Kolkata: The controversy surrounding Jadavpur University professor Kanak Sarkar took a dramatic turn on Tuesday with a section of students submitting a deputation to Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das and Internal Complaints' Committee (ICC) of the varsity seeking strong action against him and demanding his expulsion. Sarkar, a professor with the International Relations department, had recently posted on social media regarding his logic about women and their virginity and subsequent marriage prospects. The West Bengal Women's Commission sent a notice to him on Tuesday seeking an explanation and directing him to depose before the Commission's within seven days.
The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of Sarkar's comments, calling it "shockingly misogynistic". It's chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote to the state Director General of Police requesting him to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. United Students' Democratic Front (USDF) staged protest in the JU campus condemning the misogynistic statement objectifying women on his Facebook page. "This is not an incident in isolation as he has been harassing students from all marginalised identities for years now," said Dwaipayan Sarkar, a member of the USDF.
One of Sarkar's former students narrated her ordeal during his class and expressed relief that he had been exposed now. "I had no option but bunk ALL his classes when I was in JU," she mentioned on social media.
Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das condemned the incident and said: "If we find evidence of such actions of Sarkar within the campus it will be referred to the ICC and steps will be taken as per rules."
Sarkar had withdrawn his post within an hour of publication.