‘Virgin girl is like sealed bottle,’ Jadavpur University professor posts on Facebook, deletes it

KOLKATA: A Facebook post from a Jadavpur University professor espousing “virgin brides” has invited criticism from various quarters. Kanak Sarkar, who has been teaching international relations in JU for the past two decades, said he had voiced his personal opinion. He subsequently deleted the post.

Sarkar, who had even earlier posted comments on Facebook that could be deemed controversial, reportedly wrote a piece, arguing for virgin brides in his series, titled, “Value Oriented Social Counselling for Educated Youth”. His areas of specialization are political sociology, political thought, constitution and government, human rights and law, development administration, ethnicity and terrorism.

(Screenshot of his Facebook post)


The screenshots of the post, “Virgin Bride-Why Not?”, went viral even after it was deleted. Some of the screenshots available showed comments, such as “Are you willing to buy a broken seal while purchasing a bottle of cold drink or a packet of biscuits?”, “A girl is biologically sealed from birth until it is opened. A virgin girl means many things accompanied as values, culture, sexual hygiene” and “Virgin girl is like Sealed Bottle or sealed packet”.

Following the criticisms, Sarkar responded on Facebook: “I write my personal opinion. Supreme Court has repealed section 66 A of IT Act and given freedom of expression in Social Media. When Taslima Nasrin wrote against a particular religion we supported her Freedom of Expression. We are supporting Bengali Poet Srijato who writes about Hindu Gods. I have not written anything against any person, individual or anybody without any evidence or proof or any reference. I am doing social research and writing for the good and wellbeing of Society. The recent post I have given in ‘Kalom’ and ‘Mukto Kalom’ public group only. Many are sharing screen shots. I request not to confuse. It’s everybody’s right to express his/ her thoughts. I have given many posts for and in favour of women. Can verify them in my Timeline.” He reiterated the same opinion to TOI, adding his comments were generic in nature. “These are my personal posts and nothing to do with the university,” he told TOI.

Sarkar’s colleagues disassociated themselves from the post. “JUTA unequivocally condemns the highly deplorable, misogynistic and sexist comments made by Kanak Sarkar of IR department,” JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Ray said in a statement. JU VC Suranjan Das was not available for comment. Educationist Amal Mukhopadhyay reacted sharply: “Such statements are deplorable! I cannot believe this. Teachers are beacons of society and the youth are led by their example. Such mindsets are not healthy. Unless we know how to respect women, which is one of the most basic tenets of teaching profession, what values will he pass on? I feel ashamed.”

Leena Gangopadhyay, chairperson of the state women commission, said, “It only goes to show there has been little change in the mindset of certain people. Some tend to see women only in this manner and such statements reflect that, time and again. Whatever it is that may have provoked the statement, even perhaps to seek attention, is condemnable. What pains me is the statement has been made by a person who is very qualified and educated.”

“This kind of statement reflects a closed mentality, which is not open to change. Even as the world moves ahead, some tend to wade in pre-historic era. It shows that the mind is very orthodox and gender biased,” said Dr Sanjay Garg, head of mental and behavioural sciences at Fortis hospital. Bivas Chatterjee, special public prosecutor on cyber law and electronic evidence, said, “Unless there is a complaint by a person that they are aggrieved, it is difficult to construe such general statements as an offence. Freedom of speech is, however, not all pervasive.”