Speak up Mumbai: Predator or professor, ask women at varsity

Within the span of a week, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the Women Development Cell (WDC) at the University of Mumbai found an associate professor from the University’s Marathi department, and a former associate professor from the Department of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, guilty in cases of sexual harassment. The Marathi professor was found using his position to sexually harass and exploit a student whose complaint was backed by several other students at the receiving end of similar harassment from the professor. 

The professor of Nanotechnology was accused of sexually harassing a research assistant inside the university and demanding sexual favours.

Not only have the cases left the varsity’s student community in shock, but have also raised concerns and questions about the safety of women in the University’s teaching fraternity and staff.

Despite the WDC presenting its report to the varsity’s management, action against the Marathi professor is yet to be initiated while the professor of Nanotechnology has resigned from his post.

EXPERT SPEAK

There are several rules and regulations with respect to WDCs. From taking care of facilities like having common rooms for girls to handling complaints, a lot of responsibility lies with the cell. The university should ensure that all safety norms are followed. The body being quasi-judicial in nature, there should be senior lawyers, activists and experienced people on this committee and the university should ensure that this happens.
—AD Sawant, Former Pro Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University

The University’s administration is very sensitive about such cases and we will not compromise on the safety of women in the campus or in any university-affiliated colleges. The recent cases were immediately put in front of the management council. Due to examination work, the officials have been very busy but we will make the women development cell and internal complaint committee active very soon.
—Dinesh Kamble, Registrar, Mumbai University

VOICES

The University lacks basic infrastructure like CCTVs, good lighting and security within its premises. They should install CCTVs inside classrooms and staff rooms to ensure unscrupulous elements are kept in check to prevent cases of sexual harassment.
—Suryank Rao, Andheri

Professors of the University being found guilty of sexual harassment is embarrassing. In cases of professors or administration being found guilty, they should be penalised immediately. If the university fails to take action, then women’s safety is compromised on the campus.
—Nikhil Kamble, Borivali

Harassment in any form to anyone at any place is unacceptable. If it’s repetitive, going unchecked and unnoticed then it’s an additional matter of concern. If an alarm is raised and still the issue is not being curbed then we are surely headed towards a damaged reputation that cannot be reversed.
—Tushar Mahale, Mahalaxmi

It’s a matter of shame that MU professors, who are supposed to be imparting education, are engaging in sexual harassment. And when the administration does not take immediate action against such behaviour, it only encourages professors to continue their inappropriate behaviour and shows a tendency to protect their breed. The government should take cognizance of this issue and book the accused. Only such stringent action will send a message to all that the University is safe for women.
—Prapti Sarmalkar, Dadar

Mumbai is considered one of the safest cities in the country when it comes to women’s safety. However, the recent cases of sexual harassment emerging from the university have made a mockery of the concept. What had happened at the university recently was a shock not only to the students but also to the people who icon the city as the safest. After such incidents, I don’t feel safe enough myself and find it difficult to trust anyone. So yes, the incidents of sexual harassment on the MU campus have compromised the safety of women.
—Tanzil Shaikh, Andheri

There are always two sides to a story. Both sides should be heard properly. If the safety of women has been compromised, then the police should take action but only after verifying the claims properly. In a recent case, we have seen how because of his celebrity status the accused man was arrested.
—Krishna Gupta, Borivali

There must be a dedicated cell in every educational institution to look into cases of sexual abuse. The recent incidents highlight that even educated women are not safe and this has certainly exposed the loopholes in the safety of women in the Mumbai University campus. The governor of the state needs to step in and ensure that such cases do not repeat in future. The University of Mumbai has been in the news for all the wrong reasons for quite some time. This is sad for everyone.
—Somesh Chaudhary, Andheri East

Of course, such cases compromise the safety of women. An educational institution is the last place one expects this to happen. The moment a woman feels she is being sexually harassed, she should inform the police. If the officer does not listen, she should take it to higher levels. Have all the evidence and file a complaint as soon as possible. When my help’s complaint was ignored by an inspector, I took it to a higher level. The inspector told her, “If the husband will not beat you, who will?”. He was later pulled up by his seniors.
—Shyama Kulkarni, Bandra