Pune professor apologises for remark on rape

September 11, 2014 11:54 pm | Updated 11:54 pm IST - Pune:

Students of Sanghavi Kesari College at Chinchwad here were left dumbfounded when an English Professor reportedly remarked that “if rape is inevitable, then girls ought to enjoy it,” while purporting to explain a chapter from George Orwell’s 1945 dystopian allegory, Animal Farm.

While the college administration initially denied the charges, the Professor has since tendered an apology in public. He said he had referred to certain passages from the book while teaching communication to a Commerce class.

The gratuitous remark, which the Professor justified with a flimsy reference to the book, led to a storm of protests among students, who also questioned the Professor’s conduct during his tenure in the college.

“There is nothing in Animal Farm that warrants such a remark. Furthermore, he [the Professor] used to pass lewd remarks at us in the past, even making unsavoury comments about pregnant women,” said a first-year B.Com. girl student.

On Wednesday, the college was stormed by irate students, corporators and youth leaders of political parties, who damaged the Principal’s car. Nearly 100 students later staged a protest against the Professor, strongly condemning his misogynistic attitude and demanding his suspension.

“We are extremely upset at his behaviour. A series of holidays prevented us from voicing our disgust at his attitude towards girl students,” said one of the senior students. The teacher has apologised for his comments and said he would behave in the future. No complaint has been lodged against him,” said Principal Kailash Bavle, who said he was not present when the incident occurred.

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