Virgin Girls Like Sealed Bottles: Jadavpur Varsity Prof, Triggers Row

Kolkota: A professor at West Bengal’s Jadavpur University triggered a row with his FaceBook post “ Virgin Birde- Why Not”, in which he compared a woman’s virginity to a sealed bottle. Kanak Sarkar a professor who taught political sociology, political thought, human rights and law, the Constitution and government, and ethnicity and terrorism likened a woman's virginity to a "sealed bottle" or "packet" in a Facebook post on Sunday, which triggered a controversy on social media and feminist and academic circles. He was also quick to defend himself and deleted the post but the screenshots of it went viral.

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."

Facing criticism from all quarters, a defiant Sarkar appeared to justify his comments, asserting 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.

A student of his department alleged that Sarkar made similar "sexist comments" on social media in the past as well. "During classes, he had created an uncomfortable situation for woman students. We don't feel secure in his presence in the department," she said. The International Relations Department of the varsity will also appeal to the VC for action against him, she added. Sarkar, meanwhile, regretted 'his language' but stuck with his opinion of imparting 'moral values and eithics.

Meanwhile a section of Jadavpur University students boycotted classes and began an agitation demanding expulsion of the Professor for his comments on virginity. Students came out in large numbers to participate in the campus protest. "We want his immediate expulsion for the comments he made and also the way he has been speaking in class," a student said.

However, the Professor denied making any such comment in class. "Social media posts and classroom are separate. I used my freedom of expression. Since people's sentiments are hurt, I regretted and deleted the post within an hour. I had tried to impart values and ethics. Maybe the language I used was inappropriate," Sarkar said. angel". Expressing his view on extending an apology to the women, he said: "Women are no individual; they are a part of the society. I have my wife and daughter at home and they are not saying anything to me." The professor also mentioned that when poet Srijato Bandopadhyay had faced an ordeal for speaking his mind, intellectuals had come out in support. Giving a political twist to the row, he said: "I think students are against me because I support the ruling party."

Students' unions on Tuesday submitted memorandums to JU Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das, demanding strict action against Sarkar. The JU Arts Faculty Students Union leader Debraj Debnath said that both the AFSU and the Students' Federation of India (SFI) have submitted separate memorandums against the professor to the VC for the "sexist post". "It is their democratic right to submit memorandum against me to the authorities. But, I should be allowed to explain my stand," Sarkar said .

The National Commission for Women has asked the state police chief to probe the incident and take appropriate action. Jadavpur University promised to take action as Sarkar’s FaceBook post drew criticism online and the University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das said, “We will take all steps as per law". (IANS)

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