur University professor Kanak Sarkar who had made controversial remarks in a Facebook post has been divested of his duties with immediate effect, according a notice issued by the Department of International Relations of the university. As students and teachers of Jadavpur University (JU) and a large section of people across Bengal fumed at the professor for his social media post comparing a “virgin girl” to “sealed bottle or sealed packet,” the vice chancellor on Tuesday had promised stringent action. “The incident is unfortunate and this is not desired from a professor. We will take action according to law. I have convened a meeting on Wednesday,” JU vice chancellor Suranjan Das said after a students’ delegation met the joint registrar on Tuesday. JU is one of the most premier institutions in the country and remains a hotbed of student politics.
Since Sarkar, a professor of international relations, had allegedly made objectionable remarks, both on campus and social media, several times in the past, students said they would file specific complaints of sexual harassment against him.
“The social media is not part of the JU campus but the authorities can take punishable action if students file direct complaints of sexual harassment and abuse against Sarkar,” said Snehabrishti Nandi, a spokesperson of the arts faculty student’s union.