KOLKATA: A Jadavpur University professor here is drawing flak for a series of Facebook posts where he compared a virgin girl to a sealed “bottle of cold drink or a packet of biscuits” and commented that to men “virgin wife is like angel”.
Kanak Sarkar, a professor of International Relations, also stressed on celibacy and virginity as part of ethics and morality.
Sarkar in his controversial posts titled “Virgin Bride – Why Not?” wondered whether somebody would be “willing to buy a broken seal while purchasing a bottle of cold drink or a packet of biscuits?”
“A girl is born sealed from birth until it is opened… A virgin girl means many things accompanied with values, culture, and sexual hygiene,” he said in his post,” adding “to most boys, a virgin wife is like an angel.”
As the professor’s posts drew howls of protests from netizens and in the academic community, Jadavpur University promised to take action. “We will take all steps as per law,” Jadavpur University vice chancellor Suranjan Das told news agency IANS.
Under pressure, Sarkar deleted some of the posts, but came up with an explanation on Facebook arguing it was his personal post and citing freedom of expression.
Defended himself, Sarkar said, “I write my personal opinion. The Supreme Court has repealed section 66 A of the IT Act and given freedom of expression on social media. I have not written anything against any person, individual or anybody without any evidence or proof or reference. I am doing social research and writing for the good and well-being of society.
Girl students at JU took strong exception to Sarkar’s posts. “Women are not edible, immovable objects which are meant to be consumed like a packet of biscuits. Neither are their intellect determined by the ‘seal’ on them,” said Raima Ganguly, a post-graduate student of comparative literature.
The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance against the professor and also written to the state DGP to probe the incident and take appropriate action.
With agency inputs