Jadavpur University professor draws flak for comparing virgin girl to 'sealed bottle'

His social media posts drew howls of protests from netizens and the academic community, while the university promised to take action.

A file photo of Jadavpur University professor Kanak Chandra Sarkar | Kanak Sarkar/Facebook

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. His social media posts drew howls of protests from netizens and the academic community, while the university promised to take action. "I was not there. I have returned last night. We will take all steps as per law," Jadavpur University vice chancellor Suranjan Das told IANS on Monday. Sarkar in his controversial posts 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." The posts became viral, with scores of social media users trolling him, while women's rights activists expressed their indignation. 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. "Supreme Court has repealed section 66 A of IT Act and given freedom of expression in Social Media.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... I have not written anything against any person, individual or anybody without any evidence or proof or any reference," he said.