A West Bengal university professor, at the center of a controversy over a viral video appearing to show her marrying a student in a classroom, has offered her resignation. A senior official stated on Tuesday that she cited an inability to continue her association with the university.
The video, which surfaced on January 28, purportedly depicts the head of the Applied Psychology department at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) performing Hindu Bengali marriage rituals with a first-year student. The video sparked widespread outrage.
MAKAUT Registrar Partha Pratim Lahiri told PTI that the professor emailed the office, expressing her inability to continue at the university due to the situation created by the video, which she described as mentally devastating. The email, received February 1st, also thanked MAKAUT for the opportunity to work there.
Lahiri stated that the professor, already on leave following the controversy, sent the email which is currently under review. He added that a decision will be announced later.
The video, showing the professor in bridal attire, was filmed in a classroom at MAKAUT’s Haringhata campus in Nadia district. The professor claimed it was a psycho-drama project performed with student and university consent, alleging a colleague leaked a portion to damage her reputation and career. She indicated she would pursue legal action.
MAKAUT placed the professor on leave on January 29 and formed a five-member women’s inquiry panel. The panel rejected the professor’s explanation, stating in its findings that the video depicted a “cheap skit” inappropriate for a senior teacher, according to an officiating university official. Officiating Vice-Chancellor Tapash Chakraborty echoed this assessment.
Attempts to reach the professor for comment were unsuccessful.
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