A college professor in West Bengal allegedly married a first-year student inside the classroom, a video of which has gone viral. The professor, who has been sent on leave by college authorities, has claimed that the act was part of a “project”.
The incident took place at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) in Bengal’s Haringhata. The viral video shows a faculty member in the Applied Psychology Department, dressed as a bride, exchanging garlands and applying sindur (vermilion) to her forehead. A handwritten certificate, signed by three witnesses along with the student and the professor, also surfaced online.
However, the professor later claimed that the incident was part of a project. Following the circulation of the video, university authorities initiated an enquiry and asked the professor to go on leave.
The professor, however, defended herself, claiming that the act was being misinterpreted. Speaking to India Today TV, she said the incident was part of a project planned in connection with a fresher’s party and had been wrongfully portrayed. She alleged that the video was deliberately leaked to malign her reputation and said she intends to file a police complaint against those responsible.
“It was interpreted wrongly. This was part of a project, a drama we had planned for the fresher’s party. It was made viral intentionally as part of a conspiracy against me. I will file a police complaint against those who tried to defame me,” she said.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Tapas Chakraborty stated that the matter was being taken seriously, and a committee had been formed to investigate it. He said that the professor had explained that it was part of a demonstration on her subject.
“She emphasised that there was no impropriety, no immoral conduct and it was purely an academic project. But, in the wake of the controversy and the videos going viral on social media, we have asked her to proceed on leave for the time being, till the committee submits its findings,” he told news agency PTI.
However, another professor at MAKAUT questioned this explanation, stating that such conduct could not be justified as an academic exercise. The university’s teachers’ union has also lodged a complaint against the professor, and the enquiry committee will further examine the matter.